Waiting for Appointment after Referral Peter Mac

emstar
emstar Member Posts: 4 ✭
edited May 20 in Newly diagnosed
Hello friends, I am newly diagnosed with invasive carcinoma found on a routine mammogram and need a lumpectomy and radiation. I have heard all the advice about not being in a big rush to cut it out asap but I'm curious how long you waited after the referral for Peter Mac? I know it's cat A for surgery (>30 day wait). Trying to keep my anxiety under control but having some idea would help a lot. Hope wherever you are on the treatment path you are feeling good 🙏🏼
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  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 8,150 ✭
    Sorry to see you join our exclusive little club @emstar - but you are in the right place for support and answers to any question that you may have. It is great that you've found us.

    I am in NSW (so didn't use Peter Mac) ... were you given the name of a specific surgeon to see? Are you going as a private patient or are you going public & just waiting to hear from them?   30 days would be considered quite standard, I would think .... some have waited longer, a few have gotten in earlier!  

    I went private for the surgery & got in & had my surgery within 4-5 weeks of my diagnosis, which was delayed a bit as it was early Jan when I was diagnosed & all the surgeons were still on annual leave!  I was first on the list when he got back to work tho!  ;)   I went public for everything else (Rads & Medical Onc.) I was out of pocket a reasonable amount from my surgery, but I just wanted it out, then & there, & not wait a month or more longer.   

    Waiting 30 days plus is unlikely to change the grade/stage of your tumour - it is more a mental issue - as this disease mucks with our brains even more than our actual body I reckon!  Feel free to give our Helpline a buzz if you'd like to chat with someohe ... 1800500258 (Mon-Fri work hours.)

    Try & keep yourself BUSY in the next few weeks, doing things you LOVE doing .... it will help stop your mind going off on tangents .... maybe start cooking & freezing some meal so you have some ready to go after your surgery (one less thing to worry about then, too!)

    Jump onto this thread that has a lot of info for leading up to your surgery & some other 'off topic' threads that you may like to join in - arts & crafts, our gardens, pets & even some funny threads - as we all need to laugh now & then!  There are tick sheets to 'self assess' too - down the bottom - both physically & mentally (it can be easier to fill them in beforehand & just give it to your surgeon ....)   
    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-our-new-members#latest

    take care & all the best for your upcoming appointments xx

  • alex76
    alex76 Member Posts: 9 ✭
    Hi @emstar . I was diagnosed 28 November last year and had DMX on the 19th of December . Stress levels were through the roof . Felt a lot better once the operation was done . Good luck with everything, hope you don’t have to wait too long x 
  • staton
    staton Member Posts: 23 ✭
    @emstar I was called back by Breast Screen Victoria in early January, diagnosed 15th February and had lumpectomy on 8th March at Epworth Freemasons. I have just started radiotherapy at Peter Mac. The in between waiting is the worst. 
  • emstar
    emstar Member Posts: 4 ✭
    Thank you for the lovely support. I have my appointment now and getting some perspective from the BCNA.podcast about not rushing into decisions has helped a lot. I have started freezing meals and gathering offers of help during treatment has help. Wishing you all the best 🙏🏼
  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 8,150 ✭
    Woohoo!!  Well done @emstar!!  You are now in control of it all xx  It CAN be a tad confronting at times, but the podcasts will cover most issues that you raise.   

    Write down any specific questions you may have ahead of seeing your surgeon (and others) ... maybe even give them a copy too, for you to tick off, as they cover them, as it can be easy to miss reading them off (hard to explain, but it happens!) 

    Also consider recording all your appointments now & with the Oncs in the future as you go thru your 'active treatment' - as it really is hard to remember EVERYTHING that is said at the time (specially if you are taking notes of what they've just said & miss the next bit!) 

    Also take a trusted friend/relative/partner with you, both for support and as a 2nd set of ears .... you'll be surprised to learn that you'll both 'hear' different things too!  ;) 

    take care & all the best xx

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