Timeline from surgery to adjuvant chemo

I was able to do all my blood tests the day before chemo, which cut down time - A/C about 2 hours, Taxol a bit less. But I didn’t have cold cap and the time stretched out a bit more if day oncology was really busy. Anti nausea medication is usually part of the infusion plus extra if needed. I stopped taking any after A/C as I had no nausea at all. Best wishes. 

Hi AliG, how long does a round go for? Have you continue working? Hope you are feeling ok. 

I agree our health system is brilliant right from diagnostic technicians through nursing and surgeons for me so far. Feel pretty lucky to have found this thing as it presented as a smallish hard lump initially. Quickly went from 1cm mammogram, 5cm mri and then 9cm pathology. 

My appt with oncologist just been schedule for Wednesday.  Been off work for 4 weeks so far. Trying to work out how to deal with it all. 

Michele

Hi MicheleR, your diagnosis is almost identical to mine. Mid March 2020 I was diagnosed,mastectomy three weeks later then commenced chemo three or four weeks after that.  My goodness it has been such a blur but the support of medical staff has been overwhelming. I have completed 9 of 16 rounds so the end is in sight. We are so very fortunate to have access to a brilliant health care system here in Australia. Good luck and remember one day at a time. You got this x

Dear MicheleR,
I had 5 weeks from Mastectomy to Chemo. Just how it worked out I think.  Prior to the Mastectomy, I knew Chemo was in the plan. When my breast  biopsy was done, they did a fine needle biopsy in my armpit, which was positive. Following surgery with axillary clearance, there were a total of 3 positive lymph nodes.
The Oncologist will give you a plan or options. Hopefully you will feel comfortable to ask as many questions as you can think of.  
Write a list before you go.
I didn't question my plan, it seemed appropriate. But I sure did ask lots of questions. I hope you can take someone with you to the Oncologist. 
All the best, keep in touch.

Ah! Getting to grips with all that may be involved can take some time - and is best done in really small doses! Take it step by step - no nodes is a good start! The best planning at this stage is in short bursts - next week, maybe the week after. Once you know what your oncologist proposes, it gets a lot clearer but you still have to factor how you respond to chemo and you don’t know that till you start. I just kept on doing what I was doing (including working), others find a change beneficial, some just have to accept that chemo makes them very limited in what they can do. It’s a lottery. But it’s also finite, it will end. Most of us find a bit of a redefinition of normal
on the cards, at least for a while. May not be a worse definition though, but usually a bit changed. Looking ahead, not back, helps a lot. Best wishes. 

Ok. Thanks. Probably went into this whole thing bit naively thinking my life might return to normal once cancer out. Now wondering how to plan for it. 

Hi @MicheleR
I think it can vary quite a bit - I was four weeks from mastectomy to chemo start, but it can depend on many factors not least of all how fast you heal. Your oncologist will be able to answer those questions, along with the recommended chemo regimen. Best wishes.