oestrogen and DCIS

Thank you Afraser,Julez1958,iserbrown ,arpie ,Keeping_positive1 .
thank you for your advises, these advises cooling me down and I hope don't over thinking the bad things that would happened while waiting the surgery.  @Keeping_positive1, I have DCIS, estrogen receptive positive and the MRI said the cancer has not gone in to lymph node but still I worry because it still in my breast and has not been removed yet. I worry this cancer reach the lymph node while I am waiting for the surgery schedule. 

I have my USG and mammogram on 13 Sep, Biopsy 16 Sep, saw the doctor on 17 Sep and she requested MRI
MRI is scheduled on 27 Sep and saw the doctor again on 29 Sep and she will organise the surgery for another 2 or 3 weeks depending on the queue since it is public hospital. 
I feel this is very long waiting

Hi @Della 

I've included a link to another online network discussion about the Optimal Care Pathway for breast cancer. This document includes expected timelines from diagnosis to treatment. https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23851/optimal-care-pathway-for-people-with-breast-cancer#latest

Hope this may help. Best wishes for your surgery.

@Della - from detection to surgery, my wait was just under 3 months .... the tumour is unlikely to grow much bigger in that time - or they would have organised surgery asap .... 

You've had quite a bit done in the last month since detection & all going well, you'll hear from your surgeon soon with your surgery date.  If you don't hear by early next week, maybe give their office a call & just 'check up' on it's status? 

Have you been given access to a Breast Cancer Nurse yet?  Often you are introduced to them at your Surgeon's office at your first meeting?  You could give them a call, as they would probably be able to access your file too.

Just try & keep busy & yep, try not to 'overthink it' (difficult tho it is!)   Take care xx

@Della I can understand you are worried about the DCIS, estrogen receptive positive tumor could reach your lymph nodes by the time you have surgery.  I can tell you that the breast I had the DCIS, ER + tumor at diagnosis was not in my lymph nodes and did not reach my lymph nodes in the 2 months I waited for surgery.  It was the HER2+ tumor on the other breast that had already reached my lymph nodes at diagnosis.  In my case it took just over 4 weeks for the clinical staging, then I was placed on the Category 1 list, which meant the public system then have to do the breast surgery within 4 weeks.  Please push for a date for surgery, because perhaps slightly longer now due to COVID.  

It is often the clinical staging that can take 4 weeks in the public system before we get placed on the Category 1 list.  As you have seen it is the drawn out line up of the tests and appointments that make its usual for the longer wait in the public hospital system.  I am still on a waiting list for knee surgery and it has been 2 years already. Which State are you in?
Best wishes.

Thank you Afraser,Julez1958,iserbrown ,arpie ,Keeping_positive1 .
thank you for your advises, these advises cooling me down and I hope don't over thinking the bad things that would happened while waiting the surgery.  @Keeping_positive1, I have DCIS, estrogen receptive positive and the MRI said the cancer has not gone in to lymph node but still I worry because it still in my breast and has not been removed yet. I worry this cancer reach the lymph node while I am waiting for the surgery schedule. 

I have my USG and mammogram on 13 Sep, Biopsy 16 Sep, saw the doctor on 17 Sep and she requested MRI
MRI is scheduled on 27 Sep and saw the doctor again on 29 Sep and she will organise the surgery for another 2 or 3 weeks depending on the queue since it is public hospital. 
I feel this is very long waiting or usually like this for public hospital ?

Terrific, @4Coco.  @Mez_BCNA has received a 'prompt' and will most likely move your question across, hopefully today.  That way this thread can be Della's thread & you'll have your own as well. xx

If there is anything I can help you with .... feel free to shoot me a PM (personal message) by clicking on my name - and then the 'envelope' to the right .....  you can also read my 'story' there, if you like!  ;) 

 

Hi @4Coco I have created your own thread for you, just click on the following:

  https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23878/oestrogen-receptor-positive-treatment-question/p1?new=1

If you need any support please feel free to call our Member Support Team 1800 500 258.

Hi arpie   Many thanks for your suggestions regarding the questions I will want to raise at my appt.  Do I follow the link to ask the mods to move my question over as you suggest?

Hi @4Coco - Welcome to the forum - sadly, that one club you never thought you'd have to join!  But we are here to help smooth out some of the bumps - and answer any questions that you may have along the way (if we can.) xx

It's all a bit of a shock for you at this point in time ..... as I said in my post above (please check it out for info on the blog & even questions to ask) make sure you don't use Dr Google ... it may only confuse you.   Rely on your Medical Team for accurate information.  Your surgeon should have a Breast Care Nurse (if you aren't introduced to one on your first appt, ask about it, as they are often the 'go between' with your ongoing care.)

Feel Free to jump onto the 'Newly Diagnosed' section yourself - so that any info that is put up relates to you and your specific condition .....  it will be easier to follow as you go ahead .... you can update after your appt with the surgeon & surgery as well. 

We can also get the mods @Mez_BCNA to move it across, so that you have your own thread!

In the mean time ... that's an interesting question!  I am not sure I've heard that one asked before - a good one to ask your surgeon & Onc for a definite answer!  If you still have your ovaries & haven't gone thru menopause yet .... they should still be producing oestrogen .... so it could be a yes - but you definitely need to raise that one next week.

Write down ANY question you have - I even printed my questions off & gave it to my surgeon to go thru with me (I had a copy too) as I knew I'd be too emotional to read them out myself! :( But I am a real sook! LOL .... 
Tick them off as you go - that way, you know they've all be answered too.  It is easy to forget some, even if you've got them in front of you, if you get side tracked to another issue! 

Try & keep busy in the lead up to your surgeon's appt next week - as a busy body keeps the mind busy too.  Otherwise, the brain can go into overdrive.  This disease mucks with the brain as much as it does with the body.  :(  

Take care & all the best for next week xx

Hi everyone - I'm a week into receiving my diagnoses and have an appointment next week with Surgeon to discuss my options.   I've found that questions raised by others are helping me gain a better understanding of what lies ahead.  I'm Oestrogen Receptor positive and unsure if I decided on a double mastectomy would I still need hormone therapy?