How long to wait for chemo

Usually the histology comes through in 1-2 weeks, though if your tumour is being tested (done if your nodes are clear to check recurrence risk) that can take longer.  It's usually started about a month after surgery to allow some healing,  since once chemo begins it will be affected. Lots of women find that there will be some swelling and pulling sensation going on each cycle during it,  but  this will settle down when chrmo is finished. Another reason for a longer delay is if the lymph nodes after positive and further surgery is required to remove then.  About 20% of women who appear to have clear nodes are found with cancer in one or more sentinels (I had that). Staging scans are done first,  so on my case it was results after 2 weeks of the mastectomy,  staging scans and back 2 weeks later for results,  surgery planned for 2 weeks later and then chemo after that. 

The research done a few years ago prompted the recommendation of chemo commencing within four weeks, as there is a very slight decrease in its effectiveness when delayed.. i understand that the figure is based off the 10-year survival figure on Breast Predict, and is phased,  with the real (still relatively small) jump happening after 3 months.  The difference is apparently increased in women who are TN, but in all cases is a percentage of the 10 year mortality rate, not the initial life expectancy figure. 

Thank you that's helpful. They did remove all my nodes during surgery. I was told after that unfortunately there is a 6 week wait for histology results to come back. 

Please can you clarify what TN means?

Thank you for the encouraging note of positivity at the end. 

TN means triple negative, and the difference is greater when more delayed.  If you look at the figures, about 50% start adjuvant chemo between 1-2 months after surgery.  

Ok, thank you and again, this is really helpful.