Diagnosed in March stage 2 and 3 still haven't started treatment.

Hi. I had my mastectomy 4 weeks after diagnosis and then chemo 4 weeks after surgery. I’m sorry you’re having to wait this long. The guidelines say treatment should start within 60 days of diagnosis. Can you speak to your breast nurses and express concerns about the delays? 

Hi.

I have been told that they tried to get my surgery done earlier by getting a team in on a weekend but they couldn't get a team together. So many people seem to be getting treatment within a month, it's really worrying me.

Hi, I am also 50. I was diagnosed on the 6th November and had a RHS mastectomy and reconstruction on the 18th January. I was told I had to wait a bit longer as they needed to coordinate two teams. If you are really concerned I would speak to your breast care nurse. I hope you get something sorted out or some reassurance at least. 
Take care

Jen

Dear Sahara

So sorry to read you, you are still waiting to get on with your treatment, I do wish you well going forward, I think Covid has so much to answer for everyone is just hanging on for treatment, dates etc.

Health and happiness going forward, fingers crossed for you.

Hugs Dawn

Hi there. I was similar. Age 49. Urgent referral November.  Diagnosis December. Masectomy and lymph nodes removed March and second op April as margins weren’t clear. Still waiting for chemo referral due end of this week. Hoping to start chemo in June, then radiotherapy. Unfortunately it is a long process and the waiting is tough. I did start letrozole prior to my op, which blocked the hormones. I think it’s different depending on your hospital and capacity unfortunately. 

It is so hard to wait... not having a date hangs over my head like a giant weight. I was diagnosed with stage 2 triple negative  in April. I still don't have the mastectomy scheduled and now apparently the only person who can schedule just left for vacation with no one to cover for her. 

Sending hugs and prayers for a successful surgery for you. 

Wishing you well, going forward, I think you’re absolutely right the waiting around it’s just awful and it does depend on the area you live.

We don’t like to be a nuisance, but sometimes I think you have to push to move on so maybe a little word with your breast cancer team. If you haven’t already done this.

Thinking of you,

I was diagnosed end of January sent for further tests and started on tamoxifen. My mastectomy was carried out on 21st May. The waiting is worrying and frustrating but the bottoM line is our heath service is under a lot of pressure and they are doing the best they can.

I had a long wait from diagnosis early Oct to surgery in Jan. I was diagnosed with grade 2 ER+ & PR+ in both breasts and in all my lymph nodes on one side (had a full node clearance in addition to double breast surgery).  My treatment was certainly outside of the NHS guidelines. 
In the lead up to surgery there are a number of essential appointments to preparation for surgery thats adds to the timeline but I also had to wait for my surgeon to return from holiday, my surgeon had to cover junior Drs work during the strikes, and was even delayed by medical team training days. I  was extremely upset but my surgeon and other oncology professionals reassured me that it takes 180 days for a single cancer cell to replicate so there would be no change from my diagnosis to surgery. It didn’t stop my fears in having cancer but it did help me to rationalise things and stop focusing on the guidelines. I also had delays in starting Chemotherapy but to be honest I found the extra time helped my recovery from surgery. I used the wait time for surgery to sort out some tasks that I knew I wouldn’t be able to do post surgery and that definitely helped. I’ve learnt that everyone’s journey is unique so try not to compare other people’s timeframes. It initially drove me to despair but once I understood the science of cancer over NHS guidelines, it helped me cope better. 

• This is a fantastic explanation. We also need to remember that the guidelines are set by politicians not clinicians and that they aren’t always practical.