I got my diagnosis of BC on August 1, 2023. Finally had surgery on September 28, 2023. So almost two months. I worried the entire time, knowing I had cancer and it could be growing and spreading. I’m grateful mine was not aggressive and surgery removed it. After surgery, had to wait for pathology report. Then had to wait for Oncotype report before I could start any post op treatment. Once I was cleared for radiation, had to wait to get set up, then to meet with radiation oncologist. And finally meet with medical oncologist. All the waiting is just awful. Our medical system is so not patient centered. I’m not criticizing any of my care team; they have been wonderful, every single one. I hope things improve for future patients. Right now, it’s not good.

This is basically how it goes from diagnosis to surgery >>
Your mammogram came back abnormal so we are sending you to get a diagnostic mammogram
then they say the diagnostic mammogram looks like a malignancy so we want you to get an ultrasound
to see it better. Then the doctor says the ultrasound shows it might have spread to your lymph nodes so we want you to
get a CT scan that will see clear pictures and then those images just aren't clear enough so we want you to get an MRI
Then 'Lets do a PET scan to see if it spread.
Meanwhile the Breast cancer sits in our breast doing God knows what.
You visit the doctor, the appointment takes a week, sometimes more.
The doctor tells you to make an appointment for diagnostic mammogram so that could take 1-3 weeks
Another visit to the doctor to discuss the results
The doctor tells you to make an appointment for ultrasound so another 1-3 weeks
Another visit to the doctor to discuss results
The doctor tells you to make an appointment for CT scan, another few weeks
and it goes on and on and the Cancerous tumor inside the Breast remains there.

So, it seems they've seen it all ie radiologist, pathologist, surgeon, onc etc. I would again at least ask the question to you surgeon or onc what is the protocol for timing of treatment post protocol given your diagnosis. For me, it took a while to start treatment bc I opted out of mastectomy first. My surgeon said given my diagnosis and the fact that my type of cancer doesn't spread very fast, we were ok. I looked at all my own data and did research where best I could and I was ok with that.

🌹

I understand your frustration. I was diagnosed Oct 31 and my surgery is Dec 6. I won't see the oncologist till Dec 28 (that's 2 months). I'm also on a wait list for oncologist appointment. And also going to seek a 2nd opinion on treatment after full pathology is done. I do think the holidays are part of the scheduling delays.

I'm on the cancellation list for both doctors. I've had biopsies, mammograms, ultrasounds, genetic testing, and an MRI. It will be 4 weeks from diagnosis to appointment with a surgeon, and 6 weeks from diagnosis to appointment with medical oncologist. Hopefully it doesn't take too long to get anywhere from there.