In reality, if it is cancerous, likely they will do a lumpectomy and, like before that's that...
But that's pretty unfeeling for the Dr and the lab to make her wait on pins and needles like that.
Did you call the Dr and tell him how you feel?
And repeat that every day, find out the name of the lab, call them....be a very squeaky wheel!
And I want to know why no radiation?? That is the standard for removing a cancerous lump even if they THINK they got it all.
The consequences fo returning breast cancer are just too awful to take a chance.
I know one woman who got BC at 80 and elected not to do the reccomended radiation because she said, I don't want to go through that...I'll most likely die of something else before I die of breast cancer."
Well she was wrong...in 2 years it was back and into her bones and she then had radiation, not to effect a cure but to relieve some of the pain.
Your mother needs to have radiation if this is malignant!
Linda C

And, of course your mother will be in my prayers!
Linda C

We've just been through the BC thing here with Kim's sister.
First, there are different types of BC and they need to find out what kind she has and that can take time. Different parts of the country can vary the time it takes for the answers.

Secondly, because of the different types of BC there are now many different modalities for treatment. Tamoxifen, Chemo, radiation and combo's. Kim's DS had a bilateral mastectomy and is on Tamoxifen for five years (2 1/2 to go). No Chemo, no radiation.
Linda, many changes over the last ten years. Not everyone has to go through radiation now.

Nancy

Hi Gina --

I'm so glad you were able to be there for it with her, and I'll be keeping fingers and toes crossed that it is benign... Hang in there!

Emily

I don't understand why it's taking so long, either. My mother had a growth in her groin, which the doctor was suspicious of, so he sent her to a surgeon. They immediately scheduled her for a biopsy, and he had a specialist in the operating room, or close by, that did some kind of test on the tissue right then and there, and we knew right after she came out of surgery that she had lung cancer (of all things to find in the groin). I'm sure in my mother's case they went on and did more detailed tests, but I don't remember what they said, cause we already knew basically what we needed to know.

So, I think you need to meet with the doctor and find out why she has to wait so long. Maybe it's different for different cancers, I don't know.

I'll keep you and her in my prayers, though.

Sally

Nancy.....I am a very VERY firm believer in aggressive treatment... I heard my oncologist arguing with other Dr's about my treatment....and saying things like "I know she's 62 but she's a vital 62" And things like "Well I would rather she recieve radiation now rather than later"
Breast cancer is a beast!! Get a second opionion and a third....look on the web and discover all you can....
I was on Tamoxofen for 5 years....and Arimidex for another year ( nasty drug!! I felt it was draining all the calcium from my bones and ached!)
And there are many different kinds of Chemo...the protocol of the taxol after cytoxin and adriamycin came out during my regieme....brand new at that time.
As far as finding out what kind of BC...shouldn't take too much time...
Many times a surgeon with his patient's permission opst to do more radical surgery in lieu of chemo and/or radiation. I hope that is the case with Kim's sister.
You all are in my prayers....
Linda C

Here is a link that might be useful: Mayo....breast cancer

I hope the test results are good news and that your mother recovers her health as soon as possible. Stay positive!

Teresa

All arguments about treatment aside, I agree it's horrible to have to wait for results, it seems that tests like that should take precedence over other things but I guess they don't.

Gina, you and your Mom have my prayers and strong thoughts for a good test result and quick and complete recovery.

Annie

You and your mom might find breastcancer.org to be helpful. I've found the information on that site to be accurate - matching what I read from reputable healthcare sites - and well organized so it is usually easy to find the information that is important at the time. Also it has a forum area that is more active than the other forums that I've found on breast cancer. Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book (get the most recently revised version) is very comprehensive if you want more information.

Sally, they can do a very quick test for cancer (called a frozen section) while a person is in the operating room for a biopsy. Normally that is used for types of cancer where they are going to finish the operation based on that result. But that isn't reliable as a 'permanent section' where they prepare the sample more and take more slices. That takes 24 to 36 hours to do. My biopsy was on Friday and I got a phone call on Tuesday to let me know that it was cancer. But some places have a backlog of testing and others on the breastcancer.org boards have had to wait a couple of weeks or more.

Once they knew my samples showed cancer, they sent them off to a facility that does the more advanced tests to classify the cells - for example, that will show if the cancer cells are encouraged to grow by hormones and therefore can be fought with Tamoxofen and Arimimdex(as Linda mentioned) or if they have Her2 receptors and can be fought with Herceptin as my cancer. The further tests will also categorize how agressive the cancer is which influences treatment. The additional tests took about a week (for me, in this case there can be a lab backlog too and I've seen others waiting two weeks or more). Perhaps they want to give all the results in person at one appointment and that is why it is taking more than a week. Some doctor's don't like to give a diagnosis of cancer over the phone so they always wait for the appointment.

Usually, if the cancer is small enough for a lumpectomy, the patient has a choice of a lumpectomy and radiation or mastectomy. Both have about equal survival rates and recurrence rates in many situations. The radiation is a local therapy that gets any stray cancer cells left behind in the breast after lumpectomy to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. If they find that the cancer has gotten too close to the chest wall, they may have to do radiation even with a mastectomy. Radiation won't do anything to cells that have found a home outside the breast and lymph nodes.

Chemo fights any cells that may have escaped to the rest of the body (e.g. the bones). It is a systemic therapy that treats the whole body.

Sometimes, if the classification tests find that the cancer is very early and not aggressive they don't reccomend chemo. With these cancers it doesn't provide enough benefit to outway the risks and side effects.

Here is a link that might be useful: BreastCancer.org

Aww Gina, I'm sorry about your mom, and the agony of waiting for all of you. I agree with Linda about being the squeaky wheel, and I'd make a pest of myself trying to get as much info as I can. Hugs and prayers for a quick resolution are being sent for your mom. Take care and stay strong, dear Gina. (((Gina and Mom))))

Nancy, I'm sorry to hear about Kim's sister. It sounds like her cancer was estrogen positive, and I hope she's doing well on the Tamoxifen. I'll keep my fingers crossed that she reaches the five year mark uneventfully. She's lucky to have you and Kim as her support.

Hugs to everyone who has been touched by this disease. We are all sisters and it's good that we can pray with each other, and cry for each other as well. And we'll rejoice for all of the good outcomes that come our way.
DONNA

I am not knowledgeable enough about any type of cancer to have an opinion on treatment options. (Knocking on wood...)

But I do want to let you know that you and your family are in my thoughts and I'll send a ton of healing vibes your way!

Linda

It is horrible to have to wait for test results and it's the same way here. It doesn't seem to matter to any of the labs, doctors or nurses how long anyone has to wait. You are nothing but a number to them.

Things are changing fast with breast cancer and doctors who keep up on the latest usually know best. That said, I would definitely get two or three opinions because you never know which ones do not keep up. I will definitely remember you and your family in my prayers.

Beverly

Thank you all so much for your kind words, advice, good thoughts and prayers. You'll never know how much you are alwyas there for me and how much I appreciate all of you! I live in NC and my mom is in Pa.. I have met this surgeon several times and although he may be excellent at what he does, he is lacking in sensitivity and grace. My mom choose him because he did cardiac surgery on my dad and performed caroid artery surgery on her seven years ago. Does that make a difference? Her gynecologists said he is an excellent surgeon, but my mom felt that maybe her gyno would have suggested someone else.
I asked him this time why radiation or chemo wasn't offered to her 2 years ago and he said that he felt at the time it wasn't necessary. I know my mom's wishes are not to have a mastectomy or chemo. She feels at her age she could not recover from either. She said she would consider radiation if it came to that.
I was told by several people that they no longer do frozen sections as they are not the most reliable test, unless they know for sure what they are dealing with.
It's so hard being so far away!!!! Thank you all for your support! Gina

Gina, it is hard to watch and wait, so I would be the b*tchy daughter and bug the h*ll out the doctor that felt at the time it wasn't necessary to do radiation. Now he can make up for his mistake by rushing things along. Call every day, and by day 3, call twice a day. If he can lack sensitivity, so can you.

As for treaments, at 82 you may need to respect your Moms wishes. And that can be the hardest part. BTDT.

Hugs to you and Mom.

Peppi

Gina, thinking of you all~

Gina, breast cancer has so much research that things evolve constantly. I wouldn't be comfortable using a general surgeon, even an excellent one, without any second opinions. Also, there should be an oncologist involved to discuss the chemo and radiation possibilities and the chances for recurrence or spread with her cancer.

Can her ob/gyn recommend a breast cancer center (which will have a team including a surgeon and oncologist who work together) or someone who specializes in breast cancer?

I agree with cloud....a surgeon skilled in cardiac surgery is not necessarily as skilled as he could be at breast cancer sugery....and definitly get an oncologist on board.
Linda C

Okay, I didn't know what kind of test they did on my mom, and I frankly don't remember everything that happened and in what order, other than we were told lung cancer in that first consult with the surgeon right as he comes out of surgery.

Gina, I hope all the best for your mother.

Sally

My mom got her test results and it is cancer! She was able to see her surgeon yesterday. I went to the breast cancer.org website (thank you cloud swift)and was able to come up with some questions for her to ask the surgeon. Is this a new cancer or a reocurrance of the previous, it is new and is it invasive or non-invasive, it is invasive. I was able to convince her to see an oncologist. One was recommended to her by a good friend but he is on vacation until next week, as well as her gynocologist. This is all so overwhelming I'm afraid for all of us. I am going to try and get as much info for her as posible and I am trying to get away to be there with her when she sees the oncologists. At this point I feel like I need a crash course in BC. What questions should she be asking? She is 84 years old. She is very independant. She lives alone. My sister is in Pittsburg about 6 hours away and unable to be there for health reasons. I'm in NC 8-1/2 hours away. We both have asked my mom to move to be closer to one of us, but she wants to be close to her church and friends. I feel sooo guilty for being so far away! Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA Gina