VIDEO
The Story of the Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer Patient
How long is it going to take before I know if I have metastatic breast cancer?
It may be challenging and frustrating for both you and your doctors that it can take a few days or even a couple of weeks to determine if you do, in fact, have metastatic breast cancer.
As anxiety provoking as that may seem, it’s important that tests are done accurately, correlated with other findings, and in some cases, biopsies done to confirm the diagnosis, before any treatment can be planned.
This time frame, though long for you, is important so that the right things are done in the right way. Waiting a few more weeks will not alter how well you are going to do. The mission is control of the disease once it’s confirmed. Knowing the pathology information and findings from scans and other X-rays is important in selecting the optimal treatment plan for you.
How did this happen? Should I have had more treatment originally when I was diagnosed?
This is a common question. Some women feel guilty; others angry. All are certainly in shock. If you decided against a treatment you were advised to have, done second guess yourself. Hindsight is always 20/20. Stay focused and moves forward. The question to ask you is “What do I need to do now to get control over this disease and live in harmony with it?” If you are feeling angry, that is okay. You may feel that have paid your dues to this disease and just found out you need to do it again, only perhaps in a scarier way. Its okay to grieve about it, be mad about it, as long as you keep moving forward with your doctors and nurses and plan your treatment.
I want to get under way with treatment immediately and everything is taking too long. Why can’t I start treatment immediately?
It is in your best interest that all the test results and clinical findings are clearly understood and known before beginning treatment. There may be several different treatment options too for you to consider. You shouldn’t feel rushed in making these very important decisions. Have thoughtful discussions with your oncology team. Each new doctor you see and talk to may give you new information. Remember, when you are scared and anxious you may not process information very clearly.
It can be difficult to be patient, but planning the treatment that is in your best interest is a goal shared by your oncology team. Taking a few weeks to iron out the best strategy will help ensure that the most appropriate decisions have been made to give you the best opportunity for living in harmony with this disease. This is the time for thoughtful and wise decisions.
