How long do you have to wait for treatment

[Seavccg]

Appointment next week, how long will it be before surgery takes place. Feels like a ticking time bomb and understandably we are all worried.

[Choski]

Hi, not sure if this is your 1st appointment or not?! After my abdominal agony pain ad misdiagnosis as kidney stones in Dec 2015 (!) my first CT scan was 21st Jan 2016. That led to ultrasound scans, consultant appt (gynae), internal exam, blood tests, contrast dye CT Scan, contrast dye MRI, another meeting with consultant, transfer to consultant oncologist, meeting with him and team. Surgery 8th March 2016 and confimed diagnosis on 17th March 2016. Chemo started 4th April 2016.

If you are at the beginning of your tests this takes time so you just have to keep calm. You may not be diagnosed - benign, borderline or cancer for her MDT some time.

If I've misunderstood your question then apologies

Take care

Clare

Just realised you are asking for your sister. The previous replies have all given good advice in that until the MDT has looked at the Scans, tests etc there will probably be a bit if a wait. They may then want more tests and that is normal.

I know you are worried however just support your sister, listen to her, let her speak and say how she feels etc.

The GOOD thing us she is now in the right place having the right tests and there will soon be a plan.

Waiting is hard however you need to be positive too.

Thus is DOABLE - it can be hard but uts double and we've all done it, are doing it or are doing it again.

This is a great supportive group and maybe your sister may want to post and chat here in safety and confidence too ?

Take care. Clare

[LesleyGreengran]

Treatment can start before surgery. I had chemo first, three rounds, then surgery, then 3 more weekly rounds of chemo. The chemo starts to shrink the tumours and makes surgery more successful. It depends what stage and grade the cancer is though. They will want a CT scan first to see where everything is, then a further one during treatment to check how it's going. It's usually quite quick before treatment starts, just a week or two, but it's useful to get as fit and healthy as possible beforehand. Going for walks, eating healthily and doing some things that will provide happy thoughts while waiting for the anaesthetic to work!

[Barlow1951]

It seems to vary from one person to another. I knew after ultrasound in Aug 2015 that I had tumour size of large grapefruit which looked highly suspicious of malignancy but did not have surgery until 20th Oct , by which time it was the size of a large melon. All the tests take time and even when completed there are not always beds available. I was given a date more than 3 weeks away, which seemed a long time to wait knowing how quickly it was growing. However, some people on this forum have waited much longer but we are all still here to tell the tale.

Waiting is so hard but I wish you and your sister all the best and hope you will get a date soon.

Barbara x

[Yoshbosh]

I waited around 2 weeks from diagnosis to first chemo. I had 3 rounds of chemo, then surgery, then 3 more chemo. I hope your sister gets seen quickly x