Diagnosed with stage 1 B/C 8 years ago. They asked me if I had anything I wanted to get done because I was also having reconstruction after the masectomy. I told them I had flowers to plant and a few other things arond the house. I think I waited a month before my surgery and it had not grown at all so this is probably a safe bet.

so how do they know the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes if they haven't done the surgery yet?

The problem is not getting to surgery right away. That decision should be left to the patient with the help and advice of the doctors. (It could be one doctor, or several, whichever the patient desires.)

The problem is: Is this a first step in rationing health care? Studies are done for a lot of reasons including not only benefits to the patient but also benefits for the insurance company and even the government (Medicare/FDA). Putting off a procedure costs nothing in the short run, but the patient needs to know how aggressive the tumor is. A high-grade tumor that is Ki-67 strongly positive, Her2neu negative and estrogen and progesterone negative in a 45 year old is best removed right away, especially if it is larger than 1 centimeter or involves lymph nodes. On the other hand an 80 year old with an ER/PR positive, low grade, low Ki-67 score and no evidence of spread beyond the primary site, could be followed temporarily.

The main point is that it should be the patient's decision and not one that is made by an insurance company or the government (Medicare or FDA) for financial gain by them.

i was diagnoised on october 29th 2009 / and i was so scared of hearing that i had cancer--- i had my surgery pretty quick. i wish that i would have gotten a second opinion before i proceeded with my surgery. i only had a right breast radical mastectomy---- not both breasts. cancer was in the lympnode closed to the origin of my cancer. but if i had to do it all over again, i would have gotten a second opinion.