CancerCompass message board discussion started by kayatlanta on 4/4/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22716,0.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I am S/P simple mastectomy 3/13, three tumors 1.4cm,.5mm, 6 mm, 2 nodes positive of 26. After almost 2 weeks they still don't have my estrogen results.They send it off to an out of state lab. I keep calling and they keep saying, the surgeon sent a personal message. My fear, maybe they lost the sample. Now what? They won't give me a referral for chemo without the estrogen results, What should I do ? Can they send another sample? Or am I just out of luck? I am so worried.Kay in Atlanta  kayatlanta Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I assume you're calling the lab?  Have you tried calling the surgeon's office?  If so and all you're getting is a run around there from the office, ask to have the surgeon call you personally.  Call every day until you get an answer.  What about enlisting the oncologist's help in getting those reports?  The hospital should have a patient advocate---get them going on it.  Become a pest that they'll respond to simply to get you to stop! ;>)To help put your mind at ease, I had a modified radical mastectomy with 24 nodes removed 4/11/06 and didn't start chemo until 5/26 (I flew to my best friend's wedding the week before chemo started).  The drs. OK'd that plan.  I feel it gave my body time to recuperate from the operation (and I took a bunch of supplements to prepare my body for chemo.)  I also had 8 weeks between the end of chemo & the start of radiation (that wasn't exactly planned, just happened that way, but I was also thankful to have a break to recuperate from the chemo) and then a 3 month break btw the end of radiation and starting Arimidex.  I just celebrated my 2 yr. anniversary.Hang in there and keep demanding answers.  I wish you all the best through this journey. Sewwonderfulwoman Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Good news, I finally heard and I am ES+,PR-, herp- . I was afraid because I went to Sheffield Clinic, the reduced cost clinic of Atlanta Medical Center  where my simple mastectomy was done.For bills of 25K I will end up paying under 3K, they gave me ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL CARE.I am uninsured, so the next hurdle is trying to get reasonable chemo which is somewhat of an oxymoron. I am going to Grady, Atlanta's charity hospital. I have heard great things about them and I am already starting to get all the grants, reduced cost drugs, etc. I am optimistic most of the time, though sometimes get down with the tremendous cost chemo etc. is going to cost. I have never been in debt before.I make too much for medicaid. Oh well, my beat up 97 Corolla, thrift store clothes, etc will just have to continue.I am an RN so I am a bit obsessive/compulsive about the whole cancer thing. Thank you so much for responding. I am going to start answering some of those questions on the board with my knowledge. Again, Thank You so much--Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--   kayatlanta Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT