Hi JTS - Yes, you found about the best place on the planet for the information you seek. None of us are doctors, so we can't give actual medical advice, BUT telling you what they did for each of us is about as close as you can get. Everyone is different, you will hear that over and over here in your new family. If you read enough you will see the slight variations in the diagnosis and treatment that other members got. Don't be alarmed if yours is a little different; your cancer (or that of your SO) is different, so your treatment will be a little different.

Now, as for how quickly do they get to your surgery or to your treatment, none of us like having to wait even one extra minute when we find out about this new invader in our bodies. We want it gone ... yesterday. Unfortunately, wait we must, and it often seems like an eternity. After my surgery I had to wait 6 weeks before radiation started. I thought that was excessive and that the tumor was just growing by leaps and bounds every day. Then the doctor tells me we needed to wait a little while for surgery site to heal before zapping it with horrendous amounts of radiation; that actually made a lot of sense, but I didn't think of it while going nuts waiting for rads to begin.

Right now, the doctor has said you probably won't need radiation or chemo. Don't take that too much to heart. That doc was a surgeon, for the most part they believe surgery is what takes care of most cancers. There are other specialties that will get involved as time goes on. They may think otherwise, ie rads or chemo is still needed. If you have gotten your brain conditioned to not needing rads or chemo and then all of a sudden you do, it will come as a BIG shock (ask me how I know this). Another of our family members, Bart has a saying about just this subject ... "don't attach to outcomes". When you attach to a particular outcome (I won't need radiation) you develop an emotional stake in the outcome. Then, if the decision goes the other way (you do need rads) you've set yourself up for a big bummer, possibly even depression; and depression is exactly what you don't need while fighting this demon in your body. SO, the right way to keep your head straight is to just accept that you have no control over the beast. If I don't need rads or chemo, great; if I do, okay let's get it started. Afterwards, if the cancer stays away, great, if it comes back, okay what do we need to do now to keep fighting the beast. This approach allows you to keep a positive attitude throughout the whole battle. Bart has had several recurrences thoughout his long term battle and he still to this day maintains a wonderful positive attitude that he shares with other family members just beginning the journey. Listen to what he says, he knows how to help you keep your mind straight.

Okay, I've said enough for now. There will be more later, but you have enough new stuff to chew on for awhile. Unless your SO also joins the forum, you are the one who will have to teach it to him/her.

Welcome to your new family, we will help you every step of the way through this new journey. It's what we do.

Tony