how soon after being diagnosed with breast cancer should treatment start

Debbie, there are a HUGE number of variables at play. Are you having surgery first, or chemo, or radiation? What kind of cancer, how aggressive, lymph nodes involved/not, and what stage will help determine the order of treatments. They may want to do just the biopsy, then go right to surgery as soon afterwards as they can schedule a surgeon (which may be weeks). They may want other tests - ultrasound, MRI, CT scan, bone scan... all of which take time. they may decide to do chemo first; then they need to find you a slot for that. It's complicated! I'd say that active treatment SHOULD hopefully start within a month or so after diagnosis. But even that happens in fits and starts. If you have a lumpectomy, they may need to go back in and do it again. If it still doesn't work, they may need to schedule a mastectomy. And for all of those surgeries, youneed to wait your turn for the operating room. FYI, I was diagnosed with cancer May 10, had three surgeries, and finally started chemo on Aug. 30...

One thing I can tell you - breast cancer is generally very slow growing. By the time a tumor shows up on the mammogram, or can be felt, yoou've probably had it for 8 years or so. So don't panic about the wait. I'd be concerned if they're just making you wait without any plans in place, e.g., "We'll call you soon to let you know the plan." Get on their case, if that happens. But if they give you dates, and they happen to be awhile from now, I'm sure they've assessed your case and are doing what's right for you. Good luck - PJH