Going in again after lumpectomy
thanks for listening
Chris.
Comments
-
This happened to me too.
This happened to me too. Better that he go back in and get the rest of the DCIS than leave ANYTHING to chance. In my case, my margins were not clear. The second round will be much easier and quicker because your lymph nodes have already been taken out. Hang in there!
BL0 -
Lumpectomy is not an option
Lumpectomy is not an option for me...but I agree, get it all out! Leave nothing behind so you can have many many many cancer free years to come.
Hugs,
Linda0 -
Same thing happened to me
I had a similar experience except when they did the second "re-incision" the pathology report re-classed me as Stage 1B (it had been Stage 0 after the first partial mastectomy--called that because they took more of my breast than expected). I found that the incision took a bit longer to heal because it had been re-opened, but this was easier because they didn't need to take any nodes the second time.
Even though I had no node involvement, my onc wanted me to do chemo because I had a high-grade tumor (1.2 cm) and I am triple negative so there is no hormone treatment that will work for me.
I'm half-way through the 6 chemo treatments with new side-effects each time. What a challenge it is to stay positive as new things start to "appear"--this cycle my feet are burning, last cycle I got a rash and the first I had dental issues.
I'm looking forward to radiation (33 treatments) which means that I'll be finished with the chemo!!!
Your onc is being thorough and that is a good thing...you really wouldn't have wanted it any other way, I mean to go through all of this and not be sure that he got it all would be more upsetting.
Chin up...we are all in this together...it has to get better!!
<<<hugs>>>
JoAnn0 -
It Happens
I was fortunate, this didn't happen to me.......but a close friend had this experience 3 TIMES! Took three surgeries to get clean margins. Each time pathology said the margins weren't clear enough.....if it's any consolation, she said other than being put to sleep 3 times, it wasn't bad at all. She even played tennis inbetween! The surgeon used the same incisions.....she also had clean lymph nodes and after her third surgery, she was onto radiation in 3 weeks.....I hate this is happening to you, but I don't think it's all that uncommon.
I wish you the best0 -
I agree--so much better to be safeMAJW said:It Happens
I was fortunate, this didn't happen to me.......but a close friend had this experience 3 TIMES! Took three surgeries to get clean margins. Each time pathology said the margins weren't clear enough.....if it's any consolation, she said other than being put to sleep 3 times, it wasn't bad at all. She even played tennis inbetween! The surgeon used the same incisions.....she also had clean lymph nodes and after her third surgery, she was onto radiation in 3 weeks.....I hate this is happening to you, but I don't think it's all that uncommon.
I wish you the best
I also had a re-excision. Unfortunately, on the first lumpectomy I had 10 positive nodes. So, the second surgery (for clear margins) was actually a piece of cake. You'll do great. I know it wasn't what you wanted to hear, but thank God you had no positive nodes. See--there's always something to be grateful for!
Hugs, Renee0 -
Hi Chris,
Glad to hear that your nodes were clean!!! That's great. Sorry to hear that they have to go back in. I had a lumpectomy first. My margins weren't clear, and he wasn't sure he would be able to get everything if he went in again, that's why I opted for a mastectomy. That was my personal decision. Hang in there, I know a few ladies who were completely clear after their second lumpectomy. Just try to keep a positive attitude! Hugs, Jean0 -
another experience
Just to give you different input...
I had DCIS (stage 0)9mm x 13mm grade 3. In one of the lumpectomy margins she removed there was a spot of calcification. I was told the radiation would take care of it if there had been any left behind. I did NOT have sentinal nodes tested since DCIS is, by definition, confined to the ducts and not invasive. My rads were finished 9/4/09. No further sign of trouble on either the mammos or the MRIs.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
~~Connie~~0 -
its dissapointing I know tocrselby said:another experience
Just to give you different input...
I had DCIS (stage 0)9mm x 13mm grade 3. In one of the lumpectomy margins she removed there was a spot of calcification. I was told the radiation would take care of it if there had been any left behind. I did NOT have sentinal nodes tested since DCIS is, by definition, confined to the ducts and not invasive. My rads were finished 9/4/09. No further sign of trouble on either the mammos or the MRIs.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
~~Connie~~
its dissapointing I know to not have it over with. My first time, I had a couple of re-exisions before they did a mammo and found all these microcalcifications. I ended up with a mastectomy and got a recurrence a year later. (1994) turns out I had scant but scattered DCIS. so better to go in and get it cleaned up and be done with this mess. Yay on the negative nodes that is the most important part.0 -
Sorry
On the good side, this will be your chance to be cancer free...Even though you don't know me, I am right there with you...Hopefully this second attempt will be your last..0 -
No, I had clear margins withMAJW said:It Happens
I was fortunate, this didn't happen to me.......but a close friend had this experience 3 TIMES! Took three surgeries to get clean margins. Each time pathology said the margins weren't clear enough.....if it's any consolation, she said other than being put to sleep 3 times, it wasn't bad at all. She even played tennis inbetween! The surgeon used the same incisions.....she also had clean lymph nodes and after her third surgery, she was onto radiation in 3 weeks.....I hate this is happening to you, but I don't think it's all that uncommon.
I wish you the best
No, I had clear margins with my lumpectomy, and, then rads. I am sorry you have to have this done, but, you want clear margins. Good luck!
Leeza0 -
Happened to a coworker
sorry to hear you have to go through this again..0 -
I too had DCIScrselby said:another experience
Just to give you different input...
I had DCIS (stage 0)9mm x 13mm grade 3. In one of the lumpectomy margins she removed there was a spot of calcification. I was told the radiation would take care of it if there had been any left behind. I did NOT have sentinal nodes tested since DCIS is, by definition, confined to the ducts and not invasive. My rads were finished 9/4/09. No further sign of trouble on either the mammos or the MRIs.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
~~Connie~~
But had nodes removed-all fine...and then I had 8 wks radiation! So far almsot 2 yrs since all ok..going to Oncologist Friday & think getting ok to go annually for mammo...yipppee (been every 3-6mths)0 -
When is your surgery?disneyfan2008 said:Happened to a coworker
sorry to hear you have to go through this again..
When is your surgery?0 -
surgeryjnl said:When is your surgery?
When is your surgery?
surgery will be on Nov. 29th. Wish me luck : )0 -
Good Luckchriskaput said:surgery
surgery will be on Nov. 29th. Wish me luck : )
It isn't easy for fears can rush in but know it just is...
It isn't easy facing all the news and then decide our own treatment plans. Hang in there and I will be thinking of you.
Strength is an amazing feeling and sometimes resigning ourselve's to what ever it is we finally decide can take off some of the pressure and stress.
Tara0 -
Same Story for me, Chrischriskaput said:surgery
surgery will be on Nov. 29th. Wish me luck : )
First of all celebrate the node negative!! Secondly, the same thing happened to me and recovery the second time is a piece of cake. (Though, I had month and a half between my surgeries.. may have made a difference?)
I, too, was pissed off that I had to go back in, BUT, the great news of BENIGN BREAST TISSUE is so worth the journey... and I hope that for you
Blessings and hugs,
Stace0 -
I am sorry that you have tojoannstar said:Same thing happened to me
I had a similar experience except when they did the second "re-incision" the pathology report re-classed me as Stage 1B (it had been Stage 0 after the first partial mastectomy--called that because they took more of my breast than expected). I found that the incision took a bit longer to heal because it had been re-opened, but this was easier because they didn't need to take any nodes the second time.
Even though I had no node involvement, my onc wanted me to do chemo because I had a high-grade tumor (1.2 cm) and I am triple negative so there is no hormone treatment that will work for me.
I'm half-way through the 6 chemo treatments with new side-effects each time. What a challenge it is to stay positive as new things start to "appear"--this cycle my feet are burning, last cycle I got a rash and the first I had dental issues.
I'm looking forward to radiation (33 treatments) which means that I'll be finished with the chemo!!!
Your onc is being thorough and that is a good thing...you really wouldn't have wanted it any other way, I mean to go through all of this and not be sure that he got it all would be more upsetting.
Chin up...we are all in this together...it has to get better!!
<<<hugs>>>
JoAnn
I am sorry that you have to go through surgery again. Praying for a clean path report this time. Keep us updated.
Hugs, Debby0 -
Second operation
I had a left lumpectomy and a right mastectomy five years ago they told me the same thing, they didn't get a clear margin. Since it was the first operation I had ever had in my life, it totally freaked me out and I told them there was no way I could handle another operation. Also I am self supporting and was concerned about holding my position at work if I stayed out additional time. I chose the alternate method of doing chemo and radiation which I probably would have had to do even with the second operation.
I have been cancer free for five years, however; some small specs showed up on my mammogram recently. I was called to the surgeon’s office and told it might be cancer in the very early stages. I did the biopsy they recommended and the results were negative, no cancer. The surgeon said I want you to have an operation anyway. I didn't know what to think and wondered if this was just a surgeon trying to increase business. I told him I wanted to talk to my oncologist before making a decision.
My oncologist went along with the surgeon. She said they did not get good samples and some of the calcifications (specs) might be cancerous. I am scheduled to have them removed on March 23, 2011 and I am still not convinced that I have cancer but I am afraid to take a chance so I am taking my doctors advice.
I know you must feel anger as I did but it might be best to have it removed to prevent cancer from returning in the future.
May God bless you and give you strength through this difficult time.0 -
It happened to me too. I wasTicky said:Second operation
I had a left lumpectomy and a right mastectomy five years ago they told me the same thing, they didn't get a clear margin. Since it was the first operation I had ever had in my life, it totally freaked me out and I told them there was no way I could handle another operation. Also I am self supporting and was concerned about holding my position at work if I stayed out additional time. I chose the alternate method of doing chemo and radiation which I probably would have had to do even with the second operation.
I have been cancer free for five years, however; some small specs showed up on my mammogram recently. I was called to the surgeon’s office and told it might be cancer in the very early stages. I did the biopsy they recommended and the results were negative, no cancer. The surgeon said I want you to have an operation anyway. I didn't know what to think and wondered if this was just a surgeon trying to increase business. I told him I wanted to talk to my oncologist before making a decision.
My oncologist went along with the surgeon. She said they did not get good samples and some of the calcifications (specs) might be cancerous. I am scheduled to have them removed on March 23, 2011 and I am still not convinced that I have cancer but I am afraid to take a chance so I am taking my doctors advice.
I know you must feel anger as I did but it might be best to have it removed to prevent cancer from returning in the future.
May God bless you and give you strength through this difficult time.
It happened to me too. I was angry at first too because I thought why didn't they just take more the first time. Iknow now that this is common, figure the microscope shows them more and thank God it did.
Just part of the fight against the beast.
God Bless you and keep you.
P.S. Anger is one of the emotions that we have also! LOL
Hugs,
Wanda0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.2K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 440 Bladder Cancer
- 306 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.4K Breast Cancer
- 391 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 12.9K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.3K Kidney Cancer
- 666 Leukemia
- 789 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 235 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 53 Pancreatic Cancer
- 486 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.3K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 532 Sarcoma
- 717 Skin Cancer
- 647 Stomach Cancer
- 190 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards