When do you find out margins?

hjb8
hjb8 Member Posts: 2
edited October 2011 in Breast Cancer #1
I am new to this site and am reading through many topics and can see this is an absolutely wonderful networking site. While I'm certainly not happy to have been diagnosed at 42 I feel I have become a member of an elite group of amazing woman.
I was diagnosed Sept 14, 2011 with IDC. They are saying stage 1. I also had a cyst aspirated which had atypia cells at the same time I had my needle biopsy on my tumor (size 8mm). Yesterday (10-13-2011)I opted for a lumpectomy using radioactive seed localization and the cyst area had to be removed as well. I also had a sentinal node biopsy done. I have not received my pathology report on my nodes yet. When would I find out my margins?

I know I have to get radiation since I opted for the lumpectomy and I am er+ pr+ her2-. So I will have to take tomoxifin. I'm not sure about chemo and am praying that perhaps I won't have to go through it. I'm taking it one step at a time. I haven't talked with an oncologist yet. My surgeon has been stepping me through the process and I'm sure we will dicuss this at my post op appointment.

Should I have already talked with an oncologist or do they typically wait until they find out what the results of the sentinal node is?

So many questions and I'm sure they aren't the right ones.

Thanks in advance for any light that can be shed.

Blessings to all,

Heather

Comments

  • sinee
    sinee Member Posts: 196 Member
    Oncologist
    Welcome to the club no one ever wants to join, but more do every single day...glad you found this awesome resource so early. There are no wrong questions, so always ask. If you need to talk at anytime, jump into the chat room, you can just click on chat and it will take you right to the Lobby, were we all hang out, at all hours of the day or night. You do want to find an Oncologist, and bring them up to speed. From a personal perspective, my tumor on my right breast was 7mm, and I also opted for a lumpectomy. First I had chemo, to shrink the tumor, then I had surgery, then I had radiation...now at 57 I am on Anastrozel, not sure I am spelling it correctly, but it is for women past menopause. You can come here and share the ride with all of us, emotional highs and lows, happy dances when things go right, and just all around moral support. We have all been there, and that makes all the difference. Friends, and loved ones try to support us the best they can, but all of your pink sisters here will hold on to you through all of it. Never feel alone. See you in the Chat room and I will be holding you up in positive thoughts to the universe~stay strong, continue to gather info, take notes, all along the way. You can do this, and we are all right here for you. Sinee
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    Margins have to do with the tumor itself
    and your surgeon should already know that. Mine told my husband as soon as the surgery was over that the margins were clear. Node biopsy can take longer so perhaps the wait is to tell you everything at once. The fact that you haven't heard anything is probably a good sign. As I understand it if margins aren't clear they get you back in for additional surgery. As hard as it is, sometimes this is a waiting game. Hang in there! Sending {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and prayers your way.
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    My dx was very different, so
    My dx was very different, so I had chemo before surgery. So I started seeing my onc very early and consider him my main doc. I got the answer about margins when I got the full surgical pathology (including the info about the nodes), it was 3-4 business days after the surgery.

    By the way, I always ask for a print out of the pathology reports. I have referred back to them once in a while.

    Please come back and ask more questions as they come to mind, or to just share things of importance to you.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • Cinkal
    Cinkal Member Posts: 161
    My surgeon called me a
    My surgeon called me a couple days after surgery to tell me my margins were clear and that there was no node involvement. At my follow up appointment we talked about the treatment I would need. He told me to make an appointment with an oncologist and radiation oncologist.
    Waiting for results was one of the hardest parts. The fear of the unknown is agonizing. Chemo and radiation were not as bad as I anticipated.
    I hope you hear results soon.
    Good luck
    Cindy
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    Cinkal said:

    My surgeon called me a
    My surgeon called me a couple days after surgery to tell me my margins were clear and that there was no node involvement. At my follow up appointment we talked about the treatment I would need. He told me to make an appointment with an oncologist and radiation oncologist.
    Waiting for results was one of the hardest parts. The fear of the unknown is agonizing. Chemo and radiation were not as bad as I anticipated.
    I hope you hear results soon.
    Good luck
    Cindy

    Elite, indeed!
    Yep, that's us. Welcome.

    We were told clear margins, no node involvement right after surgery BUT we were also told that the final pathology might be different. Mine was sort of different. I was having oncoplasty/mini breast reduction in addition to lumpectomy. The lumpectomy part of the surgery did not have clear margins (didn't know this until my post op visit), but the big chunk for the reduction did, so yes, I had clear margins.

    Your nodes are likely clear or they would have taken more than the sentinel nodes. Again, the final pathology report which is more detailed could be different.

    There's no problem with calling if you're uncomfortable waiting for results. Takes about 3-4 business days. My post op was only a few days longer and the news we got after surgery was enough for me. (I was too naive to worry).

    Best of luck to you. We're here for you any time.

    Suzanne
  • hjb8
    hjb8 Member Posts: 2
    Thank You
    Thank you so much for the information and for the support. You all are truly amazing and dedicated to helping us "newbies".
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member

    Elite, indeed!
    Yep, that's us. Welcome.

    We were told clear margins, no node involvement right after surgery BUT we were also told that the final pathology might be different. Mine was sort of different. I was having oncoplasty/mini breast reduction in addition to lumpectomy. The lumpectomy part of the surgery did not have clear margins (didn't know this until my post op visit), but the big chunk for the reduction did, so yes, I had clear margins.

    Your nodes are likely clear or they would have taken more than the sentinel nodes. Again, the final pathology report which is more detailed could be different.

    There's no problem with calling if you're uncomfortable waiting for results. Takes about 3-4 business days. My post op was only a few days longer and the news we got after surgery was enough for me. (I was too naive to worry).

    Best of luck to you. We're here for you any time.

    Suzanne

    I went in to see
    I went in to see my surgeon 2 weeks after my lumpectomy. He said good news and bad news.The good news I got it all.The bad news I need to go back in to check margins.He wanted to make sure all was CLEAR.In 3 weeks I went back in but not before I found a lump just 2 days before the second sugery that was to check margins.It was benign but very scary.All was well after the margin surgery. Then I saw my oncologist to start tamoxifin.I was dx with non invasive DCIS,1/2 centimeter tumor and Stage 0.No chemo or radiation.I still wonder about radiation but been over 2 years since dx.

    I hear sometimes a second sugery is needed.Not often but I was just one who did need one.No way I would think the first time was fine. Not to say I didn't hate to be opened up again but I agreed with my surgeon. BUT my friends said"Why didn't he get it all the first time"??? He did but double checked and ended up he had to remove that benign tumor. As you can see nothing easy happens with me.Always complications.

    Call your doctor but I just patiently waited. Had a appt for the second surgery then made a appt to see him after that and he went over everything with me in his office.

    Lynn Smith
  • pginsburg
    pginsburg Member Posts: 8
    Hi Heather
    Sorry we all have to be here, but as overwhelming as this whole journey has been, I think many find comfort in knowing they are not alone and can confide in others experiencing similar journeys.

    I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy 9/28/2010 after the initial biopsy showed LCIS with a very small invasive border. 3 days later, I received a call from the surgeon's nurse telling me my sentinel nodes were negative and I did not have clear margins. They also found DCIS, therefore I had a "re-excision" to get clear margins scheduled for 10/29/2010. After another 3 day wait, I received the call saying I still had cancer @ the distal margin and found I had invasive DCIS as well. Because of the fact I had 3 different cancer cells in one breast and again could not get clear margins, the wisest choice was mastectomy and immediate reconstruction, which was scheduled 12/16/2010. I found out after the mastectomy that it was "fortunate" I had it done because more cancer was found in another quadrant where, after a mammogram, 3 sonograms and an MRI, it was never detected.

    The pathologists usually check your sentinel nodes at the time of the surgery under the microscope to determine how many nodes to remove, but the official answer does not come until the pathology is complete after a few days. From my understanding, accuracy takes time and proper specimen preparation.

    I found speaking with people who have "walked this walk" has been very helpful understanding everything, as well as a book I was given called "Navigating Breast Cancer" written by Lillie Shockney, RN, BS, MAS. It is an easy-to -understand, simple worded guide to walk you through this journey from day one on. The author is a nurse at John Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center and is almost a 20 year breast cancer survivor. It really is a great read and you will find it very helpful.

    God bless you through your journey. I give you much credit to be asking these questions and looking for guidance. I was initially in denial and avoided reading anything about cancer or anything "pink" for that matter. I admire that in you and wish you nothing but the best...

    Pam
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    mmmm
    I am 3 1/2 yrs out and have no idea what margins are> never mentioned to me I never asked...

    Denise...
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    skipper54 said:

    Margins have to do with the tumor itself
    and your surgeon should already know that. Mine told my husband as soon as the surgery was over that the margins were clear. Node biopsy can take longer so perhaps the wait is to tell you everything at once. The fact that you haven't heard anything is probably a good sign. As I understand it if margins aren't clear they get you back in for additional surgery. As hard as it is, sometimes this is a waiting game. Hang in there! Sending {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and prayers your way.

    My surgeon told my husband
    My surgeon told my husband right after my lumpectomy that he "thought" he got clean margins, but, he couldn't know for sure until the pathology report if he did or not.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598

    Elite, indeed!
    Yep, that's us. Welcome.

    We were told clear margins, no node involvement right after surgery BUT we were also told that the final pathology might be different. Mine was sort of different. I was having oncoplasty/mini breast reduction in addition to lumpectomy. The lumpectomy part of the surgery did not have clear margins (didn't know this until my post op visit), but the big chunk for the reduction did, so yes, I had clear margins.

    Your nodes are likely clear or they would have taken more than the sentinel nodes. Again, the final pathology report which is more detailed could be different.

    There's no problem with calling if you're uncomfortable waiting for results. Takes about 3-4 business days. My post op was only a few days longer and the news we got after surgery was enough for me. (I was too naive to worry).

    Best of luck to you. We're here for you any time.

    Suzanne

    My husband and I saw my
    My husband and I saw my breast surgeon the day after my lumpectomy and he told us then that he got clear margins! What a relief!


    Good luck to you!


    Hugs, Lex