Another surgery on Friday

rainsandpours
rainsandpours Member Posts: 136

My SIXTH in less than 2 years.  :(.  I  had a bad MRI in late April, then a benign biopsy, but my surgeon wants to remove a suspicious tumor in my chest wall. It's grown 1cm since the May 20th bio.  I was shocked when on this past Wed she scheduled me 9 days hence.  That is not the usual pattern of waiting forever!

 

Backstory for those who don't know me:  Thyroid cancer in 2012,recurrence in 2013, kidney cancer found incidentally March 2013, OPN Oct 2013.

I am no longer being followed for the thyroid cancer (???, idiot doctors), and have yet to see my Urologist for a followup ( though I had a ct in May that was clear).  Now I'm under the wing of a general surgeon who is monitoring suspicious breast masses. 

 

Wish me luck.  She thinks its a Phyllodes tumor, but at this point, it could be anything!

Comments

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    Wishing you the best and a

    Wishing you the best and a speedy recovery. Is that the growth for which the biopsy was benign?

  • rainsandpours
    rainsandpours Member Posts: 136
    APny said:

    Wishing you the best and a

    Wishing you the best and a speedy recovery. Is that the growth for which the biopsy was benign?

    Thank you, and yes same

    Thank you, and yes same lump.  I had a core biopsy in May, and as we know, those things miss cancer much of the time.  That's what happened originally with the thyroid.  2 biopsies both came back benigm or inconclusive, but after surgery, they found cancer in my thyroid tumor.  Hoping this time they dont!  I have 3 other masses that were seen on MRI, but not on ultrasound.  The surgeon wants me to have another MRI in Oct to monitor for changes, and then we'll deal with it.  I'm a little nervous that I'll be disfigured after this one though. To get to the tumor in the chest wall, they have to go in through my boob! 

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member

    Thank you, and yes same

    Thank you, and yes same lump.  I had a core biopsy in May, and as we know, those things miss cancer much of the time.  That's what happened originally with the thyroid.  2 biopsies both came back benigm or inconclusive, but after surgery, they found cancer in my thyroid tumor.  Hoping this time they dont!  I have 3 other masses that were seen on MRI, but not on ultrasound.  The surgeon wants me to have another MRI in Oct to monitor for changes, and then we'll deal with it.  I'm a little nervous that I'll be disfigured after this one though. To get to the tumor in the chest wall, they have to go in through my boob! 

    They're pretty good nowdays

    They're pretty good nowdays with surgery so there's minimal scarring, etc., so I'm sure you'll have no permanent disfigurement just some initial swelling, which is expected. Hoping the original benign diagnosis holds up. Best of luck!

  • aamdsi
    aamdsi Member Posts: 284
    warm thoughts

    will be wishing you warm, healing thoughts and prayers on Friday.  Sorry all this is happening to you.

  • cheatinlil
    cheatinlil Member Posts: 197
    aamdsi said:

    warm thoughts

    will be wishing you warm, healing thoughts and prayers on Friday.  Sorry all this is happening to you.

    So sorry you are going

    So sorry you are going through this Rains,

    I'm sending happy thoughts and prayers your way.

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member

    So sorry you are going

    So sorry you are going through this Rains,

    I'm sending happy thoughts and prayers your way.

    You will do fine

    because I am convinced that we can recover from anything that they can do with us.

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    Wow, that is rough. I will be

    Wow, that is rough. I will be keeping you in my thoughts! Keep us posted on how you are doing!

    Hugs

    Jojo

  • rainsandpours
    rainsandpours Member Posts: 136
    Home from the wars!  And

    Home from the wars!  And !

     

    Surg went well.  The nurses were so sweet and even a few passerby doctors were funny.  Was a slow day on the surgery day care ward, so they came and went to chat with me while I waited and waited.  The anesthesiologist had to go do a couple epi's, so my surg got pushed back 2 hours.  The only glitch was the itch!  I woke up on fire due to my adhesive allergy which they now think might be also a latex problem.  Entire chest was covered in hives.  So they pushed some Decadron and that helped.  I was discharged home an hour after I woke up.  Stopped for coffee and a donut then came home to rest.  Not that I can sleep...due to the steroids.

    Back to work on Mon, then follow up with the surgeon in 2 weeks for the pathology (if my GP doesnt call with it first).

     

    Thanks for all the well wishes

     

     

  • aamdsi
    aamdsi Member Posts: 284
    Wow what a champ!

    So glad all went well (with exception of the hives).  Here is wishing you a peaceful rest of weekend And lots of sleep. 

    Laurie

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    aamdsi said:

    Wow what a champ!

    So glad all went well (with exception of the hives).  Here is wishing you a peaceful rest of weekend And lots of sleep. 

    Laurie

    Wow - it sounds like it went

    Wow - it sounds like it went great! (other than the hives). Did you, by chance stop at a Timmie's for coffee and a donut? lol

    I hope all is still going well. Happy Canada Day!

    Hugs

    Jojo

  • Djinnie
    Djinnie Member Posts: 945 Member

    Home from the wars!  And

    Home from the wars!  And !

     

    Surg went well.  The nurses were so sweet and even a few passerby doctors were funny.  Was a slow day on the surgery day care ward, so they came and went to chat with me while I waited and waited.  The anesthesiologist had to go do a couple epi's, so my surg got pushed back 2 hours.  The only glitch was the itch!  I woke up on fire due to my adhesive allergy which they now think might be also a latex problem.  Entire chest was covered in hives.  So they pushed some Decadron and that helped.  I was discharged home an hour after I woke up.  Stopped for coffee and a donut then came home to rest.  Not that I can sleep...due to the steroids.

    Back to work on Mon, then follow up with the surgeon in 2 weeks for the pathology (if my GP doesnt call with it first).

     

    Thanks for all the well wishes

     

     

    Thinking of you!

    Hey Rains,

    am sorry I am playing catch up! I am glad to hear all went well with the surgery, I will be praying for clear results! Have a good rest and heal well:)

     

    Djinnie xx

  • rainsandpours
    rainsandpours Member Posts: 136
    Jojo61 said:

    Wow - it sounds like it went

    Wow - it sounds like it went great! (other than the hives). Did you, by chance stop at a Timmie's for coffee and a donut? lol

    I hope all is still going well. Happy Canada Day!

    Hugs

    Jojo

    Path results:

    Benign Phyllodes tumor, 2.2 cm.  That's the good news.

     

    Bad news is they got crappy margins.  2 sides of the tumor showed positive margins with extensive tumor cells.  Plus the tumor had broken through the capsule.  My breast surgeon has decided (against normal protocol) to NOT do a recexcision.  She wants to wait 6 months and rescan for new growth, then take it from there.

     

    However, I saw my Uro 2 days after that appt and he had also been sent the path report.  His recommendation is to consult with another surgeon and the cancer agency.  Says leaving Phyllodes cells is a recipe for disaster, especially since it is aggressive and grows fast.  I'm waiting on a referral now.

     

    On the kidney front, he was happy with my CT scan results in May (waited 2 months following it to see him!).  Next scan is March 2015, and if clean he says I'm done? What yall think about that?  I'm nervtous to only have 2 followup scans then nothing forever. 

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member

    Path results:

    Benign Phyllodes tumor, 2.2 cm.  That's the good news.

     

    Bad news is they got crappy margins.  2 sides of the tumor showed positive margins with extensive tumor cells.  Plus the tumor had broken through the capsule.  My breast surgeon has decided (against normal protocol) to NOT do a recexcision.  She wants to wait 6 months and rescan for new growth, then take it from there.

     

    However, I saw my Uro 2 days after that appt and he had also been sent the path report.  His recommendation is to consult with another surgeon and the cancer agency.  Says leaving Phyllodes cells is a recipe for disaster, especially since it is aggressive and grows fast.  I'm waiting on a referral now.

     

    On the kidney front, he was happy with my CT scan results in May (waited 2 months following it to see him!).  Next scan is March 2015, and if clean he says I'm done? What yall think about that?  I'm nervtous to only have 2 followup scans then nothing forever. 

    Oh dear, so sorry for ALL you

    Oh dear, so sorry for ALL you are and have been going through..enough!!

    Sending you healing thoughts and light to brighten your journey. You are never alone, WE are with you, always, walking along side you, if you want us to.

    Keep us informed my dear~

    Warm Hugs, Jan

  • Djinnie
    Djinnie Member Posts: 945 Member

    Path results:

    Benign Phyllodes tumor, 2.2 cm.  That's the good news.

     

    Bad news is they got crappy margins.  2 sides of the tumor showed positive margins with extensive tumor cells.  Plus the tumor had broken through the capsule.  My breast surgeon has decided (against normal protocol) to NOT do a recexcision.  She wants to wait 6 months and rescan for new growth, then take it from there.

     

    However, I saw my Uro 2 days after that appt and he had also been sent the path report.  His recommendation is to consult with another surgeon and the cancer agency.  Says leaving Phyllodes cells is a recipe for disaster, especially since it is aggressive and grows fast.  I'm waiting on a referral now.

     

    On the kidney front, he was happy with my CT scan results in May (waited 2 months following it to see him!).  Next scan is March 2015, and if clean he says I'm done? What yall think about that?  I'm nervtous to only have 2 followup scans then nothing forever. 

    Good News!

    Hey Rains, 

    I have been wondering about you! benign Yay! at last good news! but more surgery unfortunately! As these tumours grow very quickly you certainly would think it would be better to contain the growth pattern by acting sooner, so I am glad to hear you are getting a second opinion on treatment options. I would question the Uro's decision on the scans though, it's a relief to know that all is clear but regular follow ups are so important, normally up to five years. Once I got to the five year mark I started having ultra sounds instead. As you know it is wiser to remain vigilant!

    Let us know how the referral goes:)

     

    Djinnie xx



  • aamdsi
    aamdsi Member Posts: 284
    Good bad

    so sorry for more surgeries in your future, but am glad the one tumor was/is benign.

    keep fighting.  You aren't alone, we are here with prayers for you.