A Newbie to the Support Group

believer5409
believer5409 Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I was recently diagnosed with a 1.7cm invasive ductal carcinoma tumor. I had an lumpectomy on 2/4. My surgeon thinks since it was a 3mm margin he recommends an additional surgery, but asked me to wait until I met with the Radiation Therapy to see if he agreed with him. My radiation doctor said he was okay with that margin. If it was 2 or less he would consider surgery. I just wonder if I should have had an mastectomy. I start chemo 2/21 and then will follow with radiation after 4 treatments of chemo. Should'nt chemo along with radiation take care of the concern of the margin? I am 46 years old. Also has anyone with the same as me been through this a long time and has had no recurrence?

Comments

  • sevey
    sevey Member Posts: 184
    #2
    Dear Believer,
    I can't say that I have been in the same place as you. I am a long time survivor and had a double with reconstruction in 2001. I am very reluctant to give medical advice or even argue with your Drs as I would be going against personal rules I took when I first joined this site. I will say that I am a firm believer in more opinions. I also welcome you to this site whole heartedly.... I am not in a position to offer any advice on a medical standpoint simply because I'm not qualified to do so. I don't want you to feel as if I'm being stand offish either. There are a lot of people here that can and are very willing to give advice. I just wanted to let you know that we are also here for moral as well as spiritual support.
    We are very good at both of that kinda stuff. I and others will be praying for you and just follow what your Drs say. If they are conflicting each other, it would'nt hurt to get advice from other professionals who know what they are doing. I always have gotten or sought advice from other Drs and I strongly believe that is very important especially in recurrence. I have dealt with this disease in various forms since 1989. I am not a authority on the matter, but I can safely say I am well versed on this topic. I can say that because I am still here much to a lot of others surprise.... I am also a firm believer in God and I am a miricle.... I have been told to get my personal things in order as far a Living Will. I am in no way suggesting that this is your case at all.... I am merely saying that The Ultimate Healer is Jesus. He is always with me in spite of myself {sometimes} . I believe this with all my heart and soul. I am sure you feel the same way. Stick around and let us get to know you. There are so many wonderfull people on this site. I can't even begin to tell you how much it has helped me...Words are just not enough to explain. WELCOME AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF ALL THAT THESE WOMEN AND JESUS HAVE TO OFFER YOU......
    GODS LOVE & PEACE
    LOVE CATHY
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #3
    Welcome to the club, mixed blessing at this point eh?
    I'm hummingbyrd, I was diagnosed 6/00 had lumpectomy, 4 cm mass with 13 out of 27 + lymph nodes. Treated with AC/taxol then radiation. Had bone metastasis 8/01 right arm, treated with rad, lumpectomy (other breast this time) only 4mm, what would you call it, spot?, about size of pinhead and then bone met to low back, radiated.
    Studies show lumpectomy has an equal cure rate as mastectomy. I get research off of PubMed, WebMD and www.nih.gov.com I recommend you read whatever you can so you can make an 'informed decision'. Also curious, did surgeon do a sentinel node biopsy? Did he take any lymph nodes? Kinda puts you in bad spot, 2 docs with 2 different opinions! Ball is back in your court, love, set, match.....better yet love, hope and faith!
    I'm a firm believer in the Great Physician, He who can heal all things! I know I had to undergo all of the traditional treatments to treat the cancer, but I also know it is my faith in God that has kept me alive. By the way, I was 38 at age of diagnosis, I'm now 41!
    This is a great site, filled with lots of loving, caring women who can relate to what you're going through. Feel free to come and ask questions, vent, or just share what your feeling.
    We all have personal pages here, kinda like a web page, you can visit those to get to know us better. We also have email with in the site, I'll send you a message, I was on site 4 weeks before I even knew that we had email. LOL
    (laugh out loud) First time I saw abbreviation I thought friend was calling me a little ol lady! LOL
    God bless you and again welcome aboard. hummingbyrd
  • isaiah4031
    isaiah4031 Member Posts: 240
    #4
    Welcome. We are almost identical. I am 47 and had Stage I - 1.6 cm with minimal margins. I opted for the lumpectomy with radiation and chemo. I would be happy to answer any questions for you if I can. I had Adriamycin and Cytoxan for my chemo and about 30 radiation treatments. I really had minor side effects during treatments. I am a 22 month survivor! Hurray! Please keep us posted. I'll be praying for you.
    Love, Jayne
  • isaiah4031
    isaiah4031 Member Posts: 240
    #5
    Sorry, I forgot to ask...were your lymph nodes negative?
    Jayne
  • believer5409
    believer5409 Member Posts: 10
    #6
    isaiah4031 said:

    Sorry, I forgot to ask...were your lymph nodes negative?
    Jayne

    Yes! all 15 of them.
  • believer5409
    believer5409 Member Posts: 10
    #7
    sevey said:

    Dear Believer,
    I can't say that I have been in the same place as you. I am a long time survivor and had a double with reconstruction in 2001. I am very reluctant to give medical advice or even argue with your Drs as I would be going against personal rules I took when I first joined this site. I will say that I am a firm believer in more opinions. I also welcome you to this site whole heartedly.... I am not in a position to offer any advice on a medical standpoint simply because I'm not qualified to do so. I don't want you to feel as if I'm being stand offish either. There are a lot of people here that can and are very willing to give advice. I just wanted to let you know that we are also here for moral as well as spiritual support.
    We are very good at both of that kinda stuff. I and others will be praying for you and just follow what your Drs say. If they are conflicting each other, it would'nt hurt to get advice from other professionals who know what they are doing. I always have gotten or sought advice from other Drs and I strongly believe that is very important especially in recurrence. I have dealt with this disease in various forms since 1989. I am not a authority on the matter, but I can safely say I am well versed on this topic. I can say that because I am still here much to a lot of others surprise.... I am also a firm believer in God and I am a miricle.... I have been told to get my personal things in order as far a Living Will. I am in no way suggesting that this is your case at all.... I am merely saying that The Ultimate Healer is Jesus. He is always with me in spite of myself {sometimes} . I believe this with all my heart and soul. I am sure you feel the same way. Stick around and let us get to know you. There are so many wonderfull people on this site. I can't even begin to tell you how much it has helped me...Words are just not enough to explain. WELCOME AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF ALL THAT THESE WOMEN AND JESUS HAVE TO OFFER YOU......
    GODS LOVE & PEACE
    LOVE CATHY

    Thanks for your response. I appreciate it very much. But, what is your situation?
  • believer5409
    believer5409 Member Posts: 10
    #8
    isaiah4031 said:

    Welcome. We are almost identical. I am 47 and had Stage I - 1.6 cm with minimal margins. I opted for the lumpectomy with radiation and chemo. I would be happy to answer any questions for you if I can. I had Adriamycin and Cytoxan for my chemo and about 30 radiation treatments. I really had minor side effects during treatments. I am a 22 month survivor! Hurray! Please keep us posted. I'll be praying for you.
    Love, Jayne

    Jayne,
    It's good to hear you had minor side effects. I will be taking the same chemo drugs and 30 rads. Did you have no nodes involvement also? My cancer was in Stage I but it was a Grade 3 which means that is was an very aggressive growing dividing cell. What was your grade?
  • isaiah4031
    isaiah4031 Member Posts: 240
    #9
    believer5409 said:

    Yes! all 15 of them.

    I had no node involvement, Praise the Lord! So glad yours are negative, also. I don't know the grade. I will need to look up my stuff again and see. I have forgotten. If I can't find it, I'll ask my doctor. Anyway, let me know if there is anything I can do for you...ask any thing you need. If you want, you can e-mail me at cmdrlawson@innerpride.com I tend to check that more than here because I get work e-mails there. But I am trying to be more faithful checking here as well. You're in my prayers. God will see you through.
    Love, Jayne

Discussion Boards