new cancer just found

arachne5

Hi I'm new to the discussion area. Had lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy and 7 weeks radiation for a small invasive area with dcis in 2001. All clear until the 6 month mammo last month showed an "abnormal area".. Given the choice of wait and do more films in 3 months or go for stereotactic biopsy I opted for the latter. (There's a chioice when you've done cancer once?)
Had to wait through the holidays. i had the biopsy and got the positive results yesterday. Options given were lumpectomy and antihormone therapy or mastectomy and reconstruction. Easy vhoice - no reconstruction but leaning toward mastectomy. Saw the path report today when i went for blood tests and chest xray and find that it is still small - 4mm but more aggressive cell types than the first (same breast new site) Will talk more with surgeon at an appointment Monday or Tuesday but the nurse got a hold on operating room and time for me for Friday the 16th. I will probably need a prophylactic mastectomy on the other breast since I am large breasted.
Reconstruction looks dicey to meand the aesthetics don't bother me much at 71. I don't feel right about reduction in the other breast as it makes finding any new stuff hard to detect on mammo and SNB would also be out.
I'm lucky to have two wonderful women as surgeon and oncologist and a fantastic backup team at the Breast Care Center.
Not happy about this turn in my life, but not afraid either. At least, I don't think so....

sarajane

I had a double mastectomy last year and really the recovery is not bad. I decided against reconstruction for several reasons and have found that there are lightweight things I can use that keep me looking good and sometimes I jut use a cute "teddie" remember when those were so popular. I also tell myself TWIGGY is coming very much back into style. Seriously the hardest part of the operation was sleeping on my back until the drains were out. Compared to everything else do not fear it..the pain and discomfort can easily becontrolled and I was able to go outto a movie 10 days later..in fact we went out to dinner 7 days after the surgery and I am close to you in age. Hang in there. Just be sure to have someone to heelp you the first few days and look carefully for a good fitter for your garments. Medicare covers a certain number a year. Hope this helps...

SweetSue

I had a bilateral mastectomy in March,2003. I was walking around the block the next day. I opted to put reconstruction on hold.....not sure if I'll ever get reconstruction.
I didn't need pain pills, but I agree with everybody that those drainage tubes are annoying.
Take care,
Sue

arachne5

Thanks for your input. I need to talk to the surgeon of course but am leaning toward having the double mastectomy. Anesthesia is more bothering than the surgeries - and more dangerous, actually.
There is the point of if you are going to hurt get it over with. Most people I know who have had mastectomy didn't seem to hurt much - which I find amazing - and were back to normal activity pretty fast.
I really appreciate the reassurance from those who have walked the path ahead of me.

I have good friends and family who are incredibly supportive from offers to drive to housekeeping to just sitting around and being company. my daughter is a critical care nurse and my next door neighbor a nurse who has had bilateral mastectomy. Hard to be in a better situation and I know my good fortune.

Sandis

arachne5 said:

Thanks for your input. I need to talk to the surgeon of course but am leaning toward having the double mastectomy. Anesthesia is more bothering than the surgeries - and more dangerous, actually.
There is the point of if you are going to hurt get it over with. Most people I know who have had mastectomy didn't seem to hurt much - which I find amazing - and were back to normal activity pretty fast.
I really appreciate the reassurance from those who have walked the path ahead of me.

I have good friends and family who are incredibly supportive from offers to drive to housekeeping to just sitting around and being company. my daughter is a critical care nurse and my next door neighbor a nurse who has had bilateral mastectomy. Hard to be in a better situation and I know my good fortune.

I also had a bilateral mastectomy last year. I feel so good to not have to worry about cancer in the non-malignant breast. You seem to have lots of support and a positive attitude. I'll be thinking about you. Sandi

DeeNY711

I also opted for double mastectomy since right breast had lobular carcinoma and I was told left breast would have to be reduced by 50% or more to match a prosthesis. As it turned out, pathology discovered post-op that the tissue from the "unaffected" left breast had microscopic spots of cancer, too. The tumor in the right breast and the cancerous tissue in the left breast were never visualized on mammography or sonogram. I chose not to have reconstruction because I simply wanted everything healed as much as possible prior to starting chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I've never regretted that choice. I was doing laps around the nurses station the night of surgery while my husband was begging me to slow down because he could not keep up. Went home the next day. Having a comfy place to sit and your own bathroom are two of life's best things! I wish you the very best. Love,
Denise

JAN22

HI,I HAD A MASTECTOMY AND RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!!! , AND I AM GLAD I WENT FOR IT AND NOT THE LUMPECTOMY . STAY POSSITIVE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RECOVERY , AND TRUSTING IN YOUR SURGEONS IS ALSO HALF THE BATTLE. I WAS SO HAPPY WITH BOTH OF MY SURGEONS, I FELT LIKE I WAS IN THE VERY BEST HANDS AND THAT DAY I WAS SO POSSITIVE ABOUT THE WHOLE THING, I JUST RELAXED AND WENT FOR A WELL NEEDED REAST. RECOVERY IS NOT AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS, THE FIRST THREE DAYS WILL BE THE HARDEST, SO LOOK FORWARD TO THE FOURTH DAY AND SO ON. GOD BLESS, AND I WILL SEND HEALING PRAYERS YOUR WAY, AND THINKING OF YOU ON YOUR DAY OF SURGERY . JAN

sarajane

arachne5 said:

Thanks for your input. I need to talk to the surgeon of course but am leaning toward having the double mastectomy. Anesthesia is more bothering than the surgeries - and more dangerous, actually.
There is the point of if you are going to hurt get it over with. Most people I know who have had mastectomy didn't seem to hurt much - which I find amazing - and were back to normal activity pretty fast.
I really appreciate the reassurance from those who have walked the path ahead of me.

I have good friends and family who are incredibly supportive from offers to drive to housekeeping to just sitting around and being company. my daughter is a critical care nurse and my next door neighbor a nurse who has had bilateral mastectomy. Hard to be in a better situation and I know my good fortune.

You sent me a message last week but have not been able to get it. Hope you are doing well. I passed the i year mark doing well on araimidex. Keep me posted