repeat surgery after lumpectomy

shineyone
shineyone Member Posts: 2
in Breast Cancer #1
I just had a lumpectomy 1.5 weeks ago and apparently she did not get clean margins and wants me to have a 2nd biopsy due to inconclusive calcifications in the tissue sample that did not shop up on the mammogram, and if that sample comes clean to do an additional surgery for clean margins. Feeling rather insecure about this and if I should proceed or find a different surgeon or? Is it anyones experience that a pathologist is actually present in surgery to confirm clean margins?

Comments

  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #2
    I had a large lumpectomy
    I had a large lumpectomy done. The surgeon saw some tissue that looked suspicious that did not show up on the mammogram, ultrasound or MRI. I am glad she took it out, because it was cancer. I did not have clean margins at all. If I had not chosen a mastectomy, I would have had another lumpectomy. Some women have 2 or 3 lumpectomies in order to get clean margins.
    I did not want to leave a chance that there was any cancer left in me. In my situation, it was best that I had a mastectomy.
    I don't think your surgeon is out of line for wanting clean margins, since that is pretty much standard from what I have been told. But you can always get a second opinion.
  • shineyone
    shineyone Member Posts: 2
    #3
    cinnamonsmile said:

    I had a large lumpectomy
    I had a large lumpectomy done. The surgeon saw some tissue that looked suspicious that did not show up on the mammogram, ultrasound or MRI. I am glad she took it out, because it was cancer. I did not have clean margins at all. If I had not chosen a mastectomy, I would have had another lumpectomy. Some women have 2 or 3 lumpectomies in order to get clean margins.
    I did not want to leave a chance that there was any cancer left in me. In my situation, it was best that I had a mastectomy.
    I don't think your surgeon is out of line for wanting clean margins, since that is pretty much standard from what I have been told. But you can always get a second opinion.

    lumpectomy
    Thanks for the response,cinnamonsmile. I am still trying to determine why I need the biopsy to justify the 2nd surgery and still would also like to know if it is usually standard to have a pathologist in surgery to determine clean margins rather then having to wait for that answer and needing additional surgery.
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #4
    shineyone said:

    lumpectomy
    Thanks for the response,cinnamonsmile. I am still trying to determine why I need the biopsy to justify the 2nd surgery and still would also like to know if it is usually standard to have a pathologist in surgery to determine clean margins rather then having to wait for that answer and needing additional surgery.

    What does your surgeon say
    What does your surgeon say about your questions?
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #5
    I've never heard
    Of a pathologist in the OR, though someone checks the lymphnodes and disects them while the surgeon is in surgery. I do not know if that person is a pathologist or not.

    I had to have a second surgery but it was due to a mamogram on the lumpectomy breast and I believe I was 6 months past surgery when they did the mamogram. They did not do a biopsy as the suspicious cells were along the incision line anyway so they just decided to take them out. The surgeon admitted it could just be scar tissue or micocalcifications but since my tumor was large we both thought it good to get it out and wait for the pathology report. The cells are gone and it was not cancer. Now there will be nothing odd to question on my next mamogram. This second surgery did result in a fluid build up (called a seroma) under the scar but it was removed in the surgeons office.

    It is fairly common to go in for a second round of surgery but I suspect there are less complications from a lumpectomy versus a masectomy.
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #6
    cinnamonsmile said:

    What does your surgeon say
    What does your surgeon say about your questions?

    I know that sometimes they
    I know that sometimes they do have to go back in order to get clean margins. This didn't happen to me, but, some have posted about it on here.


    Good luck,

    Debby
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #7
    cinnamonsmile said:

    I had a large lumpectomy
    I had a large lumpectomy done. The surgeon saw some tissue that looked suspicious that did not show up on the mammogram, ultrasound or MRI. I am glad she took it out, because it was cancer. I did not have clean margins at all. If I had not chosen a mastectomy, I would have had another lumpectomy. Some women have 2 or 3 lumpectomies in order to get clean margins.
    I did not want to leave a chance that there was any cancer left in me. In my situation, it was best that I had a mastectomy.
    I don't think your surgeon is out of line for wanting clean margins, since that is pretty much standard from what I have been told. But you can always get a second opinion.

    My surgeon removed the lump
    in a biopsy, woke me in the middle, said it was positive but she didn't get clean margins. We had discussed this ahead of time and she said if she felt a mastectomy was needed she would let me know. Her advice was to close it up and reschedule for a week later. The pathologist was there during the surgery.

    I took her advice and one week later had a mastectomy. My lymph nodes were clear, they took 19. But it had spread to the nipple, I have never been sorry. I had 8 1/2 years dancing with NED!
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #8
    laughs_a_lot said:

    I've never heard
    Of a pathologist in the OR, though someone checks the lymphnodes and disects them while the surgeon is in surgery. I do not know if that person is a pathologist or not.

    I had to have a second surgery but it was due to a mamogram on the lumpectomy breast and I believe I was 6 months past surgery when they did the mamogram. They did not do a biopsy as the suspicious cells were along the incision line anyway so they just decided to take them out. The surgeon admitted it could just be scar tissue or micocalcifications but since my tumor was large we both thought it good to get it out and wait for the pathology report. The cells are gone and it was not cancer. Now there will be nothing odd to question on my next mamogram. This second surgery did result in a fluid build up (called a seroma) under the scar but it was removed in the surgeons office.

    It is fairly common to go in for a second round of surgery but I suspect there are less complications from a lumpectomy versus a masectomy.

    This is very common it's
    This is very common it's called re-excision. It happened to me and I'm still going strong 3 years later.
    Good luck.
    Hugs,
    Wanda
  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #9
    It happened to me. I had to
    It happened to me. I had to undergo another re-incision to get clear margins. It worked! It's been 3 years for me and I am going Strong! My best to you.
  • debsweb18
    debsweb18 Member Posts: 191 Member
    #10
    I first had a lumpectomy
    After surgery, they told me the margins were clear and no lymph node activity. However, 2 days later when the final pathology report came in, it showed my margins weren't clear and there was one small tumor on 1 lymph node. Since my surgeon had to remove so much scar tissue from a prior biopsy (removal of cysts)along with the tumor, she recommended a mastectomy because I would lose so much breast in total if I had a recision. I had my mastectomy 11 days after the lumpectomy. I don't know why you need another biopsy. Maybe they want to make sure there's nothing else in another part of the breast??? I would ask your surgeon why so you'll be more comfortable about what they're doing.

    Deb
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #11
    Lighthouse_7 said:

    This is very common it's
    This is very common it's called re-excision. It happened to me and I'm still going strong 3 years later.
    Good luck.
    Hugs,
    Wanda

    Wanda is right, this is
    Wanda is right, this is common. I am very sorry that it happened, and, will be praying that your surgeon will get clear margins now.


    Keep us updated,

    Diane
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #12
    Bella Luna said:

    It happened to me. I had to
    It happened to me. I had to undergo another re-incision to get clear margins. It worked! It's been 3 years for me and I am going Strong! My best to you.

    I don't actually know if the
    I don't actually know if the pathologist is in the surgery room, but, they did confirm to my husband that it was bc, while I was still in recovery. We knew it was from the needle core biopsy previously, but, I guess they just wanted to reiterate the diagnosis to us.

    Good luck!
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #13
    I have two friends who had
    I have two friends who had to have it re-done..for same reason..

    I"ll check back for update...wishing you the best

    Denise
  • Pinky68
    Pinky68 Member Posts: 206 Member
    #14
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I have two friends who had
    I have two friends who had to have it re-done..for same reason..

    I"ll check back for update...wishing you the best

    Denise

    Happened to me too
    I had my biopsy dec. 15th, the surgeon removed the 2.5cm tumor and tested for margins at the same time. When I awoke he said positive for cancer and hopefully got it all, but won't know till the long term 5 day biopsy.......Then that showed unclear margins so I had re-incision dec. 27th with lymph nodes....then got another call stating still positive and need another reincision, I had that on Jan. 7th....
    My girlfriends mom just had the same reincisions!! I don't think it's uncommon at all..
    All is good now!

    I'll be including you in my prayers for peace and healing!!
    Hugs,
    Joyce
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #15
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I have two friends who had
    I have two friends who had to have it re-done..for same reason..

    I"ll check back for update...wishing you the best

    Denise

    As everyone else wrote, this
    As everyone else wrote, this happens a lot. I was also checking to see if there was an update inre to when it might be scheduled. Let us know and wishing you good luck.


    Hugs, Jan
  • Kathy09
    Kathy09 Member Posts: 99 Member
    #16
    Welcome to my world
    I had three lumpectomies to get clear margins, surgeon told me if there is a fourth....its going. All is well for now.
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #17
    Kathy09 said:

    Welcome to my world
    I had three lumpectomies to get clear margins, surgeon told me if there is a fourth....its going. All is well for now.

    Did you have your 2nd
    Did you have your 2nd surgery yet, or, is it scheduled?


    Thinking of you,

    Angie
  • tanase914
    tanase914 Member Posts: 1
    #18
    Hi shiney
    Sorry to hear about your situation. I would suggest to find a better surgeon.
    I do not have breast cancer but my mother does. Shes getting her second surgery now after lumpectomy in april and 5 months of chemo. Never lose hope. Livestrong!
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #19
    tanase914 said:

    Hi shiney
    Sorry to hear about your situation. I would suggest to find a better surgeon.
    I do not have breast cancer but my mother does. Shes getting her second surgery now after lumpectomy in april and 5 months of chemo. Never lose hope. Livestrong!

    I had a clear margin
    I had a clear margin surgery.When I went in for my 2 week follow up my doctor said Good news and Bad News.I got all the cancer but want to go back in and check margins.Well I was hesitant but if any doubt all isn't gone and to MAKE SURE I wanted it done.Glad I did because 2 days before the clear margin surgery I felt something.Got in the prep for surgery and showed my doctor.He said we will see when he goes in.It was a benign tumor.I was thinking in my mind fluid from the first surgery.

    You always here it spreads when they go back in but mine was non invasive where it was.I felt OK going back in but still some apprehensive thoughts in the back of your mind.But what can you do.It must be needed.

    Lynn Smith
  • Pink Rose
    Pink Rose Member Posts: 493
    #20
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I have two friends who had
    I have two friends who had to have it re-done..for same reason..

    I"ll check back for update...wishing you the best

    Denise

    I had a friend that had to
    I had a friend that had to have more surgery as she didn't get clean margins. And, I think this happens more than we think.


    Good luck

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