A low grade phyllodes tumor cannot be excluded

pretty333girl
pretty333girl Member Posts: 2
edited April 2013 in Breast Cancer #1

Hi everyone,


I am new to this forum, I have some questions and I hope you can provide some guidance.

In February, I had a routine mammogram, which then revealed a mass on my right breast, at 12 o'clock.  I went back for another mammogram and ultrasound, which confirmed the results of the first mammogram.  I was then scheduled for a Biopsy and the results inidicate that "The biopsy shows fragments of a fibroepithelial proliferation. A fibroadenoma is favored given the histologic appearance and patient age [I am 40]. Focal areas of apocrine metaplasia are noted within the prolifaration. Additionally, a low grade phyllodes tumor cannot be completely excluded."

I was then referred to a surgeon for further evaluation, and we agreed on having the tumor removed on 5/2/2013.

The issue is I think I am now pregnant. I took two home preganncy tests today (one a 5 a.m. and another one around 5:00 p.m.), both came back positive. 

I already got a blood test done this afternoon to confirm or deny my suspicion, but I will not get the reults until tomorrow at some point.

I am suposed to get 3 pre-op tests prior to surgery: (1) blood work/urine studies, (2) radiology for chest x-ray, and (3) cardiopulmonary lab for EKG.

I am concerned about the X-ray test (if I am pregnant).

My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for almost 2 years.  So, we are hoping that the pregnancy test is in fact positive.

If the blood pregancy test comes back positive from the lab, is it safe to have  the X-ray for my pre-op and should I still have surgery while pregnant?

I am not sure what risks anesthesia would pose to my baby (if I am pregnant) or what risks the tumor will pose to my health if I postpone the surgery.

Any advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

M Morales

Comments

  • McMarty
    McMarty Member Posts: 212 Member
    #2
    I think the best advise is to

    I think the best advise is to tell your Dr right away that you may be pregnant.  Ask him if it's OK to postpone all of this for a week or two while until all your questions are answered.  I know the best question I asked when I was diagnosed was 'what's the rush?'  I was able to slow the process down and get to surgeons and treatments that were right for me.  What a relief!

    If you go to the x-ray, tell the tech, they will know what to do.  You've been trying to get pregnant a long time - protect that joy.  Your Dr will be able to readjust and find a balance of treatments that are right for you and the baby if you are pregnant.  IF not find a Dr that can!

    Congratulations on your positive pregnancy tests :)  and good luck!

    Please keep us posted!

     

  • kmenurse
    kmenurse Member Posts: 217
    #3
    McMarty said:

    I think the best advise is to

    I think the best advise is to tell your Dr right away that you may be pregnant.  Ask him if it's OK to postpone all of this for a week or two while until all your questions are answered.  I know the best question I asked when I was diagnosed was 'what's the rush?'  I was able to slow the process down and get to surgeons and treatments that were right for me.  What a relief!

    If you go to the x-ray, tell the tech, they will know what to do.  You've been trying to get pregnant a long time - protect that joy.  Your Dr will be able to readjust and find a balance of treatments that are right for you and the baby if you are pregnant.  IF not find a Dr that can!

    Congratulations on your positive pregnancy tests :)  and good luck!

    Please keep us posted!

     

    Welcome to the group...

    Welcome to the group... Everyone here is wonderful. One of the questions the x-ray tech should ask is are you pregnant.  If the blood test comes back positive then you should notify the doctor that ordered the X-ray of those results. Please do not have the x-ray until you have the blood HCG test results back and notified the Doctor.  It can be harmful to the fetus... God bless.... Kathy

  • telecomjd
    telecomjd Member Posts: 66
    #4
    Agree with what was said

    I totally agree with the others.  Definitely tell the X-ray techs and the doctors about the pregnancy so that they can protect you and the baby.

    Also, this situation is not unheard of.  I have been corresponding with a woman who is currently pregnant and undergoing chemotherapy.  Your situation, which hopefully will have the happiest ending possible, almost certainly will not be these medical professionals' first rodeo.  They're used to this stuff.

    M

  • pretty333girl
    pretty333girl Member Posts: 2
    #5
    McMarty said:

    I think the best advise is to

    I think the best advise is to tell your Dr right away that you may be pregnant.  Ask him if it's OK to postpone all of this for a week or two while until all your questions are answered.  I know the best question I asked when I was diagnosed was 'what's the rush?'  I was able to slow the process down and get to surgeons and treatments that were right for me.  What a relief!

    If you go to the x-ray, tell the tech, they will know what to do.  You've been trying to get pregnant a long time - protect that joy.  Your Dr will be able to readjust and find a balance of treatments that are right for you and the baby if you are pregnant.  IF not find a Dr that can!

    Congratulations on your positive pregnancy tests :)  and good luck!

    Please keep us posted!

     

    Thank you for your comments

    Thank you for your comments :-)

    Blood work confirmed what I suspected.  We are expecting :-)

    I cancelled all the pre op and surgery appointments.

    I am going to put the surgery on hold for now.

     

    M M

     

     

  • kmenurse
    kmenurse Member Posts: 217
    #6
    CONGRATULATIONS!!!  But

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!  But please!.. keep a close eye on your possible phylloides tumor.  Discuss things with all your Doctors so that you and baby are safe!... God Bless!... Kathy

  • Pink Rose
    Pink Rose Member Posts: 493
    #7
    pretty333girl said:

    Thank you for your comments

    Thank you for your comments :-)

    Blood work confirmed what I suspected.  We are expecting :-)

    I cancelled all the pre op and surgery appointments.

    I am going to put the surgery on hold for now.

     

    M M

     

     

    Congrats on the baby and

    Congrats on the baby and wishing you good luck!

    Hugs, Rose

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #8
    I would go to see an oncologist
    you may be in a position where they can do the surgery with low risk to the baby. You will most likely be looking at a high risk pregnancy either way. I would find an onco that works with pregnant and get a seconds opinion on how to go forward from here. Hoping you are close to one of the top notch centers Like MD Anderson. Mayo Clinic, University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Stanford... Etc.
    We also have Cypress Cynthia on board. She is a neo-natal NP. But is so up on mcancers and treatments, I am hping she comes on as she is a wealth of usually spot on info.
    I believe that most really good doctors , will even suggest a second opinon and even when the remain your primary, they have an ego about the right size and will work with one that specializes in what their patient needs.
    Hugs on your hard decisions, congratulations on your pregnancy!
  • beadgean
    beadgean Member Posts: 3
    #9
    Cystosarcoma phyllodes is a poorly understood!

     Cystosarcoma phyllodes is a poorly understood type of (usually) non metastasizing growth.  Although associated with the breast it is also seen in the reproductive organs of men.  I have had three tumor removals the last taking enough surrounding tissue away that I have been free from any reoccurrence for ten years. 

     Be very careful with the diagnosis of this tumor!  There is very little agreement in the medical and scientific professions about what it really is.  There is NO guarantee that if you have a mastectomy it will not reoccur.  They simply have not studied it enough and the usual definitions they use for cancers do not exactly fit the profile of this growth.

     I was advised that neither chemo nor radiation were of any value in treating the occurrence.  Tumor removal is always advised but the scope of the lumpectomy needs to be weighed carefully based on unbiased evaluation of the analysis of your particular case and current technical and scientific understanding.

     Take some time and read articles on Pub med,

     Web Md   http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/tc/ncicdr0000062787-cellular-classification-of-breast-cancer

     Medscape   http://search.medscape.com/reference-search?newSearch=1&queryText=cystosarcoma+phyllodes

     These are great resources to review and even though the terminology is sometimes difficult and technical you will get the sense of where you stand in the spectrum of the disease.  Bottom line sounds good for you!  Your surgeon is talking about the right approach and would definitely let you know if there was immediacy for treatment…obviously not.

     So here’s to a wonderful new life in the making and wishing you all the joy and happiness a baby can bring!

     

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