New on BC board. Not new to cancer. Need advice.

That is Greek to me!  But, I

That is Greek to me!  But, I wanted to say, welcome and I wish you the very best!

I had Stage 3A breast cancer in 1987 and had to have a mastectomy because the physician said my tumor was too large and lumpectomy wouldn't be cosmetic.  Frankly, I had a gut feeling (with strong family history of breast/colon) that I should have a BMX, but my surgeon thought the relatives (grandmother and 4 great-aunts with breast, father with colon, uncle with colon) were older and removed enough.

Then 2 of my 3 sisters also had breast cancer.  They had BMX.  I was then told to have preventive mastectomy on other side (sigh).  My remaining sister just had a preventive BMX this year.

My cancer turned metastatic in 2005, but I am hanging in there.  That is 26 years!  Hugs and prayers to you!

Alexandra said:

Thank you Patrice and CypressCynthia

I really appreciate your input and sharing your stories.

For the last few days I've been contemplating my options and decided on BMX with immediate reconstruction. TRAM-flap is not an option for me because of the previous tummy tuck. I'm considering SGAP or IGAP perforator flap vs. implants.

It's strange how the prospect of breast cancer and mastectomy despite having much better prognosis has hit me much harder emotionally than ovarian cancer ever did. First time around I received the avalanche of support and compassion from family and friends. Now it's more like "what else is gonna be wrong with this woman?".

That is why I love CSN - people understand.

 

Understand

I've had 3 life threatening diagnoses in 1/2 year. Sometimes I wonder how much my friends will be willing to take until they find excuses to fade away. At least two of them seem to be doing just that. I must seemed jinxed to them. Had a brain stem stoke in January, diagnosed with large aneurysm in the ascending aorta of my heart in March, and then breast cancer in June. Never sick before this. I'm 10 days post-op from bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. (Implants.) With everything that has happened to me this year, I simply couldn't deal with worrying that a lumpectomy would get it all or that cancer would show up in the other breast. Percentages mean nothing to me anymore. I had to have peace of mind that I had done all I could do. You probably feel the same way.

 

waiting it the pits...I hope

waiting it the pits...I hope you find out soon..

 

Denise

aI was reading some of the older posts
and saw that you are comimg up on ypur biopsy and wanted to let you know I am pulling for you. You are much more patient than I. Crossing my fingers that it comes back benign, but certainly understand your decision for the dbl either way. Rember when I had the brca test done(was negative), my sisters were all waiting for the results qnd 2 were preparing themselves for a mast being proactive as there is so much cancer in our immediate family.
Hoping for the best and welcome to the bc board.
Carol

Alexandra said:

Thank you Carol

Biopsy attempt today was a total waste of time. 3 people (1 technician and 2 doctors) looked at my boobs with ultrasound for an hour and found no correlation to what's on the MRI.

Now I'm re-scheduled for the MRI-guided biopsy on Sep. 23rd. I was also told that they may have to split it into 2 separate visits - one per each breast (?!). Results won't be ready till Oct. 1st.

If only cancer moved at the same glacial pace as our healthcare - we would all live forever. Grrr! 

MRI shows more

Hey, I am new here, but I wanted to let you know that MRI often shows more than what ultrasound and mammography does.  It is more precise, and shows a clearer picture. Often it will show lumps that did not show on other imaging.

Good luck.

Alexandra said:

Thank you Elthia

I read your story in another post and I am very sorry about your new diagnosis. Please accept my best wishes with your surgery and chemo. I have not been through mastectomy (yet), but I had other cancer surgery and chemo and I can testify that though treatment is unpleasant it's not the end of the world and fully doable.

I absolutely agree with you that MRI shows more than other imaging. In my case mammogram done on Aug. 14 came back normal (BIRAD 1-2). Ultrasound done on Sep. 12 showed absolutely nothing. I don't have any palpable lumps. MRI done on Aug 14 showed large segmental non-mass enhancement (BIRAD 4) which is most likely ductal carcinoma. The million dollar question is whether it's 'in situ' or invasive and I wouldn't know till MRI-guided biopsy comes back in a couple of weeks.

Virtual hugs,

Alexandra

I hope that this week finds

I hope that this week finds you with answers, and a path to follow for your personal journey. I sadden to read that some 'friends' might have fallen by the way side.  I am now a two year survivor, had great support from my entire medical team, family and friends.  One of the best testimates to friendship I received, two every special women, who know when I needed to vent, cry and talk about cancer, and also when I just wanted to pretend that I wasn't.  I hope you find some one like that among your support team.