Two Lumpectomy’s and Looming Mastectomy—Recovery Time Needed!

gene303
gene303 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Dear Forum Member’s,

My grandmother is a 78 year old type II diabetic with high blood pressure. She has undergone 2 lumpectomies in the past 3 months, with the last on Nov 30th, 2007. She now complains of being easily fatigued and of trouble breathing. Her surgeon says that she must have a mastectomy within a month of the last lumpectomy, so it’s been due for a few days now.

The pathology report reads as follows:

BREAST, LEFT; RE-EXCISSION:
- A FEW RESIDUAL FOCI OF DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN SITU (DCIS), MICROPAPILLARY TYPE WITH
HIGH NUCLEAR GRADE, APOCRINE FEATURE AND MODERATE NECROSIS. THE DCIS IS PRESENT IN 2 OF 47 SLIDES AND INVOLVES THE SAHVED POSTERIOR MARGIN IN ONE OF TWO SLIDES.
- NO INVASIVE CARCINOMA IS INDENTIFIED
- THE NON-NEOPASTIC BREAST TISSUE SHOWS PREVIOUS BIOPSY SITE CHANGES, FOCAL
FIBROADENOMATOID CHANGES AND A FFEW MICROCALCIFICATIONS.

MY QUESTION:

Is it really urgent that she have the mastectomy now? What if she has it a month from now? I think she needs another month to rest and recover from the previous procedures and stress. What will the statistics be like? Where do I find statistics for someone in her situation?

Any and all general advice and opinions are welcome! Thanks and a happy new year to all!

Gene

Comments

  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #2
    I would say the first place to go with questions is your Grandmother's Doctor. If answers are not satisfactory, go to another doctor. the American Cancer Society website is another place,though they have so much info it may be hard to find what you are looking for. The American Cancer Institute is another place. MD Anderson...the most reputable cancer research hospital in Texas...has a website where you can look up such information also. You may find results of studies done with patients in similar situations who waited, vs those who didn't...I don't know.

    What I do know for certain is that your Grandmother is blessed to have a grandaughter who is working so hard to be an advocate for her. Keep up the good work!

    seof
  • jackiemanz
    jackiemanz Member Posts: 85
    #3
    Dear Gene,

    I know your grandmother has been through alot lately for her age. My concern would be what stage of DCIS she has?

    Try looking at the National Cancer Institute you might find some of your answers there.

    Take Care,
    Jackie
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #4
    I'd be tempted to get a second opinion from the best university hospital you can get to that specializes in breast cancer. It sounds like she doesn't have clear margins so they want to do the mastectomy. Different doctors might handle the problem differently. Some might try another lumpectomy to get clean margins. Others might try testing like a MRI with contrast to see if a mastectomy is the best solution before deciding. Others would push for a solution (read mastectomy) right away before things progress. Most doctors would want to take action within a month from diagnosis and it has been way past that from the dates you have given. I do not see any tests on the tissue to indicate if it is estrogen positive or not. There are drugs like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors that some people can take to control cancer growth. But these are things for her to discuss with her doctor. She doesn't have to do anything at all. Unfortunately cancer doesn't go away just because you don't pay attention to it. It tends to progress (get worse). I would get a second opinion right away from the best you can get to and then decide what plan you will follow. Good luck!

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