Waiting for appt.

Jean T. Szabo said:

Lumpectomy
Thanks ....

Right now am concerned because there is a second "spot" that the oncologist wants to double check before performing the Lumpectomy. If this second spot is cancerous she is recommending a masectomy. That is what is scaring me. Not prepared for that. Having the Lumpectomy with just the pea sized tumor is what I was preparing for and now this?

Sent you a long comment in a previsous mailing, don't know if you received it. Can't have MRI because of my Cochlear Implant.

Did you have pre-op lympherderma evaulation? Any complications with your first Lumpectomy? Is there no other way to diagnose BC without surgery?

Am a "big baby" when it comes to change. When looking at the posts on the discussion board you all seem so intelligent and well adjusted.

Grateful for your help and advice.

sorry for the waiting
The waiting is the hardest part of all of this I think. I can assure you that if I sound intelligent and well adjusted I did not start out that way.It just comes with time, this board and asking your Drs. lots of questions. I found out grade and stage after biopsy too. I hope you get answers soon. God Bless
(((Hugs))) Janice

missingtexas said:

They were able to tell me a
They were able to tell me a lot (class and type) from the biopsy. They staged it based on my MRI.

Good Morning Jean,
I only gave you a shortened version of my journey...here is a longer one. First, I don't believe in any other type of biopsy other than the surgical one which is also a lumpectomy. Right from the start I know what type, what stage and grade the tumor is and if I'm lucky they get clean margins and then I can go on to rads, chemo or if I'm lucky, it's benign! This time it was bc. My surgeon did not get a clean margin on one side so he did a re-exisional biopsy (going back in and taking a lot more tissue from the first surgical area)because it was dx as invasive ductal carcenoma we also did a Sentinel Node Biopsy at that time. Clear nodes, but still one side still had cancer cells too close for comfort. Also, they found tiny little carcenoma insitus as well. As soon as I heard that I said I wanted a mastectomy. He said I had enough breast tissue to go a third time but all I could think was maybe my entire breast was full of cancer cells. I couldn't believe my own voice in my ears as I was saying "Mastectomy". I had a single "simple" mastectomy which means they only take brest tissue and nothing else. The pathology report came back NO CANCER CELLS IN BREAST TISSUE! So I only had chemo and no rads.

I know many here have a million types of tests before the surgical biopsy and I can't see myself going thru all of that misery and still not have the whole complete picture. I'm a whimp and want things done as easy as possible and while I'm under IV sedation or gen'l anesthesia.

I, personally, would not be content with a dx from just an MRI. Go in there and physically biopsy what ever it is is my motto. But that is me, my opinion only for me. When starting all of this, you don't think you could possibly face a mastectomy, but after reading lots from the websites (I like www.mayoclinic.com) and I knew I didn't want to think about more cancer cells in there and I chose mastectomy. Me, my decision. I didn't ask any surgeon or onc their opinion. But they didn't disagree with me. Surprisingly, the mastectomy was not as bad as I thought it would be. The drain was the worst part. I really didn't need pain meds. I also did not have resconstruction, enough surgery already, again for me. I have a fake boob, and I am just fine with it. No one can tell.

I would have pm'd all of this to you Jean, but I'm not sure how to do it so just wrote it all down hear. I can and do answer your pm's but figured this was ok.

The surgeon will already be doing a lumpectomy and Sentinel Node Biopsy, why not have him check out the additional lump so you'll know for sure? You'll already be under anesthetic, and then you'll have peace of mind one way or the other. If you leave it in you'll be worried to death what if? And because you can't have an MRI that's probably the only way. Why waste time on additional tests when they are already doing a lumpectomy?

Keep us posted on your appts and progress and pm me anytime you like.

Hugs, Judy :-)

Skeezie said:

Hi Jean,
They should have all the answers as to the type and stage after the lumpectomy. That in itself will be a relief to finally know about that. Thee always seems to be some surprise waiting for us after each procedure!

But the not knowing is the hardest part of all of this. Does the doc (is this your oncologist?)have any idea when your surgery mite take place?

I hope you get a good nites sleep tonite...

Hugs, Judy :-)

Your oncologist will get a
Your oncologist will get a pathology report from your lumpectomy and that tells you what stage, grade, type of bc and if you are ER or PR + or - and your HER2. Be sure and get a copy for your records also.

Good luck!