Oct07 mastectomy, rads post-autologous?

Bastropian

Dear Triple Negs: I put this on the breast reconstruction forum today, and wanted to cross-post it to the triple negative forum.

I am a Stage II Grade 3 triple neg, with negative needle biopsy of single suspisious node (suspicious by palpation and US). Tumor near nipple and 2.6 cm; large hematoma happened during core biosies, and MRI biopsies of calcifications puts me in multicentric disease class.... all this complicates the staging and treatment plans. I had 12 taxols and am 1/2 way through 4 FAC. Have not seen the PS yet, but possible I can have some type of TRAM. If node comes back positive, or other things are found at time of Sx, I could end up needing radiation (not good for the recon). It's a catch-22, miss the opportunity for immediate recon, and bear risk of needing radiation post-op and effects on the reconstruction. Any list member out there having had radiation on top of their autologous reconstruction? Trying to weigh if I'm better off w/ delayed reconstruction, on the other hand, I might not need radiation, but this can't be known until surgical pathology is done.

Indigoblue

Arrggghh...

Hematomalander here; Stage 1b, Grade 3, negative nodes SLN 4 removed; IDC, high risk; A/C x 4, 12 Taxol, 32 Rads...

Radiation and Taxol used to kill any possible cancer cells as the biopsy report indicated vascular invasion present in the blood, maybe from the core biopsy, maybe from surgery, maybe it was already there...it's a guessing game.

Lump was 1.7 cm, length 2.5 or something; 2.2 mm from chest wall. Stellate, so when I actually viewed the MRI, am still wondering why I didn't have a bilatteral and just get the thing over and done with for good.

Had a lumpectomy, which turned out to be a partial mastectomy, taking an enormous amount of breast tissue; the hematome filled in the area, and has become scar tissue...
but visually looks alright.

They told me reconstruction wouldn't be a consideration since I am high risk, trip neg, grade 3, family history, bilateral or not, and preventative measures were used with rads and chemo to hopefully attack any cancer cells which may have escaped.

That's all,

Indi