MRI Guided Biopies . . .

Britt

Hi Fairy -

Thanks so much for the good wishes! 

Carolina59

Hi Britt,

Sorry your MRI biopsies were such a nightmare. I had the pain but not the subsequent bleeding. And they did not prescribe pain killers.

I did opt for immediate reconstruction, and I'm glad I did. I was not a candidate for any of the DIEP procedures (not enough fat/tissue), so I had expanders which were later exchanged for implants. My plastic surgeon believes in filling the expanders (350cc) at the initial surgery so I woke up with breast mounds, which was actually a good thing for me in terms of my morale.

I hope you get good news tomorrow (and Michelle and Lories, too). 

Best,

Carolina

   

bee5467

Carolina -- I did the same thing, and in the long run, it did work out for the best.  Britt and all the ladies here, much love and hugs to you all.

Britt

To All:

GOOD NEWS!!!!  I just spoke to my BS's nurse and my path report for the suspicious nodules turned out BENIGN!!!!! So it was worth the pain in the long run.  So, lumpectomy and SNB - which has been rescheduled to 1/16, since I have a bad cold this week and they do not want to operate when I have a cold.  WISHING Michelle and Lori the same wonderful news!!!!

Blessings to all!

Maria

Carolina59

Yay! That is wonderful news! So glad you can go ahead with your original plan and save your breasts. We all need a break sometimes, and you got yours. Wishing you all the best on the 16th and hope you soon feel better from the lousy cold.

dlb823

Maria, That's wonderful news!  I've been watching your posts here, and so glad to learn that you got some good news (the best news!) this time!  You must be so relieved, and elated!  I'm very happy for you.  Take care ~ Deanna

Britt

Thanks, Carolina!  I am so relieved.  I was expecting the worst, as you know!

My BS also wanted to reschedule not just due to my cold, but due to the amount of blood I lost from the MRI from Hell when they busted a vein . . . I don't think it will make any difference at this point to wait another week.  I am running a slight fever (very slight, and this is mostly a viral infection, so it has to run its course and it has been going around this area like wildfire).

Again, thanks for the good wishes!  I hope and pray Lori and Michelle have similar good news!

Have a fabulous day!

Maria

Britt

thanks, Deanna!

Everyone here has been so wonderful, caring and supportive - I truly appreciate it!  And The Girls are SO happy they are not going to have to leave me . . . at least for now!

Have a fabulous day!

Maria

webwriter

Okay, that just ROCKS, Britt!

Congratulations!!!!!

Just the morale boost I needed today. I'm so happy for you I can barely stand it.

Let's get the rest of the good news going now...hang in there all!

Britt

Thanks, Webbie!

The only news that will make this day a totally fabulous one is good news from Michelle and Lori!

Can't wait to hear from them - of course, Lori is in AK so it may take a while!

MicheleS

So the second spot is cancer too.  I'm having a mastectomy tomorrow.

Please pray that the damn nodes are clear.  Please.

Michele 

Britt

Michelle -

This puts a damper on what I found out  - at least you found out in time - small comfort - and I am praying so hard that the nodes will be clear!  Which is what matters -

Lots of hugs and everything else -

Maria 

dlb823

Hi, Michele ~  I'm so sorry about your news, but, as Maria said, at least you found out in time. I also had multiple lesions, but they were not found until after I'd had a lumpectomy and switched doctors, so then had to go back and have a mast.  Not that that's any comfort to you, but I do understand the frustration of it all.  I, too, will be praying for clear nodes and a speedy recovery from surgery.  Thinking of you ~  Deanna

MicheleS

Thanks Deanna and Maria.  I'm having a bad evening.  Between the 2nd cancer and my receptor status being ER-, PR-... yuck.  I'm in tears.

fairy49

Michelle, so sorry about your news, I will be thinking of you tomorrow and praying for negative nodes

Maria, great news!! you must be so relieved!

Lorraine ox

dlb823

Michele ~  I've just sent you a PM.  If you haven't gotten one yet, it's at the top of the page -- Private Messages.  Click on it when you see the indication in pink that you have a message.    Deanna

bee5467

Britt/Maria --  I'm so happy for your good news. Keep on Keepin' on!

MichelleS - Keeping you in my prayers.  Really.

With all y'alls help, I am getting out of the cave.  Had a really good day today, and plan on having another one tomorrow! 

webwriter

Aw Crap, Michele. I'm so sorry. You will be in my thoughts all day tomorrow. NEG NODES!!! NEG NODES!!!

Congrats on the cave break bee!

I've got Onco tomorrow and Nanny interviews. I'm beat!

Night all!

Britt

Hi everyone:

Fairy - thanks for your concern!  Yes, I am relieved - although my left breast from the MRI biopsy looks like it was run over by a steamroller!!!!!!  But well worth it . . .

Bee -yes, I'm keep on keepin' on - glad you emerged from the cave - boy, have I spent a lot of time there myself!  Glad you had a good day yesterday and that you plan to have a good one today!

Well, I am just staying home, nursing my cold.  Feeling better - it's viral, so antibiotics can't treat it - just resting and reading . . .

I am also praying for Michelle and sent Lori a PM to see how she is doing . . .

Great day and blessings to all!

Maria

Carolina59

Dear Michele,

I'm so sorry you got bad news. It sucks. Just want to give you some hope. I had to have an MRI-guided biopsy of my supposedly non-cancer left breast, and it turned out to have cancer as well. DCIS, multifocal. The right breast had a 10cm DCIS tumor as well as IDC, multifocal, aggregate >2cm. The tumor had been there for over a year (long story, but breastfeeding, thought it was a blocked milk duct, and was later misdiagnosed). My dear daugher was just a little over 2 y.o. when I was diagnosed. 

We were scared to death there would be many nodes involved due to how long the tumor had been there. I had a bilateral mastectomy and, miracle of miracles, I was node-neg, 0/12. It was the 1st thing my dh said to me when I awoke from surgery. He tells me that I said "Wow!" and promptly fell back to sleep. I have a vague memory of this.

Anyway, I'm praying that you, too, wake up to good news!

Carolina  

MicheleS

an update:

The prelim rept show clear nodes (5 taken) and the IDC tumor was 1.5cm.  Don't know how big the DCIS tumor was.

I feel cautiously optimistic.  The final rept will be back next week.

I haven't been able to rest much so my drain is still in.  Does anyone remember how long their drain stayed in for a mastectomy??

Also, I didn't think that losing a breast would bother me but it has.  I feel strange about it... I don't know how to describe it, really.

I am sooo relieved that the cancer is GONE!  I'm finally sleeping some. Thank goodness for that.

love to you all,

Michele 

Britt

Michele -

that is certainly wonderful news!!!!!!!!  My surgery is this coming Friday and then I will no doubt that the Drain Experience . . . .

and I'm not out of the woods yet.  Even though I am getting a lumpo, who knows, I may have to go back at some point in time and get a mast.  And I think that would bother me, too.  So I know how you feel.

Please keep me updated as to your final report and anything else you wish to discuss - only  a PM away -

Also glad to hear you are feeling better and relieved -

Xena

Carolina59

Michelle, great news that you were node-neg.! I had a bilateral mastectomy with 2 drains on one side and 1 on the other. Yes, they are a pain in the neck. I think I got one out after 1 1/2 weeks, and the other two after 2 1/2 weeks (honestly, it's all a blur now). As much as you may hate the drain, you definitely don't want fluid building up in there--it's a necessary evil.

I know how you feel about losing your breast. I was pretty devastated no matter how glad I was(am) that the cancer is gone. It is a physical and emotional trauma, so give yourself time to grieve if you need to, and don't listen to anyone who tells you it's no big deal, or you're better off, because the cancer is gone--you KNOW that--but you still lost a breast and that is a big deal.

Best news is your node-neg. status. 

All the best to you,

Carolina

Carolina59

Britt, best to you for your surgery on Friday. I hope it all goes well, and you'll be free and clear of cancer for a long, long time.

Carolina 

Britt

Hi Carolina -

Thanks so much for your best wishes!

Maria 

Britt

Ok,  I wonder if anyone has any advice -

As you all know, I had a less than pleasant experience with my MRI guided biopsy two weeks ago, where they busted an artery during one of the biopsies.  Despite my BS checking it out last Thursday, pronouncing that it was not infected, and putting new steristrips on it, it is STILL bleeding - oozing blood quite a bit - and the steristrips are completing saturated.  I am compelled to wear a bandage over the wound each day and night to prevent staining of my clothes and bra.  My surgery is scheduled for this Friday, 1/16 and I really do NOT want to go ahead with it if this wound is still bleeding and apparently not healing as it should.  I called my BS today and got her answering service, since she is in another city today.  I made an appt to see her tomorrow at 3:15 for her to check the wound.  Now, do you think it is a good decision to postpone surgery once again since this wound in the other breast is not healing?  Any input would be appreciated.

thanks so much - a very annoyed and angry Maria!

MicheleS

I wouldn't postpone.  But that's me.  From a medical perspective, an arterial stick can bleed for a long time and not be infected.  As long at you aren't running a fever and your breast isn't red, streaked, or swollen (other than the obvious from being harpooned!) you should be fine for surgery.  Still, I think a consult with your MD prior to then is reasonable.

Michele

Britt

Hi, Michele -

How are you doing - and feeling?  Haven't heard from you in a while - hope everything is going well.

Thank you so very much for the great advice.  You are absolutely correct.  It is not infected and I had a long chat with my BS today (she snuck me in for a late office visit around 4pm when she returned to town) - she checked the wound, reassured me again that it is not infected, and said to leave the steristrips on for now - they will take care of everything at the hospital on Friday.

Are you in the medical profession?  You seem quite knowledgable about arterial sticks, etc.-

Anyway, thanks so much again - time to get this thing over with, anyway!

Maria

dlb823

Maria ~  GOOD LUCK tomorrow!  I'll be thinking about you.  (((Hugs))) & heartfelt wishes that everything goes perfectly, and that you'll be on the road to recovery before you know it!    Deanna

bee5467

Me too, Britt.  Lots of hugs from here.