Rollercoaster ride has started - met with breast surgeon

jancie

I met with the breast surgeon today and did not get the news that I wanted to hear.  But then again....most of us don't.

Due to the size of my tumor 3.2 cm x 3.6 cm x 1.6 cm - to just go in and do a lumpectomy followed by radiation is an option that he deterred me away from.  I have small breasts so trying to get clear margins would mean that 1/2 of my breast or more would be removed.  He said it would be too difficult to reconstruct my breast going this route and get the end result that I want.

He is suggesting that I do chemo first to try to reduce the size of the tumor and also as a preventative measure from this cancer coming back in the future.

He ordered a MRI and bone scan both of which will be done Thursday this week.  I will meet with the cancer panel the following Thursday and speak to 7 specialists and get a second opinion from them.  The following Tuesday I will meet with the breast surgeon again.  He wants to see the MRI and bone scans before he gives me any further opinions and also said that the MRI will show if I have lymph nodes that are totally cancerous.  If they just have some cancer cells in them, that will not show up on the MRI.

I have called my regular doctor and asked for a prescription of valium and pain pills.  I am such a wuss - I see no valid reason to have anxiety attacks or endure physical pain uneccessarily.  That is what meds are for right?

I am extremely disappointed that I more than likely will have to go through chemo.

sweeeeetpam

Hi Jancie,

    You have come to the right place..............I alo had chemo frist a/c.......I was lucky did not have one side effect, it shrink my tumor so small that they could not find it beore surgery.

          i too have very small breasts, I did the same test you are doing are you going to get a muga scan also.  I had my mast on one breast on Jan 29 7 days latter , I really have only taken around 8 pain pills and will go back to work next week.

               It sounds like you are getting good advice, and from my point of view the mast was not half as scary as everyone led me to believe it was!!! My daughter needs the computer i will come talk latter!!1Pamela 

jancie

Pamela, thanks for responding.  I tried to respond last night but hit my 5 response per 24 hour restriction so I wasn't able to get back to you.

Unfortunately my MRI showed 2 more areas on my left breast (tumor side) and 2 additional areas on my right breast that hadn't shown up on the mammogram so I am scheduled for another ultrasound and biopsys on Tuesday next week.

The first time they did biopsys on me I couldn't sleep that night because I was in so much pain.  They sent me home with 2 ice packs.  That did nothing for my pain and I told the doctor that I had zero tolerance level for pain.

Thankfully my regular doctor prescribed valium and lortab for me so I will be taking a valium before I go in and a lortab when I get out of there.

I am so glad that I am getting all of these tests done because last thing I want to do is to find out later that I have cancer in the other breast.  Now I totally understand why women chose to remove both breasts at the same time even if one is clear of cancer. 

I am learning so much talking to everyone here at this site.  It does bring me so much comfort to be able to come here and ask questions and have so many people take the time to respond back to me.