Slight chest wall involvement no radiation

MBJ

I was diagnosed in September and I am still in chemo to reduce the tumors prior to reconstruction.  I just received a second opinion today because the first dr wanted to do a mastectomy, radiation and then delayed reconstruction with no known lymph node involvement and only the suspicion of possible chest wall involvement.  The second opinion dr said that he would do a skin saving mastectomy, and that he could cut into the chest wall slightly to clear the margins and that I could do immediate reconstruction.  Anyone else have this done?  Any problems with recurrence?  Any other problems?

Thanks in advance!

Mary

mom2Bnegativex3

I have been scouring this site for that same question. At first if mine was in my chest wall I was going to have rads. Then after the second chemo the tumor was gone. My breasst surgeon said it was only budding up to the chest wall. so I asked all 3 of the docs, BS, onc and the rad doctor and they all do not think I should have rads. I asked them what is the chance of reoccurance. The rad doc said it would come back in my chest wall, ( I found that odd for him to say) I was raelly scarred about being TN and the high rate of reaccurance and they all still say I don't needs rads.

I asked after I have recon surgery how will they know if I have a reoccurance on hte chest wall and my onc said it would be on top of my skin. For that that is why I am not doing a skin sparring mast. It just gives it more of a chance to come back. Now, if I don't get clear margin and after teh resulst of the SNB then I will have to have rads:( I hpe someone else comes on here and has more to add for you.l I feel your concer. Good luck!! Sorry not much help~ 

mom2Bnegativex3

What chemo are you on?? I did 4 A/C and now will do my surgery then have the rest 4 T's

MBJ

mom2Bnegativex3:  I have had 4 TC and still have two more left.  Did your lump originate in or near the chest wall or did it start to grow into that direction/area like mine?  I am going ahead with the reconstruction since I don't have any lymph node involvement and because it wasn't clear if it was going into the chest wall.  The clearing of the margins including the chest wall is just a precaution.  My first dr. told me I would die if I didn't do radiation to the chest wall, the 3rd & second dr and my oncologist throughout said that I don't need it if my pathology report comes back ok.  The only reason I got a 2nd & third opinion is because City of Hope refused to test for lymph node involvement (dr said it didn't matter!) and insisted on radiation even though the MRI wasn't clear.  Now there doesn't seem to be any lymph node involvement and they will take out 2 or 3 nodes during surgery and of course look at the chest wall.  I am also taking Wobenzyme which is supposed to eat any cancer cells that might stray during chemo and surgery and will continue taking this and other immune boosting supports throughout.  I am hoping the alternative support I am doing will increase my odds of survival.  

JustMeAgain

I was Diagnosed with Lobular Breast Cancer last October. I had a masectomy and have completed my 4 chemos. The pathology tests came back with cancer in the margins and multiple tumors. I will not be getting reconstruction because Lobular cancer does not/did not show on mammagrams or MRIs and could be hard to identify with reconstruction, should tumors reappear (as per my doctor). I will be starting 7 weeks of Radiation to the chest wall next week. I was insistent on having Radiation and my doctor agreed. If there is any chance that there might be some cancer left, why not have radiation to make sure all cancer has been killed? Hope this helps with these hard decisions.