Lumpectomy to Mastectomy

Sagita

Hello everyone.

I thought i was tough to get through with my BC. I was doing good being so strong, positive & hopeful. After two weeks of my Lumpectomy went back to see my doctor for follow up and expecting to discuss Radiation treatment. I was so excited feeling that i'm about to cross my bridge half way with my journey in the world of BC. But it did'nt turned out what we would like to hear. My doctor discussed about what my pathology findings, lymph nodes are negative, of course hearing that really makes me happy. The bad part was telling me to do another surgery to make sure that my right breast will be clear with cancer cells around the margins. I still have cancer cells left in my right breast.The tumor was 3.5 cm in size double to what they thought it was seen in my mammogram & ultrasound. I was deeply sadden as i will be back with 0 step again. My BC stage move to stage 1 to stage 2. Only if i knew this will going to happen i  had chose mastectomy in the first place. Finding the size of my tumor they did advice the oncotypedx test to help me if i will be benefit with chemo. Still waiting on the result. Waiting is just so unbearably stressful sometimes... no matter how u keep yourself busy my mind just can't get away from it. I am worried & scared for surgery again and the expectations. On top of all this, we are ready to move to our new home in Colorado supposed to be on the first week of July. All that had been plan ahead including all my first plan treatment with my first surgery was went all to trash now. It's been really frustrating. Removing my breast & chemo is what i try to avoid. But seems like that's where my destination is. Still hoping for low score with onctotype thou.

If you don't mind i need some help. After mastectomy how many follow up with the doctor i will be expecting? I am doing reconstruction as well. Anyone here can share me your experience what you been through with mastectomy plus reconstruction? IF i will be doing chemo is immediate reconstruction wlll be good  or just wait later after all the treatment? Honestly i am very confused & find it hard to decide what to do. I don't wanna hear myself later that "i wish i do this" or "i wish i should just wait". I am tired reading & getting all the info i could get, but still i ended up beig more confused.

Thank you for having me here & lending me your time.

Sherryc

Sagit can't give you any info on the MX with reconstruction but I know how you feel with the starting over bit.  I had a lumpectomy 9/30/10 then spent 8 weeks in rads (got stretched out because of holidays).  Sever pain started in December and never let up to now being diag with permant nerve damage.  So now BS is recommending a MX so they can sever the nerves and get me out of pain.  I will be having reconstruction and I have tons of questions as well.  I will see my BS again on June 7th and the PS on June 16th so I am sure alot of my questions will get answered then.  I was suppose to be done by now and getting back to my life and seems I am starting over.  And now what a waste rads seems to be for me.  Feel like I wasted all that time, if I'd had a MX to begin with I would be much futher down this road.

Hope someone comes along with answers

Melmes

((HUGS)) I'm so sorry you are going though this. I had to have my lumpectomy re-excised for clear margins, and while thre is a good-sized dent in my breast, at this point I do not have to do a full-on mastectomy. Is it at all possible that you, too, could have a re-excision, have clear margins the second time, and avoid the mastectomy - or would that not be your prefernce at this point? Don't second-guess your decisions - we can only ever, any of us, make each best choice with what we have in front of us as regards information. Hang in there!!

Sherryc

Melms mine is not from unclear margins and I have already been through radiation.  Mine is a nerve problem that we are trying to solve.  At this point MX and completly numb sound pretty good to me.  But I will not make up my mind for sure until my next BS visit and my consult with the PS.

dlb823

Hi, Sagita ~ I had very much the same thing happen (explained on my bio page), so I know how blindsiding and surreal it can be.  I kept thinking I must have been in an auto accident on my way to my BS's office, and I was unconscious and it was all a bad dream from which I would eventually awaken.  It actually took me several weeks to agree to a mast and to decide on immediate reconstruction, but I guess the good news is that your primary tumor is out, so you do have a bit of time (depending on your move) to think things through.  In the end, I decided that as difficult as the situation was, there was a silver lining because it made me go to a different facility (UCLA) for a second opinion (before agreeing to a mast), where I found doctors I absolutely adored and a far more advanced form of reconstruction (DIEP) than I previously knew anything about.  In fact, one of the top reconstruction teams in the country (NOLA), where they specialize in the type of reconstruction I had, isn't too far from you.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you.  One of the things that helped me the most was Googling photos of breast reconstruction and realizing that it can look pretty natural. 

Feel free to PM me (private message -- click on anyone's avatar to find that link) if you want to talk off the boards.   (((Hugs))), and you WILL get through this!     Deanna

mdg

First of all, I am sorry you had to join our little club....hugs!  I also had some changes after my pathology and hearing them change the grade and such was a huge blow to me.  I get it!  I know how you feel! 

I had a lumpectomy unexpectedly (I went in for a sentinel node biopsy and my BS saw the tumor there and just took it out) eventhough I was planning on a BMX from the start.  I got the pathology from the lumpectomy and they changed me from Grade 1 to Grade 2.  I was really upset by that.  The pathology also indicated that I had angiolymphatic invasion present from the lumpectomy - which it was not present on the biopsy.  This all scared the crap out of me!  I did the oncotype and it came back the highest number in the low category.  I now had to decide on chemo...ugh!   I know how scary and frustrating this is. 

All I can say is take it one step at a time.  Each decision is hard, but think through it and find a decision you can live with.  There is no one right answer...only the right answer for YOU.  As far as follow up after surgery - there is a lot with MX and reconstruction (with tissue expanders).  I saw my PS the week after surgery and then weekly for fills.  If you do chemo, that is also very full of appointments.  You have the chemo days, the shot the day after chemo, weekly blood draws/dr appts, etc.....  I feel like all I do is go to the doctor!  Moving during all of this would be hard.  I know we may move soon and I am realizing I will have to change doctors and find a new plastic surgeon to finish everything...that is stressing me out. 

Sagita

Thank you for all the info & supports.You have help me with something to consider to think about.  Hearing from a self experience story make a lot difference. That's why i am confident to share some of my concerns here. Feeling a little better now, trying my best to be more positive & brave to deal my new world.

On June 8 i will have appointment with my Oncologist in Houston @ MDAnderson. By then i will know my Oncotypedx score if chemo will benefit me. If ever i will be on the road with chemo, i will consider to wait before my reconstruction. I have decided for mastectomy to get over with it. I have only small A cup size. I am thinking there's no difference if i will have re-excision. I hope my doctor will help me more to decide once i talk to her. 

To all of us... GOD Bless Us in our Journey.

Sagita

Well after weeks of waiting i finally heard a good news! My oncotypedx score was way low. I only have a average rate of distant reoccurance of 3%. I am so happy after i have heard my doctor explaining my result. I feel so greatful!

I will meet my doctor again next month to get me ready for my masectomy. I am anxious to hear about my options regarding my reconstruction. Wish me luck!

DiDel

Sagita

I just sent you a PM (private message) I also wanted to add I got some Ativan to help me with the anxiety and sleepless nights I had prior to surgery. It is important to get good sleep pre surgery. I would ask for rx if you are having anxiety just to help you stay calm and focus. I am not a drug person but I never had anxiety like that before and there is just no need suffering through.

Wish you all the best!

Diane

Sherryc

I met with the BS last week and she said I can have a NSMX even though I have been through rads.  I was glad to get that news.  Now I meet with the PS on Tuesday to see what kind of recommendation he gives me on reconstruction.  I have alwasy healed quickly from surgery but the BS reminded me that the rads boob will not heal as quickly as I have in the past.  Hoping she will be wrong about that. But she said I am healthy and she does not have any real concerns.

olgah34

Good evening, everyone!

I was diagnosed with BC stage 1, 1, 5 cm last month and had a lumpectomy and re-incision

because of DCIS in margins last Thursday. Howevewr, today they told me I also have other DCIS

and cancer cells, so they insist on mastectomy and chemotherapy afterwards...I am very scared

and confused...Why these cancer cells cannot be destroyed just with chemo?