Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

PontiacPeggy

Molly, that's great. There are so many things that can make a mess of our bodies. Just glad things are returning to normal.

HUGS!

Molly50

Me too, Peggy. When are you planning to move across country?

JerseyRenee01

Hi Ladies!!

I received this in mail from my breast ultrasound on dec 22. I was quite taken back by it saying saw no breast cancer!! Does an Ultrasound not detect DCIS? Unless it specifically referring to that second area found on my MRI next to the calcifications. Saying that is what isnt cancer!?

Confusing!

Starts off saying intermediate DCIS from biopsy report to being told High Grade at my last appt to now a letter saying this. Very frustrating.

I just emailed my surgeon which I do believe he is off until after the New Year.

Molly50

Maybe the US didn't detect the DCIS. Strange.

queenmomcat

(scratches head) How strange! I know the different tests do detect different things--that's why doctors use them!--but not sure of the distinctions myself. Def. wait on what the surgeon and any affiliated oncologists say.

Nash54

Jersey...I can see why you are confused!!!!  That's just crazy.  

PontiacPeggy

Molly, I hope to move in June or July to Spokane. Frankly, I'd love to move this very minute but then my saner side takes over and I realize that I have a lot of stuff to get rid of first and to sell the house. And who wants to drive across the upper Midwest (with a dog who travels well and a cat that thinks being in the car is DEATH) in winter? Not me. I just can't wait. It'll be the first time in 20 years that I'll be near one of the sons. It'll be wonderful. Sigh.

HUGS!

Shopgal2

JerseyRenee that letter is confusing. Can you go onto a patient portal at penn and send a message to your care team. Maybe someone will call you back from an on call team. Also if you have a patient portal linked with the hospital you can read your ultrasound report if it is available online.

My tumor was not originally visible on the first diagnostic ultrasound. They only saw it on mammogram because it initially was small. The second ultrasound showed the tumor. It was sitting on my chest wall and hard to see on ultrasound. Maybe your is very small or can't be seen clearly on ultrasound?

Hope this helps.

Jclc83

Jersey I think that about 90% of DCIS can been see on mammogram. You might be in the 10%

In situ cancer is when the cells are still in their original location. My DCIS wasn't found until my lumpectomy. I would rely more on the pathology report. Hope that helps.

Jclc83

That applies for ultrasounds as well. It's hard to compare one modality against another. Apples and oranges.

PontiacPeggy

My BS was surprised when DCIS turned up on the path report. It hadn't shown on the mammograms, ultrasounds or MRI. It was a "bonus" in the removed tissue.

HUGS!

mapagail

JerseyRenee, microcalcifications showed on my mammo. Biopsy path report said possible invasive DC. The day of surgery they did an ultrasound and could not see any mass. Lumpectomy path report said DCIS. This thing sure is a rollercoaster! Hope this helps!

mapagail

Jersey, another thing. My RO said that with DCIS, I could just choose to monitor it regularly. He said it was possible it could stay in the duct forever, or one day spread.

JerseyRenee01

thanks, Ladies!!!

He replied back to my email. Didnt answer my questions. Just said to come in discuss my situation further as I clearly am not settled. 🤔

Ummmm is it me or isnt any woman with cancer NOT settled!?? I am just asking questions & advocating for me. I also mentioned the testing of the HER-2 & seeing if I am a candidate for a vaccine he does trials of. If so it would delay surgery as need it before.

Just a little recap on my situation:

1st Mammo {3D} done Oct 12

Stereotactic Biopsy - Oct 16

DX - Oct 21 DCIS

Breast MRI - Nov 4 { showed 2nd area near calcifications which could be scar tissue from biopsy}

Ultrasound done because of 2nd area on Dec 22.

The calcifications did show up on mammo & MRI.

JerseyRenee01

mapagail:

According to my research & in 2 months time I have done alot of it, there is conflicting reports on DCIS!!

They just dont know whether it will become invasive so I guess just in case it gets treated as cancer.

In the beginning I had myself at a BMX. Now surgery is set for Jan 14 with a Lumpectomy. I will try that first , get pathology report & go from there.

Again, thank you all for your support!!!

Shopgal2

JerseyRenee we are our own best patient advocate. You are doing everything right. It's our job to ask and question treatment. It's the docs to treat and heal. Stay strong.

PontiacPeggy

JerseyRenee, I think you've chosen a wise course. It's so hard.

HUGS

JerseyRenee01

Shopgal2:

I just feel like my advocating is being a Pain in the A** to him! Ugh!!!!

I am not even sure I am a candidate for this vaccine or do I even want to pursue it. I just trying to gather all info prior to surgery.

Jclc83

Remember, they work for us.

Shopgal2

Jersey I felt like a nag to my bs too. I was afraid at first to ask a lot of questions.Then my wise sis said that's what they are there for to answer our questions as well as treat. Treatment is the whole person not just the disease.

ChiSandy

Renee, you are doing the right thing: one step at a time. I’m thinking the letter was referring to the imaging done after the biopsy. Lumpectomy will give them a clearer picture--larger amount of tissue to analyze than the core biopsy samples, exact size of the tumor, and margin status. (Lymph nodes too, if they do a sentinel-node biopsy, which I’m not sure they do with DCIS--DCIS-ers, please clue me in). If DCIS, they’ll be other factors they can analyze too, as to the degree of likelihood it might someday have escaped the duct and become invasive if not removed. With a lumpectomy, they can always take more later if necessary, but a mastectomy is forever.

JerseyRenee01

ChiSandy:

A SNB will be done with him taking 1-2 nodes as that 2nd area now is not definitive what it is. BS said to not be too excited over that 2nd area since it showed after biopsy was done. It will be marked with calcifications to be removed since next to eachother.

Melclarity

JerseyRenee - Ask away!!! at the end of the day YOU are the most important thing and the more clear you are, the better. That letter just makes me shake my head! Really? I'd absolutely just talk with your Surgeon, path results after surgery are the only things that will give a complete clear picture. I had DCIS 4yrs ago, it was a small mass so had a lumpectomy, but not all mammos or US pick up anything, I think only Ultrasound I found more thorough. It came back DCIS from Pathology.

Hold tight, you're in the best possible place right now. You're doing all the right things..x

Brutersmom

Molly Glad you figured it out. I felt that way from RADS. I had a young RO who said RADS does that to some people and it gets better as time passes. He was right. I am 2 months out and I found that at about the 3 week mark it improved and it is pretty well gone now. Almost wished it last through The holidays. I put on about 4 pounds before Christmas. I must admit I did enjoy being able to eat some of the amazing food at the events I attended.

JerseyRenee01

---

Thank you so much Melclarity!!

i will try & speak with someone tomorrow & get that appt before surgery.

I guess I am fortunate enough my BS at least replies right away through email. I wasnt trying to take advantage & get a consult through email. Just was taken back by the reply of me not being settled. Ugh!

Melclarity

JerseyRenee - Oh gosh!! honestly thats why they have email. Glad you can see him to discuss, as I think that will alleviate any anxiety. Just remember, you're in a super great position right now and be guided by your BS...I must admit my BS I trust with my life...I had a biopsy 4yrs ago on that small mass, it came back benign, he wasnt happy with it, so I had the lumpectomy. Thank goodness I did, it was DCIS and I went straight to rads for 6 weeks and Tamoxifen for 4yrs. I did most of my consults alone, after 4yrs my BS demanded I bring someone along, just good to have an extra set of ears.

JerseyRenee01

Melclarity:

Wow! Your BS sounds awesome! Yes, I do take someone with me. I guess he meant me being unsettled was because last week when I saw him the decision was made for Lump & scheduled for Jan 14.

After that appt I now questioning the HER-2 test & simply was asking about this Ultrasound. Also they said I dont need preop testing for Lumpectomy. Is that correct?

Brutersmom

Renee, That letter is a standard letter that "they" are required to send out. I received something like that as well. My Mammogram showed a suspicious area. The diagnostic showed a suspicious area the ultra sound showed nothing. Each letter pretty much said the same thing as yours. I had a confirmed diagnosis by the time I received the letter from the diagnostic x-ray and ultra sound. I threw mine in the shredder box. Pretty much old news by then.

Melclarity

JerseyRenee

No there's no preop testing for a lumpectomy, and honestly from that surgery and pathology, your BS will have all the answers, I know from my results he was able to say mine was ER+ PR- and Her- , and we are all allowed to be unsettled. Let us know how your visit goes...Brutersmom is right, that letter is pretty standard that goes out, your BS is the best person to talk to.

JerseyRenee01

good idea Brutersmom!! Thanks for your reply!!

To the shredder it goes!!!!!

Have a good night, Everyone!!!