A question about Margins

JJOntario

I've been contemplating and thought I would ask for opinions about this.

My BS said my margins were close (1mm). She also said that one side contained DCIS. The margins were not orientated so her reasoning was that section was the side touching my tumour. There was some debate and my case was presented at a panel. My RO said more surgery but my BS and MO said no...that it was not a concern and more surgery would have caused a really poor cosmetic outcome. I just finished rads but now I'm second guessing this whole thing. I've also never had an MRI and I'm feeling uncomfortable with wondering if they really did get it all

inkster

I'm sorry, my friend. That must be incredibly frustrating, not to mention a bit frightening. If I were you, this might be the time I looked for an outside or second opinion. Perhaps an expert viewpoint from someone not so deeply involved can ease your mind or help you make a case for making absolutely sure they really did get it all.

Hang in there!

Bren-2007

Hi JJ,

A second opinion might be a good idea.  And maybe push for an MRI.  I was told the minimum margin to obtain on resection was 2 mm.  I had 6 mm margins all round on my lumpectomy and the cosmetic outcome was great!  Maybe your doctors' reasoning is that radiation will kill off any stray cells.

Worrying is the pits ... I wish you well

Bren

 

JJOntario

Thanks everyone...I see my MO in a few wks and I'm going to push for an MRI. I really need some reassurance that things are clear

angiem45

My first surgery was to remove what they thought was just a cyst but the surgeon took margins because he thought it was suspicious.  all my margins were clear except for a small area that was close.  when the path came back IDC the surgeon did a re excision lumpectomy to get clear margins and take lymph nodes.  In between my surgeries i had an mri of both breast which came back clear.  It was very reassuring to me to have that clear mri . I then had a second surgery with clear margins and negative lymph nodes  .  Good luck 

inks

Breast Conservation Surgery and the Definition of Adequate Margins: More Is Not Better…It's Just More.

http://archsurg.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1921613

No tumor on ink is adequate. More surgery does not give better outcomes.