1mm posterior margin?

ducky179

I had BMX with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. I just got a copy of my path report. The surgeon told me everything looked good, but I needed to read for myself. (And now I wish I hadn't.) It mentions a focal area of a 1mm posterior margin. Is this cause for concern? My sentinel nodes were clear.

Annette47

That’s a pretty close margin, although some recent research indicates that as long as you get that 1mm, it’s ok. Traditionally though, that would probably have meant radiation .... although I don’t know how your having had immediate reconstruction affects things. Definitely something to ask your docs about.

ducky179

The surgeon said that since it's DCIS, and the mastectomy went down to muscle (she even removed the fascia), that she's not concerned since DCIS doesn't invade muscle. I will have another appointment with oncologist though, so I'll ask her too.

calidancer

I had a chest wall 1mm margin. Tumor board agreed no Radiation. Save in case of recurrence. My surgeon took the fascia as well so she was not concerned. I actually was the one who asked the question and requested my case be heard at tumor board. I am on Tamoxifen though, mostly to protect the other side.

LAstar

I had a 1mm margin after MX on the skin (anterior) margin. I was very concerned but my PS said that MX margins are very different from LX margins. When I had reconstruction revision surgery, he took more of the skin around the original area and he was right --nothing was found.

bikefam

Like many of you, I also had only a 1 mm clean margin on the medial edge when I had a unilateral mx. Oncologist insists that is enough. No Chemo, but tamoxifen for 5 years. I had delayed reconstruction and am still healing from that.

Looks like close margins are fairly common. Glad I'm not the only one.