Just an update... saw Breast surgeon yesterday

Anonymous

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for the warm welcome last week..

I am happy that I found this website and am grateful for your input..I had the appt with the breast surgeon and wanted to update. she told me that everything in the pathology report was favorable estrogen and progesterone positive Her2 negative She said the Her2 negative is very good... they are very small low grade highly differeinated stage 1. She gave me a breast exam and said that before she examined me that she wasn't sure if she could save my breast but after her exam she was happy because I have a lot of breast tissue that she can use.. She asked if I mind if going smaller and I said I didn't care as long as there was something there.. So she thinks she can pull it off.. she made me an appointment with a plastic surgeon who I am seeing on Thursday because he will have to do breast reduction to make them symmetrical.. She also said that she cannot guarantee but she is about 90% sure that I probably won't need chemo . She told me that of course breast cancer is not good news but in the bad news I got good news as far as the type of tumor, the possibility of conserving my breast and probably no chemo. I will have to take pills to supress the estrogen but I can handle that. I have to go for a blood test to see if I carry some gene which will be information as it relates to my daughters. I told her I did not tell my daughters yet and she said that I have to tell them.. I should tell them that this is not life threatening , caught early and unlikely to spread. I will die of old age and not from breast cancer She said I could go on my cruise and will start the radiation when I get back.. I will probably have the surgery the end of March.. She said the hardest part of this whole thing is hearing the diagnosis, navigating all the tests, doctors and appointments .. The surgery is the easy part, out patient etc. What I have been through was a lot worse and this will just be a little hiccup along the way she really made me feel better. This is the best I have felt in 3 weeks. she said her2 negative was great and made her happy to hear that .I am not out of the woods yet but feel encouraged.. I really liked the dr. I"m going on Tuesday for another opinion and I will decide who to use then.

Going for a blood test on Monday to test for the BCRA gene since I am of Ashkenazi Jewish background.. Surgeon has also requested the Oncotype DX.

I also found out that she lives around the corner from and.. We were talking about all the people we know in common... I told her that since I know where she lives she better do a good job if she doesn't want to find a horse's head in her driveway ( Godfather reference)

Looks like my surgery will be at the end of March.

I should also add that in 2008 I was in an horrific car accident and had to have my leg amputated up to the hip... I told the surgeon that I CANNOT have another part of my body taken from me which is why she is doing all she can to conserve my breast. May have to go down a few cup sizes but I cont care as long as there is a breast still on by body. I take "when it rains , it pours" to a whole new level.

Sorry for the long post... Thanks for listening...... Hope you are all doing well.

Pammac47

Nachout 818,

I wanted to welcome you and say best wishes on your journey. Sounds like you have a very caring and respectful surgeon. Who also seems to be giving you very sound medical attention and reasons for certain decisions. That's all good. Let us know how your progress goes and again glad you found this support, but sorry you need to be here as well

Pam