Just Diagnosed and Seeing Surgeon Today

WonderWoman75

I have invasive carcinoma. I am seeing the surgeon today. Just got diagnosed four days ago. I'm really not sure how to feel.

basic_bee

Just take some deep breaths and move forward. It is hard to get through, I know. Try looking through this site or Google for a list of questions to ask and see if there is anyone who can come with you to the appointment to help you remember what happens. My first appointment was with a surgeon too, but then I had chemo first. You can take the time you need to make the decision that is best for you so don't rush anything.

odat4me

I was just diagnosed too. Most mornings I feel pretty sad and negative. By the middle of the day I shake off those bad feelings. I have been reading a book that has helped me a lot. Breasts, an owners manual. It has helped explained a lot of what to expect.

Moderators

Hi WonderWoman75-

We're so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but we're glad you've joined us here. You're in the right place for support. Take it one day at a time, we're all here for you.

The Mods

beach2beach

Sorry you are here, but welcome. A year ago I was in the same place. You feel whatever you feel. Sometimes anger, sometimes numb, sometimes tears. Go with it. It's exactly a year ago today that I had surgery so I can say you will get through this. Just take each day the best you can. Even with more information you get, you don't know what to do with it, but it does come together. As they say, once a plan is in place you get some control over this runaway train. I hope you took someone with you to the surgeon,, sometimes we don't hear everything we are supposed to or don't ask all the questions we should because we are shocked.

Good luck and keep us informed

WonderWoman75

What made you decide to get a lumpectomy? My breasts are very small to begin with and there is no way that I want this coming back. I am thinking double mastectomy. It scares the hell out of me, but if it keeps me cancer free eventually, I think it is worth it. Your thoughts?

WonderWoman75

beach2beach-

What made you make the decision to have a double mastectomy? Before I met with the surgeon, I kind of had my mind made up that I wanted it the hell out of my body. I always joked about wanting implants, but I am wavering on that. I just think that me, personally, would be more self conscious with just my scar and no nipples. Just wondering.

TwinkleCat

Hi Wonderwoman75 -- I was also just diagnosed (7/23/18). Still waiting on results of additional testing to guide my treatment plan. At odat4me's suggestion, I read "Breasts, the owners manual." I am now currently reading "Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book," which was recommended to me by a coworker -- both have been extremely helpful!

I am just taking it one day at a time. In addition to reading the above books, I have been focusing my energy on things I am sort of (?) looking forward to -- it feels like a more productive and positive outlet for my energy. Since I know I will be having at least a unilateral mastectomy (possibly bilateral, depending on further imaging, and results of genetic testing), so I've been looking at artistic mastectomy tattoos (I would like cherry blossoms!). And while I do not know yet if I will need chemo, I am having a fun time looking at wigs online -- especially wild fashion colors!

How did your appointment with the surgeon go?

beach2beach

Hi,

When the surgeon called me and told me it was BC, she offered me the option of a lumpectomy with rads and she explained that after surgery I would be on a rotating 6mth testing of mammo/sono and mri. Yeah, I knew that wasn't for me. I had so much anxiety as it was just getting mammo/sono every year. My sister had BC at 48, she is 9 years NED, that played in my decision too as well as that I was small boobed to begin with and taking a chunk out of it would leave me looking like a shark bite. I also knew I'd be constantly worrying that sooner or later I would have to do it anyway. That's just me. i had no regrets doing a double mx. Because I'm thin and my skin is tight according to the PS, I could not do a DIEP or expanders, so I went straight with implants, also had nipple sparing. It was a year ago yesterday I had surgery. Doing well. Scars fading. Am I 100% in love with the look of my new foobs? To be honest, I'm ok with them. I see some ripples, and flexing the pec muscle doesnt make them look too pretty, but unless I'm going to be dancing nude, its cool. I could always go a little bigger now my PS says. Not sure I will do that anyway.

moth

So the thing is, a mastectomy won't necessarily keep you cancer free.

My breast surgeon explained that a lumpectomy + radiation has the same overall survival outcomes as mastectomy. Our province wide evidence based treatment guidelines say the same. (BUT, on this board this apparently is controversial information & I've read that some people say this isn't true for all age groups. My perception is that in some geographic areas people do mastectomies way more, while in others, they lean to breast conserving surgery. I wonder if it has to do with what surgeons are used to, or what they can bill insurance for.)

My oncologist later expanded on that & said that a mastectomy would only prevent a loco-regional recurrence (& sometimes not even that as people have had it come back in incision lines etc - whatever tiny amount of tissue is left) but that it has no effect on metastatic recurrence.

Metastatic recurrence is the one to worry about. If it comes back in the breast, you can treat & potentially cure it again, but metastatic is not curable.

I chose a lumpectomy and figured I can always go back for mastectomy later. It's a much more major surgery with more risks of complications (& that's even if you don't choose to reconstruct; reconstruction has its own additional risks)

Btw, I'm an A/B cup. Cosmetically my breasts look pretty much the same right now. At first glance, it's hard to tell that a large chunk (I think it was 5 x 6 x2.5 cm) was removed. I think a lot depends on where the tumor is & the skill of the surgeon to get a good cosmetic result.

Whatever decision you make, will be right for you. Best wishes.

edwards750

No it won’t moth. I was one of those who thought that was the best option until I was told the survival rates are the same as a lumpectomy so I went with a lumpectomy. My BC is IDC, Stage 1b, Grade 1.

I had 33 radiation treatments and 5 years on Tamoxifen.

My sister had a MX and after 4 years her BC came back where her scar is along the chest wall. I am 7 years out this month. There just aren’t any guarantees either way. You make the best decision you can at the time.

Diane

odat4me

I am actually in same day surgery right now going in shortly for my lumpectomy. Thinking of all of you today! Waiting a bit since she is in surgery with another woman. I have been reading the posts and following everyone’s journey. Trying to think about changing my diet to help with survival too, it seems so overwhelming

Jadedjo

@odat4me

Good luck with the surgery!!

Take care.

WonderWoman75

Omg...good luck with the surgery. Let us know how it goes.

WonderWoman75

@beach2beach...I think that I am trying to avoid having to even consider a lumpectomy as my left breast has three tumors that will need to be removed. My boobs are so small to begin with I cannot imagine sparing any of the tissue that is left.

I also am leaning towards the double mastectomy to avoid the yearly pain and annoyance of having a mammogram. Last year, the tech lifted me up with the machine and it looked like I had been beat up by a few people. I always have to go back for more images. In my head, I tell myself to remove the bad tissue and I do not want to have one breast. So, I am thinking the double mastectomy. Of course I am scared, but I am more scared of the other breast joining the left one on the dark side.

Plus, I won't be doing any nude dancing. Thanks for taking the time to share your story. I am feeling the love from all of you on here.

GrannyK

Just diagnosed and deciding where and which Dr to do the surgery. My local breast center automatically assigned a surgeon to me, who is very nice, but a general surgeon, not specifically a breast surgeon. He has ordered three biopsies for me and has been managing the process so far. Everyone I have talked to who has been through this experience in my area has been to a group of surgeons who are just breast cancer surgeons and I would rather go to them. How and when do I make the switch? Do I go in for a consultation with the first surgeon , or do I have him give all my reports to the other group and go to them first? Not sure how this works !

WonderWoman75

I had my bouble MSX on Monday. My surgeon was also a general surgeon, but only does breast surgery. She referred me to a plastic surgeon who tookover after she removed the breasts. He placed expanders under my breasts and I am very swollen so I am hoping it will look better with time.

Luckynumber47

GrannyK, I had my mammograms and ultrasound at my local hospital but as soon as they knew there was something suspicious I switched to breast center for my care. They agreed I needed a biopsy and took care of that and handled everything I needed after that. I just wanted the most experienced surgeon I could find.

You can make the switch any time you want. In my opinion, the sooner the better.

GrannyK

Thank you for this info!