Not sure how to feel..

Catob1969

I was diagnosed in February with IDC grade 2, HER2 - , PR + oncotype 2(very low risk) . The MRI showed the little bugger to be quite diverse in how it was spread through the tissue of the breast. I was told: "Think fingers spreading out, not a lump."

The MO I saw and the SO conferred and decided to put me on Anastrozolex daily for 6 months, with 6 week checks to try to get the little bugger to shrink some so the surgeon would have to take less breast tissue for the lumpectomy to get clean margins. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. No big deal, very curable.

Well, I just saw the MO and the little bugger (per Ultrasound 2 days ago) has grown not shrunk. Pretty scary considering I am on Anastrozole AND it is a slow growing type tumor. The MO is consulting today with the SO for a final decision, but he is leaning toward lumpectomy sooner rather than later.

My head is swirling. From the start I was concerned, confused by and eventually convinced by my expert team that my outcome was the same if I waited and tried to shrink the little bugger or did the lumpectomy/node biopsy immediately. That I couldn't not have the cancer staged, because they were doing the lumpectomy AFTER trying Anastrozole to shrink it was frightening but I trust my MO. Now the little bugger is growing and what was so far off, in October, is suddenly right here: surgery and node biopsy.

I am scared the way it is shaped. Will it be hard getting clean margins. The MO and SO had originally agreed that hey wanted me to wait so the tumor was smaller , to allow the surgeon to take less tissue. So now what am I thinking? "Oh sh*t, its bigger, now how much is coming out during surgery??"

And of course, as our heads do, we worry and wait and worry some more. I am thinking about the node biopsy. All of my care team was happy to wait to do the biopsy until October, but if the little bugger is growing not shrinking, my brain is yelling "Oh crap, the nodes!! What if?".

I am not sure I actually have a question; more of a lump of fear in my throat that is larger than the little bugger in my boob.

If you are still here, thanks for reading my ramble, and thanks for being here

Catherine

Michelle_in_cornland

you should check out ....,. Lumpectomy Lounge thread..... Chi_ Sandy, Pontiac Peggy, are a wealth of information

Catob1969

Thank you, Michelle!

ElaineTherese

Catherine,

How big was/is your lump? And, are you large-breasted? small-breasted?

I ended up having a "golfball-sized" amount of tissue removed, so it wasn't too bad. Also, since I was a C-cup, my affected breast didn't shrink much. It is currently a bit smaller than my healthy breast, but not so much that it's noticeable.

Salamandra

Ugh, I'm sorry. It sounds like it was a good plan that did not survive contact with the enemy. I guess it may be useful information to have down the line, that it was not responsive to AIs.

I wonder whether you could ask for a cosmetic consult and potentially for a plastic surgeon to be part of your surgery team. Reconstruction is usually associated with mastectomies, but insurance will often cover some cosmetic work for lumpectomies as well.

FWIW, my breasts are not large but on the larger side. My surgeon took out a lot to get clean margins, but it's not even really visible to me to me, let alone anyone else.

I hope the next steps go more smoothly!

ctmbsikia

It sounds like you have a DCIS that went invasive? You had the oncotype test done on your biopsy sample? I didn't think you had the onco test until after surgery? Not sure I would trust that score. I would go ahead with surgery and possibly referring with a PS depending on the size. I had a 4cm tumor removed and I'm a 36D. There's a small divet upper inner quadrant of left, and more shrinkage from radiation. It doesn't bother me though that the right size is bigger now. Sorry for all the questions, I hope you get good answers soon and make a decision you feel is right for you.

Catob1969

HI everyone! Thank you for the questions/talk

I was told it was 3.9 cm at some points during the MRI. However with spiculated edges the full mass is hard to determine.

The follow up Ultrasound showed a larger size.

I stand at a full 5 foot 9 inches, 200 pounds( so I am not slight) and carry a 44 D breast size.

I will ask for a consult with the PS.

I think I am just shaken that things went off track rather quickly.

They sent the Oncotype testing from my core biopsy sample.