Being proactive or frightened

BJO62

Brief background: Jan 28, 1915 needle biopsy reveals tiny papillary carcinoma in left breast. Was told by surgeon lumpectomy and radiation would take care of it. Surgery performed 16 days later on 2/13 a partial mastectomy had to be done because the mass had tripled in size. When the surgeon called to tell me that now I had invasive ductile invasive carcinoma ultimately TNBC. Pathology revealed a grade 3 with vascular and lymphatic presence. I was lucky nothing in the lymph nodes. Chemo and I did not agree 1rst round - cardiomyopathy, second toss of Taxol resulted anaphylaxis they tried yet a third drug which took me 4 month to get nearly 100%. I completed radiation without incident on Jan 5,2016. Since that time I have had lung issues requiring hospitalizations Tywin to three times a year but the lungs cleared. That is until Jan if this year when an admission for a bacterial bronchitis revealed a nodule. Here we are 10 months later and three CT’scan and there are nodules and multiple opaque areas in all but one lobe of both lungs. The hospitalist ordered a bronchoscopy for a deep lung sputum sample in the most recent admission 10/22 but now there is fluid around my heart and I had systems of angina so they shipped me out to another campus to do a cardiac catheterization.

I’m more stable now and there going to repeat the scan on 11/15 but the pulmonologist doesn’t think a bronchoscopy is in order yet.

I’m so confused as to a plan of action and really would like a second opinion. Am I’m being too cautious? I never had things growing in my lungs before and now it’s just persists.
Any feedback is welcomed.

Barbara

obsolete

Hello Barbara, a warm welcome! I'm sorry to read that you've had hospitalizations due to multiple issues. You're not alone, so please remember that you're in good company here. I agree that your vital organs (heart & lungs) would be your higher priorities. Many of us here have had issues with our lungs and heart, so you may wish to do further searches (see upper left margin) using key words of interest.

You might wish to contact the Nurse Navigator at your primary hospital for an appointment to seek further guidance regarding obtaining 2nd opinions. Please take things slow, one step at a time.

Papillary carcinoma can increase significantly in size following a core needle biopsy because the mass is often cystic and then subsequently expands with blood & cystic fluid. Perhaps you could ask your pathologist about your tumor's contents.

My Invasive Solid Papillary Carcinoma mass had also grown quickly and was surrounded by conventional IDC, as yours was. It's remotely possible that some of your LVI had been contributed by cellular displacement, due to the fact that papillary carcinoma tumors become more friable following a core needle biopsy.

I've also had some abnormal findings (nodule, glass opacities, blood clots) in my lungs, all of which have remained stable and benign, so I'm hoping that's the case for you also. When a patient's immune system becomes compromised by breast cancer, it's not uncommon for secondary issues to develop... but I'm certainly hoping that you will remain stable. Hang in there, Barbara, and gentle hugs...