Question for the board
I posted this in another forum and haven't gotten much response so I am trying here:
I was diagnosed with DCIS in Oct. '08. I had two unsuccessful lumpectomies because my cancer, while a grade 0 was multi-focal. I finally had a unilateral mastectomy in Feb. '09 and an implant placed on my "good" left side because I wanted to go larger.
I then had exchange surgery in June '09 and two subsequent revisions, one in Sept. '09 because I thought my reconstructed breast didn't have a nice shape and then in February '10 I had my implant on my good side fixed because it had somehow dropped.
So, after six surgeries for a non-invasive cancer and finally happy with the cosmetic results I thought it was over. I've been going for regular mammos, scans, even ovarian cancer scans as a precaution and all has been fine.
On Monday I went for a routine scan of my reconstructed breast (I still have my nipple). Anyway, doctor at the radiology place told me one of my lymph nodes was "plump" and she'd like me to have an MRI. She didn't seem concerned and said she thinks it's nothing but they wouldn't let me have the MRI until it was 8-13 days after the first day of my cycle bec. that's when they get the best pictures.
So..... that would have meant weeks of waiting and I didn't think I could do that so I called my cancer surgeon who said that I could just do a biopsy if I didn't want to wait it out. He called the doctor at the radiology place and that's what they thought was best.
He reiterated that she was "not concerned". I go for the biopsy on Monday.
My question is - has anyone else gone through this? Does it seem possible I could have cancer in my lymph nodes when I had a mastectomy and only DCIS? I should mention they checked my nodes twice - once in November '08 and then again in February '09 and they were clear.
Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Liz
Comments
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Did you have any lymph nodes removed after your mastectomy? If it was pure DCIS then there should not have been any nodal involvement. Did you have any micro invasions?
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I did. And they were totally clear. I had no microinvasions whatsoever.
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could you have had some DCIS in your nipple?
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I guess any thing is possible but my DCIS was nowhere near my nipple - it was in the upper outer quadrant, near my under arm.
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I don't really know, but I would think that a lymph node could be enlarged for a number of reasons -- I know I've had enlarged lymph nodes in my neck and armpits from strep throat, canker sores, head colds and even at times for unknown reasons. Hopefully it is just something like that. I suspect given that your doctor says she is not concerned that there is a high likelihood it is something like that and she is just being careful (as she should). I've only had one MRI (second one coming up on May) but in both cases I also had to schedule to be within a certain timeframe after my period. Good luck!!!
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My feeling is this is probably related to all your surgeries--a minor infection. Or also, I had enlarged lymph nodes when I had a virus not long ago. But you'll let us know? I'm saying prayers for you having a virus or infection, which doesn't sound good, but you know what I mean....!
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I sure do, any virus or infection would be better than more cancer, that's for sure!
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Soooo.....I had my biopsy on Monday. Said it will take a few days to get the results back from the lab. Then tonight I get a letter in the mail that says my ultrasound was normal. Huh? How can they say it's normal wiothout the biopsy results? If it was abnormal on 4/19, wjat would make it normal one week later? I guess I will find out tomorrow but has anyone else ever seen something like this??
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In my 6 years here I've read of one person in your situation. She'd had DCIS, a mastectomy, then a node popped up. This stuff happens, although rarely. That's why they follow you after surgery.
While it could be something I'd say the chances are more likely that it's not anything bad.
Hopefully you won't be anything out of the ordinary.
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It does seem crazy, but I always have that "waiting for the other shoe to drop" feeling whenever I have to go for scans, mammos, etc.
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