Pathology back - good news and bad news (newbie - ugh)

Options
localgirl
localgirl Member Posts: 39
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hi all-

Just talked with my doctor's PA and the results are in after my lumpectomy last Monday. Mostly all good news - the pathology showed all DCIS, so no ivasive cancer, meaning no chemo or further spreading which I am very relieved about.  The only bummer is that one of the sides of the mass removed (1.6cm x 1.2cm in size) didn't have clear enough margins, so my black and blue boob will have to go back for another surgery to remove a bit more tissue.  Next surgery is scheduled for Nov 29th.  

Real bummer is starting the healing process all over again.  It's been hard on my kids and husband that I can't pick the kids up (especially my daughter who is in a mommy mommy phase right now), so now it will be another month of that - but frankly, I'm so grateful that that will be the worst of it.

 A little nervous about doing another surgery without healing completely but I guess if it doesn't bother the doctors, then I guess I shouldn't worry.  

Also I am ER+ and PR+ so they will talk to me about tamoxifin as well at some point.

Anyone else have 2 surgeries that close?

Thanks!!!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited November 2010

    Your situation is really pretty common.  Many of us have to have reexcissions for a bad margin. 

    I actually did mine even closer--a week apart.  I looked at it as better than healing up because there would be less scarring.  It worked out well for me.  Remember that you think you are healed because of how the outside looks but inside much is still going on.  It takes much longer to heal than you might think so be sure to give yourself time.  Oh and my reexcission was less painful than the original lumpectomy.

    I have three kids and they all like snuggles.  I have also had to deal with one who wanted picking up years ago when I had a hysterectomy. I got her to sit close to me on the sofa/bed as I coouldn't pick her up for weeks.  With my bigger kids, we just kept track of the "badboobie" and did our huggin on the other side.

    Heres to the reexcision being the end of it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • molly52
    molly52 Member Posts: 389
    edited November 2010

     Hi Localgal,

    Yup me too.  But they never told me that could happen - so I was shocked.  But after coming here I have learned it happens quite often.  Very good news it isn't invasive.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited November 2010

    My breast surgeon said it was better to go back in soon.  She was following the same path and would just be ripping out what had already healed.  Going in again soon was like healing 1.3 times rather than 2 times.  But then my breast was not very sore or black and blue after the first surgery.  (...after the core biopsy?  ...that was very black and blue!)

    My two surgeries were about 3 weeks apart.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • localgirl
    localgirl Member Posts: 39
    edited November 2010

    Thanks all, that helps.  My surgeries will be about 3 weeks apart as well.  redsox, did you take tamoxifen? 3monstmama - how are your side effects on it?  I like your snuggling strategies!  Molly52  - so sorry they didn't inform you ahead of time! I can imagine that would be a shock.

     I'm glad to be doing this now so I can enjoy thanksgiving, and get better in time for xmas when there will be much hugging!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lovegolf
    Lovegolf Member Posts: 513
    edited November 2010

    I had lumpectomy 4/17/09 & double Mx 5/1/09 two week apart. It is pretty common time frame.

    Best of luck. Go get those clear margins!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited November 2010

    My two surgeries were 10 days apart and I must say that either my surgeon is a genius or I am just a very lucky duck with healing. I can hardly see the scar now and do get aching pains in the SNB incision area. It has been 6 months since surgery so it does get better. I think the recovery is about the same. You can hold her in your lap (have DH deposit her there).

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2010

    My neighbor just did. She had a lumpectomy on a Tuesday and the doctor found more stuff but didn't have her permission to do a mastectomy so he had to close her up. The did the mastectomy the following Tuesday (last week). My husband visited them in the hospital last Thursday… she was going home that day. I just spoke to her last night and she sounds like she is doing fine.

    She had at least level 1 lymph nodes removed too.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited November 2010

    Yes, I had lumpectomy + radiation and am taking tamoxifen.  No major issues so far.

    The scar would be hard to find if you did not know where to look.  The healing took months (no pain but not normal) but now the breast feels normal.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • localgirl
    localgirl Member Posts: 39
    edited November 2010

    Well you all have made me feel much better, so THANK YOU!

    On the other front, just heard that my mom is out of her mastectomy surgery.  They removed her sentinel lymph node and the dr said it was soft tissue which indicates more likely normal tissue, so that's good news, although we'll wait until the pathology comes back. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories