Should I ask for a second opinion?

How I would love it to be a ball of fat!  I called for an appt today to see my the surgeon who had done my 2 lumpectomies and my mastectomies, but they haven't returned my call yet. But the more I look into the chances of having a chest wall recurrence, the more my hope grows that it is a ball of fat. It sounds like it would be very unusual. We'll see.... Its just that having had TN, and having the BRCA2+, one cannot be too careful. Thanks so much to both of you, for your words of your encouragement! It is very much appreciated.

Carla

Thank you lovelyface, for writing me. You have some good questions. I had my first breast cancer in March of 02 in my right breast.  It was DCIS, which means it remained in one small area in one duct. I had a lumpectomy with 33 radiations afterward. I don't know if this one was triple negative. After 7 years, almost to the day, in March of 09, I went to have a mammogram, knowing that there was some kind of lump in my left breast. It turned out to be a triple negative, grade 3 tumor. I had a lumpectomy, followed by chemo-4 treatments of CT. Then 33 radiations. During the radiation treatments, I found out that I was BRCA2+. So I had my ovaries removed right away, and this past August I had a bilateral mastectomy. I had a skin sparing tram flap reconstruction. The plastic surgeon takes your own fat and some muscle from you lower stomach and pulls it up to your breasts, after the surgeon has finished doing the mastectomy. Its a 9 hour procedure, followed by 5 days in the hospital. I had some complications with some of my top breast skin which died b/c there wasn't enough blood supply going to it. I am still recovering and healing and we are in November. I have to be honest with you. I had the ovaries and breasts removed b/c I was BRCA2+, not b/c of the triple negative. These surgeries were done so that it would increase my chances of not having new cancers.  Because of the triple negative, I can still have recurrences down the road in my bones, liver, brain,...... Having a mastectomy does not get rid of that problem.  If I find out I have cancer again, it is most likely a new cancer which has grown off my chest wall. It will most likely be triple negative again, because how fast it has appeared. It is on the left side of my right breast, so it could be a mound of very hard fat tissue, or a tumor located very close to my sternum. I'm hoping for the best. My appt with my surgeon is on Nov. 16, at 3:45, so I have 2 weeks to wait. Not fun.  If it is cancer, I don't know what the treatment will be because I cannot have radiation anymore. I probably will have to remove my right reconstructed breast. 

So, I encourage you to think twice about the mastectomy. If you are seeing your doctor every 2 or 3 months, then every 6 months, after your chemo and you are aware of your own changes in your breasts, I encourage you to wait.Are you having radiation? If you are, I heard that its better to have a mastectomy at least a full year after radiation if you are looking into reconstruction. Your skin is very tender and needs to heal even if you don't experience burning. There is a greater chance of infection. I waited a year before having mine.  But each woman has to decide this for themselves. You have to feel right about whatever you will decide. I see that you want to be in God's will too. The Lord has his ways of letting us know what to do. Continue to pray, and to seek His Word. Since the beginning of this journedy of mine, I have prayed not only for healing, but for wisdom, and His direction. He does this by directing you to get opinions from people who have gone through this before, ( as you are now)  and by giving a peace of mind as you make a decision. He is in control.

Take care, and I will be praying for you,

Carla

I'll try this again. I went to my surgeon today for the 2nd opinion regarding the lump I found. He felt it, and wasn't smiling. He said it was round, well defined, and told me it was wise of me to ask for a biopsy. I had hoped I would go in and he would feel it and say, "Oh yes, this is definetly a fat necrosis, just like Dr H. says." SHOOT! So I had the biopsi done in his office. He took 3 different samples, and told me to call the office on Friday afternoon for results. He said that it would be very rare for the lump to be malignant after having the mastectomy in August, but thats all he said. I really do not want this to be another cancer!!!! 

In the waiting room,

Carla

Thank you so much, Barbara! I made it through today-just 2 more days to go! (I will call them late Friday, if they haven't called me by then.) I really hope I don't have to wait through the weekend.

waiting, but hopeful,

Carla

I am so happy to be able to write that the biopsy came out all clear of cancer!  The report said that the lump was a mix of fatty tissue, and actual breast tissue, but B9! Now I can just continue healing from my reconstruction mess, and not worry about this crazy lump which will come out during stage 2 of the reconstruction process. Thank you for everybody's thoughts and prayers!

Carla

Yes, Yey for B9!!  I see, Pamin, that you were diagnosed in September of this year. How are you doing? Are you in the middle of chemo or in radiation? I hope you are doing OK.  Thank you for posting your encouragement.

Carla

Thank you, Barb, for your cyber hugs! Yes, I am so happy and releaved. Now I can just go on, continue healing, enjoy my family, and be grateful for each day.

Thank you, Linda. Yes, I am walking on clouds of relief, and now I am very much looking forward to Thanksgiving!  -another great reason to be thankful.

I'm so glad to hear that, Pam! I hope you can enjoy Thanksgiving feeling well.