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  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011

    Angelinac- i am praying for b9 results (80% are! so numbers are on your side!) I would def ask to get them ALL biopsied. I had 3 very large nodes, one was over 1cm big and when they biopsied it it was pos for cancer- after chemo i had surgery and the removed all the nodes and only 1 more came back positive (not sure if chemo killed the others or not, but no reason to chance it!)

    Browniefranks- oh yeah big idiot, i am trying to go after her for malpractice, cuz she wrote on my chart "future dx 2 BC" meaning she thought it was possible! and yet didnt tell me shit- just sent me home... and look now i am stage 4!

    HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

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  • browniefranks
    browniefranks Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2011

    Texasrose, I am also praying for you that you do well and that you are NED for a longtime! I hope you get your doctor for malpractice so she does not do it to anyone else. 

    Happy mothers day everyone! 

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  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011

    thank you brownie!

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  • angelinac
    angelinac Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2011

    texasrose361, thanks for your repsonsre. A couple of questions for you, did they remove all of the lumps or just the ones that were cancerous? If they find any with cancer then what are my options? Also what happens if they find precancerous cells do the options change? Do people just have a lumpectomy and then no chemo?

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  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011

    Angeliac- the removed all the nodes that were closest to the breast, they put a dye in there so they can trace which are which. they also removed the ones pos for cancer (if they werent already part of the close ones)

    Usually when nodes are involved they suggest a mx, and chemo... depending on what they find with the mx they might also suggest radiation.

    This is how i was told if you get just the lumpectomy then radiation is a must, if a mx radiation is only needed in some cases.

    hope i answered your question

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  • angelinac
    angelinac Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2011
    Thanks texasrose361, this does help. I am totally premature since my biopsies are not until 5/18 but I am freaking out and trying to prepare what may my options may be so I am not surprised. Although I will have 5-8 business days of waiting for the lab results.
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  • browniefranks
    browniefranks Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2011

    Angelinc, I am not sure if I mentioned this already, but you may want to request an MRI with contrast so as to be able to identify lumps/areas that may drain contrast differently than normal tissue. This will help especially if your lumps are not visible to mammogram or in deeper locations that you cannot feel. This should be scheduled in conjunction to biopsy. Are you having a sentinel node biopsy? Do not freak out, I know it's easier said than done, use your energy to investigate what the doctors have told you! Also take a friend (nurse), rational person to every appointment who can write down things. Also get your doctors to write down everything they are saying so you can reprocess it later. Get copies of all your reports so you can be proactive. I know all this is scary. I know that my diagnosis felt like someone had punched me in the stomach and ripped out my guts and stumped on them. But then you have to be persistent and your own advocate. Not all doctors give a damn about their patients and whatever the outcome it's your body, your life.  Please relax and good luck with the tests!

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  • angelinac
    angelinac Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2011

    Hi Browniefranks, I already had a MRI, yes this the procedure I am having. I had an MRI first that radiologoist recommended that I reconfirm what he found with an ultrasound and a mammogram this leads me to the biopsies... My doctor said there was no reason to biopsy the last node because it is very oval like, she is concerened with overbiopsying but said she would do it if I wanted? Any thoughts?

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  • angelinac
    angelinac Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2011

    texasrose, what is a MX? And please read my prior response into the concern of over-biopsying, thanks.

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited May 2011

    angelinac- I believe a MX is a mastectomy where a BMX is a bilateral mastectomy.  Personally I would biopsy whatever appears suspicious at all while they are in there.  But I am a worrier, you might not be.  If I didn't biopsy the other node I would always think "but what if..."

    Good luck with all of your tests, this is a very hard time, the waiting and worrying.

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  • browniefranks
    browniefranks Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2011

    Angelinac I would biopsy everything that show up on the MRI with contrast, better a negative that was biopsied than a cancer that was undiagnosed.

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  • angelinac
    angelinac Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2011

    Laurie08, thanks for your response. I am a worrier too, I just didn't know if anyone has ever heard that term before "overbiopsying." browniefranks I already had an MRI with contrast, that radiologist recommended further testing so that is why I had the Mammogram (that was my first) and a breast sonogram which indicated the three nodes. That is what I had told the nurse yesterday when I called, I would rather be safe than sorry. She said the doctor would do it if I requested but because it was very oval-like it didn't indicate to be a concern and rather than biopsy they just wanted to monitor it.

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  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011

    Doesnt matter what the shape of it!

    Agree with brownie, better a negative that was biopsied than a postive that is left there to grow and spread!

    My first ultra sound had a bi-rads of 3 which means more than likely benign so we sat and waited, which is now why i have stage 4 cancer because it was left to do what it wanted in that time frame... Dont let them sweep you under the rug girl! I wish everyday i didnt let them talk me out of the biopsy and give me the whole "lets monitor it to see if it grows or changes" line because a whole lotta good that did!

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  • angelinac
    angelinac Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2011

    texasrose361, thanks so much I am sticking with my decision (which I based soley) on advice from survivors and people going through cancer now, which is too biopsy all three! Thanks again!

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  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011
    No problem! I am praying that you get b9 results!  I really wish i had know anybody with cancer before because i would have gotten a biopsy right away!
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  • angelinac
    angelinac Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2011

    texasrose361 thanks so much.

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  • browniefranks
    browniefranks Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2011

    Angelinac please let us know how the biopsies go, either way. Make sure that they take multiple samples from each nodule. Make sure they talk you through the procedure and draw pictures of what they are doing and plan to do. Also like Texarose361 I am praying you have benign nodules. However, continue the vigilance and take care of your health! Best of wishes and I pray you never join those of us with the diagnosis below our profiles!

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  • angelinac
    angelinac Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2011

    Hi Browniefranks, thanks so much! I will definitely keep everyone abreast of my results (so to speak)...

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited May 2011

    angelinac- You can count on my prayers to for B9 results!  Good luck!!

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  • browniefranks
    browniefranks Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2011

    Ok you all fyi, when  I turn 40 in a four months, am I still allowed to post on a forum for under 40s?

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited May 2011
    brownie- Well duh!  Of course you can!  We'de be sad if you stopped!  Personally I think the age thing is dumb.  If we all have a common interest that we want to talk about does it matter how old we are?  I will be 36 this month and my best friend is soon to be 42.  So one day we were talking about someone and she said how old is she?  I said "our age"  she said," I'm older than you."  I replied, who cares it\';s the same thing."  Her response was "true."  Laughing  It's all relative.
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  • angelinac
    angelinac Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2011

    Thanks Laurie08!

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited May 2011

    In 2 1/2 hours I go get my nipple/areola tattoos.  I am a little nervous, don't know why.  I can't believe it has been over a year since I started reconstruction and I will finally be done.  Fingers crossed that he does a good job and I like them.

    Hope everyone is having a good day!!

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  • angelinac
    angelinac Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2011

    Laurie08 good luck. So how does this work? I met a woman who had it done but she said her body sucked it in? Confused... Can they ever save the nipple with a masectomy? So curious...

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  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011

    Good luck Laurie :)

    Angel- i think if its a mastectomy they usually take the whole nipple, wel they prefer to, i have heard pf women getting nipple sparring surgery but i am not sure of the stats on which group has a higher risk for reoccurance or anything...

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited May 2011

    Thanks Timothea and Angleinac!  It went well, not pain-full but not comfortable either.  A little sore now, but nothing really worth complaining about.  He said the color will change when I scab and heal, so hard to tell now, bandages went on right away after a quick peek in a hand mirror and I will admit it bled quite a bit.  But again, nothing too bad.

    Angelinac- I do know that they do nipple sparing.  They need to scrape the inside of the nipple to try to remove everything.  My PS didn't do them due to increased risk.  I was told it increases recurrence by 10%- but I have heard if done correctly it doesn't.  I think it depends who you ask.  There are lots of thread for nipple/skin sparing MX on here, try doing a search.  I went the "classic" route.  I had a BMX with TE's to silicone implants, C flp nipples and now tattoos. I love my PS- hated him at first and now LOVE him.  He gives me statistics such as that 80% of woman who have MX don't do recon.  Out of that 20 %  only 40% get nipples and out of that 40% only 20% get tattoos.  I find it so interesting.

    Oh and on nipple projection- I lost most of mine once I stopped wearing bandages.  I still have some and am glad I tried it.  I always compare it to a raised mole- you feel it, but it doesn't resonde, you know? 

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  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 1,829
    edited May 2011

    Wow those are interesting facts- i am in the 80% group. i think a lot of those numbers come from the much older women- i think with younger women (40 and below) the numbers would difer slightly...

    Wow 10% that seems like a high risk, but who knows really what the "real" risks are

    Do you have any other tattoos? if so is the pain similar? (i am still numb since my surgery in jan so i cant feel my left side at all and very barely the right)

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited May 2011

    We talked about the stats and he says it is a combination of women who are older, women with out access to plastic surgeons and options, those with out health care,those who are farther along in diagnosis and those who simply choose not to.  I asked him why women who start the process don't finish and he didn't have the stats for that, just that we as women get tired of surgeries or don't see the need where we look complete in clothing.

    He was very sweet today, he was so happy to see things done for me.  He has become so supportive and told me he hoped it helped me feel whole again.

    I'll be honest and say it never bothered me after surgery to be flat chested, I debated on not doing the recon, the flat look is kind of nice.  I was a DDD before and stopped at a small C.

    I do have other tattoos and no they are very different.  These were much, much easier, the one time numbness is a plus!  He offered a topical numbing jell and it wasn't so bad that I needed it, it was uncomfortable but not the grab your chair hold your breath kind of pain.  It was much easier.  I'll be able to tell you better once a couple of weeks have past, but even without recon I would recommend the tattoos- it gives your eye the focus it's looking for.

    It will be interesting to see what my 3 year old thinks when he sees them the first time!

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  • browniefranks
    browniefranks Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2011

    Dear all, I am halfway through chemo and now I've to make the big decision, bilat Mastectomy or  radiation. Both breasts are very dense and have lots of fibrocystic tissue, however primary cancer was in the side closer to muscle, I worry if I am just butchering myself, but I fear that even without removing the breasts how to continue with monitoring and preventing a recurrence, due to size of primary  tumor 2.2cm and presence of lots of benign tumors. I am not sure if I want recon after bilat. Laurie08, I guess I may end up  one of those going through treatment fatigue.  Anyway, I probably should not be posting after an infusion, since I am likely just rambling anyways. You all have a wonderful night. Angelinac, hoping you had b9 results!

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited May 2011

    brownie- It is such a tough call to make.  It is so personal a choice, for me, I had a gut reaction and went with it.  I lost my Mom to BC, cared for her at home etc and am terrified of it.  (who isn't?)  So I wanted it all gone.  I do miss my real breasts, I won't lie.  But I am still happy in my choice.  My new breasts look nicer than the old big saggy ones, but again the flat look is quite nice.  I was surprised when I woke up from surgery and went two months without a fill and didn't mind it one bit.

    I hope you're feeling ok- I shouldn't be posting either, I have had a couple glasses of wine to come off my adrenaline high from nerves!  Post no matter what!!!

    Or perhaps I should apologize for my own behavior!Wink

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