Has anyone gone for a second re-excision?

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cphealing
cphealing Member Posts: 8
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Just wondering what experience people have had going for a second re-excision (had a lumpectomy in Sept and then a re-excision last week) ?   I have been doing some  "searching" on the topic but have found little on it.  Is that because at this point people usually head for the masectomy next?  The DCIS found in the re-excision (1st re-excision after lumpectomy) had not shown up on any previous scans (mammogram and MRI) as I have very dense tissue.   After the original lumpectomy,  they went in to try and get clean margins on the extensive ADH and ALH they found and instead found more cancer no one knew was there.  Going in for follow ups with the surgeon and oncologist tomrrow but just wondering what others in a similar scenario have done.  

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  • Tootie1
    Tootie1 Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2011

    Hi cphealing:



    I too would like to know if anyone has gone thru this and what the outcome was. I had a lumpectomy in Feb. They found LCIS in both breasts. At my 6 mos followup they found ADH thru a stereotactic biopsy. I went in for an open excisional biopsy in Sept and they found DCIS, no necrosis, low to intermediate grade. My BS is recommending a double BMX since I have LCIS in one breast and DCIS in the other. I would prefer having another lumpectomy that they would hopefully be able to get clean margins on so I can move on with my life. I just turned 37 so this is all super stressful for me. I go for a second opinion tomorrow and I'm also looking into getting a second opinion on my pathology slides. I hope you get some answers. Good Luck!

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  • Looneymom
    Looneymom Member Posts: 144
    edited October 2011

    I am sure someone will post but after my lumpectomy the doctor saw how spread out my cancer was at said I needed a mast., of course there were other tests/scans done (back in 2008 don't remember them all).  I also had very dense breast, this is why the mass did not show up ten years earlier when I told them something was wrong.  Both my surgeon and plastic surgeon told me the margins were so small got as much stuff out as possible and I have what they call thin skin flaps, which means there is hardly any tissue left under the skin and it can make radiation and reconstruction a little trickier later down the line.    I had a very big mass, one doctor told me it was the biggest mass of DCIS she has seen in her entire career,(MD Anderson in Houston for 20 yrs.) and that I was so lucky it had not gone to the local nodes..  I could feel the odd shape mass which I guess was big but many doctors could not feel it or find it when they examined me.   Every one is so different and their cancer is different.  Those decisions on what kind of surgery/reconstruction they make you pick when they are planning a mast are some of the hardest thinking I ever did.  Besides getting lots of support here on the forum I also personal spoke with 6 local women who had dif. types of reconstruction so I could get the real picture/story  - not just the one the doc's and brochures give you.  I wish I had a breast spec. oncologist from the very first surgery but I did not find one until after my mast but they are specialist.  If you can find a breast cancer oncol. specialist, I would get an opinion.   Good luck and hugs to you.  

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  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited October 2011

    I recall reading several such posts. Here's the first one I could find and it has a happy ending (always comforting to read):

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/773265

    I cannot speak from personal experience.

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  • cphealing
    cphealing Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2011

    Had my follow up appointments with the surgeon and oncologist and both agreed that a double BMX was the best course of action at this time.  The DCIS is spread out,  they can't "see" what else is goiing on in my tissue because it is so dense,  extensive ADH and ALH and I do not have large breasts.   Already have a "dent" after having two stereotactic biopsies, a lumpectomy where they took a large block out since they were trying to get clear margins on two sites, and then this latest follow up re-excision.   Can't believe I have been screwing around with this for 3 months now trying to be less aggressive with surgeries and am now here anyway.  Ready for my surgery date to get here (Nov 15) but concerned about recovery, etc.  

    Tootie 1: you should definitely get a second opnion.   I did and, while not thrilled with the news,  I am much more comfortable with this course of action now.  I ended up switching to the docs that I got second opinions from.   I was just more comfortable with how they were approaching all of this.   

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