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Belinda58
Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
edited June 2014 in Second or Third Breast Cancer

In 2001 I  had a mastectomy on my left breast. In October of 2011.(ten years later)...I have had two lumpectomies in the past 30 days on my right breast. Now the doctor has informed me that I still do not have clear margins and I need a mastectomy. I am wondering if anyone has gone through having 2 lumpectomies and then getting informed that you now need a mastectomy? Any advice or support is welcomed. Thank you

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited November 2011

    Hi Belinda and welcome to BCO.  Sorry you need to be here but glad you found us.  I haven't been through what you are right now but it sounds terrible.   I just wanted to let you know that I was here and to offer you a cyber hug  and let  you know you are not alone.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2011

    Thank you Chrissy....I needed the hug and sending a big hug to you as well.

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited November 2011

    How are you feeling about the news of needing a mastectomy after twice having a lumpectomy?  Is it because your tumor was too close to the chest wall to get clear margines or some other reason?   Sorry about all the questions but it just sounded a bit ? you know? and I just wondered.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2011

    It does sound very unusal to me.......I am just so overwhelmed with everything.....there were three tumors in different areas of my breast....after the second lumpectomy my doctor said that he could go back in and try to get it all... although there would be no guarantee that he would be able to get it all...so the option was left up to me what I wanted to do. So I have been researching and talking to others about this...which led me here to breastcancer.org to maybe get some advice or hear from others who may have gone through this or something similar. I want to have no more worries about this....so that's why I am leaning towards having a mastectomy...opposed to another lumpectomy which is no guarantee will give me clear margins.   Thank you for allowing me to share this with you..........Belinda

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2011

    Belinda, my experience wasn't exactly like yours, but I also got the totally unexpected news after a lumpectomy that supposedly had gotten it all that it hadn't and that I needed a mastectomy.  So I know how incredibly surreal it can seem, and how hard it is to wrap your head around this recommendation.  I'm so sorry.

    The one thing that helped me the most during that time period was looking at on-line photos of DIEP reconstruction (which is what my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon were recommending for me), as well as other types of breast reconstruction, and realizing that in this day and age, a mastectomy did not have to mean being flat (unless I chose that option), and wasn't at all as disfiguring as I had imagined.  In fact, I could have (and do have) a very natural looking breast. So I would encourage you to do the same thing, and to talk to an experienced breast reconstruction surgeon, to see what they can offer you.  

    As hard as it is to wrap your head around a mast, the other thing to keep in mind is that doing whatever it takes to get every bit of the bc out of your body now is the most important thing.  I also struggled emotionally with agreeing to a mast, but 3 years later, I'm so glad I listened to my doctors and didn't insist on trying another lumpectomy.  If you read my bio, you'll see that I actually had a very tiny 4th lesion that my BS didn't even know about until the final pathology, and it scares me to think about possibly leaving that behind if I had insisted on another lumpectomy.     (((Hugs)))  Deanna   

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2011

    (((Deanna)))....thank you for sharing your experience with me....it is very comforting to know that someone else has had a lumpectomy, only to get the news that a mastectomy is needed....I know this may sound silly but in my mind I felt as if it was only me that this was happening too.....I had never heard of it happening before......always thought having a lumpectomy meant...taking care of the problem.....so thank you so much for sharing....I am so happy that I found my way here...I just joined today and already some of the load has been lifted from my heart....You ladies are the best...Reconstruction has been offered to me I am still considering my options concerning reconstruction. How many surgeries did you have before your reconstruction was complete? ......((((Hugging back)))).......Belinda

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited November 2011

    Belinda, I've just turned the computer back on after a good sleep and read your answer to my earlier post.  I too had three tumors in the one breast but my surgeon said straight away that he didn't think he would get clear margines so advised a mastectomy straight off.  He did give me the option though but I chose to go the path of one suregery only.  I have not had recon, but that is another story.

    Glad you are feeling much better about where you are.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • jessicav
    jessicav Member Posts: 161
    edited November 2011

    Belinda-

    I had one lumpectomy which I insisted upon even though doc advised me he probably would not get clear margins. So, when he told me I would need a mastecomy I was aware of the possibility but was very disappointed to say the least. I had bilateral mastectomies. The left side was prophylactic (no bc)My feeling was that I did not want to mess with the margins. As it turns out the left side path report after mastectomy showed aytpical hyperplasia after all.

    Choose your surgeon and PS wisely and do research on the various procedures. I have implants that have been very painful due to damage done to the thoracic nerve during surgery. Each procedure has pro's and con's. Look at the con's for your answers. Research ALOT and you will find some amazing information you do not often get in th doctor's office. I wish I knew about this site back then. It's a very personal decision.  I don't like messing with the margins and choosing the right docs is paramount to sparing yourself possible difficulty down the road. Just my thoughts. Be well.

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  • jessicav
    jessicav Member Posts: 161
    edited November 2011

    Belinda- The natural breast reconstruction surgeries are big surgeries. The implants are less invasive but have possible complications. This is not like an augmentation. It's a reconstruction. They are worlds apart. The answer is what you are willing to live with. Think about quality of life. Some women have amazinf results. Others not so much. Surgeons are key.

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited November 2011

    I also started out with a lumpectomy and inadequate margins because the DCIS part of the tumor (I had 9mm of IDC as well) was larger than anticipated.  Since I found the lump one month after a "normal" mammo and only the IDC (none of the DCIS) was seen on US anad MRI, I felt that if I stopped at a lumpectomy, even a second one with adequate margins, I would  have no way of monitering for recurrance or for a new cancer in the other breast.  I therefore opted for bilat mastectomy (2 separate surgeries, per my BS recommendation).  There was atypical hyperplasia in the "good" breast.  I did not do reconstruction----too much surgery for me.  I also had chemo and am on an AI. 

    I am happy with the decision I made (2nd mastectomy was exactly one year ago). 

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2011

    Jessica.....I hope you begin to live pain free soon....((Hugs))..I totally understand about the nerve damage..I have experienced that too with my first mast.   thank you for taking the time out of your day to share your story with me....Belinda

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2011

    Pessa..I am very moved by your experience....I am so happy that you are at peace and doing well....your situation is so similar to my own and has given me HOPE.....I am like you I don't want reconstruction...I agree too much surgery.....(maybe if I were younger I would have considered it)...Thank yo so much....I am very moved by what you have been through>>>>>(((Hugs)))...Belinda

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2011

    Chrissy I hope today is a good day for you and that you are doing well...If I may? why have you not had reconstruction yet?   (((Hugs)))    Belinda

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  • Padiddle
    Padiddle Member Posts: 853
    edited November 2011

    Belinda:  I'm going thru something similiar, but not exactly.  I had right mastectomy in 2000 (no recontstruction).  Metastatic disease in 2009.  Oct 2011, learned I have cancer in the left breast.  I had lumpectomy with no clear margins.  Ultrasound showed .9 cm nodule.  Surgeon removed 1.9 cm area and did not get clear margins.  The surgeon and I talked about a mastectomy.  Am waiting for the results of a tumor board meeting.  There is no way to know if I have a second primary breast cancer, or progression of metastatic disease.  The pathology for original breast cancer, metastatic disease, and this left breast have all been the same.  I've been told that another option is radiation to the breast.  Don't feel alone in not having clear margins.  Unfortunately, it does happen.  Hoping the best for you and decisions you have to make.  Take care.  Jean

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  • starbeauty
    starbeauty Member Posts: 327
    edited November 2011

    Belinda,

     I was told that it was possible I would not get clean margins so I elected the MX.  I am adding to this thread because I want you to realize that a MX does not guarantee clean margins either.  To the surgeon it may appear everything is clean and out, but when they paint the removed breast - following the surgery - they are able to discover on pathology exam whether or not there are any microscopic tumor cells in the paint.  For me the news was there were was a single point where the cells were in the paint.  So no clean margin with the MX either.  Rads should have picked it off.  Hopefully.

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited November 2011

    Belinda,

    When will you be having the MX?

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited November 2011

    Belinda, I just PM'd you.

    Hugs.  Chrissy

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2011

    Jean ....I hope that you will have good news when you talk to your doctor again....I have decided to have my second mastectomy on December 2.....Lymph nodes will be removed so I am hoping for good news with that. Keep me posted on your updates....(((Hugs)))...Belinda

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2011

    Hi Pessa I hope that today you are feeling well....(((Hugs)))..My surgery is scheduled for December 2...I have been busy getting the small things taken care of.  Take care Belinda

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2011

    Hello Starbeauty....Are you going through rad now?  I am hoping that everything will work for the best...thank you for your post...(((Hugs)))....Belinda

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited November 2011

    All is well.  I hope that things go smoothly for you on Dec. 2.

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2011

    Thank you Pessa

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  • Belinda58
    Belinda58 Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2011

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 

    I am happy to say that I am doing much better after MX on Dec. 2. It was a long hard road getting where I am today but I am thankful that I have arrived. Has anyone experienced fliud buildup after drains have been removed that's what I am dealing with now. My fluid totals were down to 20 cc....per day before the drain was removed ..this is very puzzling to me. I have a follow up appt. tomorrow..and I have been told I may have to have the fluid aspirated. Would like to hear any feedback if anyone has gone through this.......Hugs Belinda

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited December 2011

    I had a bilat MX, done in 2 separate surgeries.  After the second I had the problem of fluid build up after the drains were removed (called a seroma).  I had to have it aspirated about weekly for maybe 3 or 4 times.  Didn't hurt, felt much better afterwards.  No problem with infection.  It eventually stopped accumulating fluid. 

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  • missy_111
    missy_111 Member Posts: 141
    edited December 2011

    Belinda58-  I too, had a problem, and had to be aspirated 4 or 5 times. It finally slowed and the drains were taken out.  Unfortunately, the fluid accumulated again, and the drains had to be put back in for another 2 weeks.. Nightmare!  I also developed a seroma. No infection.  I was a happy camper the day those drains were finally removed.

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