Rollercoaster of emotions

CindyT · January 2012

Hi Ladies, I thought I was doing so well until yesterday. I have been on Arimidex for 4 months now to shrink my tumor, it has worked very well, down from over 4 cm to less than one. I have two spots, sort of like a dumbell shape. BS is pretty sure it is one tumor. All along I was lead to belive and hopeful that I could have a lumpectomy. I have been feeling great, no side effects from the AI, lost about 14 pounds due to diet change and excersise. Looking forward(as much as one can!) to having a lumpectomy and rads and being done!

Now the bad news, I had an MRI last week and the BS called me yesterday. There is signifigant shrinkage but it is still spread over too large an area for her to be comfortable doing a lumpectomy, so I have to have a mastectomy. I am now terrified again and overwhelmed by all the possible options. I will be seeing a PS and RO next week. BS thinks she be able to to a NS mastectomy but she is not sure. I don't know how to decide between an implant or a DIEP.

Scared and crying again.

fitzdc · January 2012

Breathe, breathe... there are so many people who are here for you. I had a UMX on 12/1 and remember how scared I was. I feel so much better now and each day is better than the one before. You will get through it, you will!

Teresa

theBCavenger · January 2012

I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through! So many choices, so much information, so much stress...

I went for the simplest of choices and had implants. I am still dealing with the tissue expander's, and realize now, nothing is simple about cancer and treatment.

I am sorry if this does not help you. Really, I just wanted to reach out! Scared and crying is the worst, and a place we all understand. Us women are super strong, YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS

momof3boys · January 2012

Hi Cindy

I'm sorry for all that you're going thru. I know it's hard. You can always get a second opinion, if you have your heart set on a lumpectomy. Just be sure not to doctor shop until you find one that tells you what you want to hear.

I was given the option of a lumpectomy, unilateral mastectomy or a bilateral mastectomy. Right away, I knew I only wanted a BMX, so it wasn't a tough decision for me, for various reasons. I had a BMX with immediate TE reconstruction (breast surgeon and plastic surgeon working together at the same time) and it was doable and I'm recovering well (that was on 11/11/11).

Take a deep breath and think internally of what, after this is all through, you can "live with". For me, I needed both breast gone. I knew I couldn't comfortably and patiently undergo tons of testing and monitoring, etc. But, I have a SIL that insisted upon a lumpectomy, actually they needed to go back again and clear the margins... And psychologically, she's okay with that. So, it's a very individual thing.

JSwan · January 2012

Is it possible for you to go longer on the Arimidex before surgery? I was on it for a year and was able to have a lumpectomy as a result.

CindyT · January 2012

Thank you all for the support. I do trust my BS. She is submitting my case before the tumor board in the next few days. I am considering getting a second opinion also. I am just waiting on a call from the RO and PS for appointments to see what they have to say. I guess reconstruction options are based on whether I will need rads. As we have all discovered the unknown and not having a plan in place is the worse. I thought we did have plan and then wham. Sometimes I don't understand why I get so upset about loosing a breast when all I want to do is live.

JSWAN I will ask about taking the Arimidex longer but from what I seem to understand the area of concern is spread out over a larger area so I don't know if that area would get small enough for a good outcome. I don't have very big breasts.

Rollercoaster of emotions

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