A bit OT, post-BMX question

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mary625
mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

OK, I've really got to get a grip! This is not directly related to living without reconstruction, but I trust all of you in this forum and I know you have all lost your breasts. What happens to our breasts after they remove them? I know they keep the tumor. I don't know why I'm obsessing over this question the last couple of days. It bothers me to think where they might be. Is this normal?

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited June 2012

    Mary, I'm fairly sure that after pathology, human tissue (anything not needed like tumor slides) is incinerated.

    I'm sure you're not the only one to think about this.

    All the best.

    Leah

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  • vicky3blum
    vicky3blum Member Posts: 138
    edited June 2012

    I'm sure you have nothing to worry about BUT my surgeon never ordered an oncotype before my bmx.  When I first went to see my oncologist he decided to order one at that time.  He assured me that everything they needed for the test had been saved.  I could not help but envision a freezer [chest of course] filled with saran wrapped, snowball shaped boobs. weird, huh?

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  • beacon800
    beacon800 Member Posts: 922
    edited June 2012

    You are not the only one who thinks about this. Right before my surgery a nurse from the path department came and requested my signature on a disclosure where my breasts would be kept at Stanford pathology lab for use in future research. This request had been made by my surgeon. I don't know if everyone gets this or not. I was so on edge (it was literally an hour before surgery) but I agreed.



    After it all was over I was happy that my boobs are out there somewhere, hopefully giving help in research. I did get some comfort from it and still do.

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited June 2012

    Beacon--On the morning of my surgery, I got the request for part of my tumor for the tumor database, also having been recommended by my surgeon.  Then the next day they told me that my tumor had not been large enough upon excision for pathology to release it to the database.  My tumor was originally 7-10 cm and shrunk to 1.8 cm during chemo. 

    It is good to know that something is preserved by path so that if there are further advances, my tumor can be tested.  

    I guess this is all just part of the grief process.  Good to know that I am normal.

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