Margins not clear

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Cathy13
Cathy13 Member Posts: 11
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed

I have early stage BC went for surgery but margins are not clear have to go back for minor surgery. Is that common? How do they know exactly where the cancer is?

Also conflicting path reports first one said it was lobular, last one says it ductal. Has anyone had that happen? I'm at Sloan.

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  • nwest125
    nwest125 Member Posts: 240
    edited November 2012

    Yes I first had ductal and when they went back for re-incision they found Lobular which never had showed up on anything. ILC can be very sneeky.

    Nancy

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2012

    Cathy, re-excision is very common, as is finding IDC & ILC together or side by side, which is what I had.  But we're all different, so I'd absolutely ask your BS why the different pathologies, because it does seem a bit strange that a biopsy (if that's what you meant) showed only ILC, and the surgery that followed showed only IDC.  

    Luckily, you're at a top notch facility, so in excellent hands!    (((Hugs))), and let us know what you find out about the differences in those pathologies.        Deanna

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  • Cathy13
    Cathy13 Member Posts: 11
    edited November 2012

    My surgery is tomorrow. I hope they get it all this time. I'm a bit nervous, hate this stuff. BC keeps telling me I'm an unusual case because the cancer never grows in the area where my did. He's never seen it before. When I asked him if it was lobular or ductal he said path changed it to ductal. Odd. Thanks for answering, I feel better that it's Common for re-excision.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2012

    Cathy, what area is it in that's so unusual?  Does this surgeon see a lot of breast cancer?   

    Good luck tomorrow!  I'll pray he gets it all this time with good margins.   Deanna

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  • Cathy13
    Cathy13 Member Posts: 11
    edited November 2012

    hi Deanna, it's right by the nipple. Yeah, he has 25 years experience and is a top surgeon before at Columbia Presbyterian and now at Sloan Kettering. I had this soft lump that came and went, every time I went to doc it would disappear. This went on for a year, 6 mammos and 2 sonos showed no sign of cancer. It got to a point that I felt that no doc believed me about this mysterious lump. Finally it grew a bit bigger right near my nipple and I was able to show BS. He said it's nothing serious but removed it anyway. Came back invasive cancer, the entire hospital was shocked, they never saw anything like it. Good news is that it seemed to stay close to the skin and did not spread. I plan on going for a second opinion anyway. Thanks for your support, means alot, and helps me with my anxiety.

    How are you doing?

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  • fifthyear
    fifthyear Member Posts: 225
    edited November 2012

    I think it's not that uncommon to have additional surgery to obtain clear margin. I had surgical biopsy, came back for second surgery for reason above.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2012

    Cathy, it sounds like you are in the best of hands.  Thinking of you this morning and hoping all goes perfectly to get those clear margins with no further issues.   Let us know how you're doing when you can.    (((Hugs)))   Deanna

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  • Cathy13
    Cathy13 Member Posts: 11
    edited November 2012

    Hi Deanna,

    Had my surgery last wednes. Waiting for results. Heard nothing but the new incision is a big as the last one. Will know if margins are clear after thanksgiving, Anxious to get on with treatment. Thanks for caring, hugs.

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