Had my lumpectomy and SNB on tues. Terrified to get the results

Hi Jovigal,

Just wanted to say "hang in there."  I know how stressful the waiting can be.  I wanted to let you know that on the scan, my tumor appeared to be about 2 cm.  After the lumpectomy, the pathology report indicated that it was a little less than 1 cm! 

Tomorrow will be here before you know it ... please let us know the results and how you're doing.

hugs,

Bren

Hi

I am sorry that you did not get the result you hoped for.  But there are many here who have had your dx, done treatment and are thriving.   With positive nodes, chemo may be likely, which is a good weapon to have.  Now you and your docs can make a plan--- I know this feels very hard, but once you have a plan of action and can start executing, you will feel more in control.

hugs all around

jovigal, I don't have any words of wisdom or experience to give you other than I am thinking of you and wishing the best for your treatment and recovery.  I think momand2kids and zha-an gave you the best advice so far, so keep coming here and reaching out....we all know the feelings of devastation but you're not alone here!

jovigal, it sucks ! I wish they would do a better job explaining to ladies that UNTIL they get in there, and remove the tissue, they don't everything. 

I was convinced I would have 1 node positive. I did not have a MRI. Turned out 6 nodes, matted & fused together, cancer growing on the outside. Very scary indeed. 

The next year will be bumpy. Chemo is hard. I finished 10 months ago. The side effects of chemo varies. Some ladies report that it was minor for them. Connect with the ladies here on BCO that are going through chemo the same time as you. Share your grief. I am sure you have a wonderful family & good friends. They will never "get it" because they are not living it. The ladies here get it.

jovigal - I had a very similar experience as you. I was initially told stage 1 because they missed the positive lymph node during ultrasound screening. Then during pre-op chest x-ray find lung nodule which also showed on PET scan.  So I was bumped to stage 4 until a lung biopsy was performed and confirmed it was benign fibroma.  They never sent me to a pulmonary specialist and no one listened to my medical hx of multiple bronchitis illness.  Next, I had a lumpectomy and 1 positive sentinel node after removing total 18 nodes.  Oh and we don't know if we got a clear margin so we need to repeat the surgery.  Would I trust again - not likely, which is why I ask lots of questions and research to be informed.  Just take one day at a time and come here for support.  There are many women who have done the same journey you are about to begin.  Best wishes and Hugs, Joann

jovigal, I'm so sorry you are on this rollercoaster. Hold onto the good news that your recent scans were clear. This is not an easy process but your cancer is definitely treatable. Keep in touch here and the ladies will guide you through every step. 

Look after your emotional wellbeing and general health as you proceed with treatment. This will give you the strength you will need to make it through.

Most of us found treatment doable, though not fun and there are many survivors here.

Tomorrow marks the fourth anniversary of my diagnosis. Though I still think about cancer and mourn having gone through it, my life is otherwise very good.

I truly understand where you are coming from.  I don't feel like I'm getting answers in a timely manner or at all for that matter.  I don't think some doctors understand how we feel.  Hugs and tomorrow is almost here.

I think it is common for the results to change after surgery--- they just cannot know everything until they get in there-- I was a 1.2 cm girl, stage one on testing--- turned out to be 2.5 cm stage two afterwards.  Ironically, with my thyroid, they thought it was 25 going in, but it turned out to  be 1.7cm--so sometimes it works in reverse.  

it is terrifying, but it gets better.  I highly recommend getting some ativan from your doc to help you get through the next few weeks.  the testing, dr. visits, etc. can be exhausting and draining.  the ativan will calm you down.  If you need a sleep aid, ask for that too.... you need all the help you can get right now.  You won't need it forever, but now is a good time to have it.  I rarely used the ativan but I liked having it in my pocket.  

Hang in there-- it will get beter

Hi jovigal...I'm new here too. Just had my lumpectomy and SN biopsy yesterday.  Now the agonizing wait for Monday's dr appt.  Wondering if he will have the Oncote score results at that time too or what.  You are in my prayers girl. I agree hard to stay positive all the time.  But keep pressing in and fighting!

snowgirl--"Anterior" and "posterior" margins are the ones on the front and back edges of the tumor and its surrounding tissue. It also has inferior and superior margins--lower and upper ones.

thejoyk--Here's a non-horror story to counterbalance the ones you heard yesterday. My lumpectomy (officially termed a "partial mastectomy") on a Monday morning, and on Wednesday morning I felt fine and went to the gym, worked out (legs and cardio only--no arm work) for 90 minutes, and felt great afterwards. A lot of the speed of your recovery depends on the physical shape you are in and also on having no adverse reactions to anesthesia or other meds, Just take your return to normalcy one step at a time, and do what you feel up to doing.