Anybody else have a BI LATERAL mastectomy with positive margins?

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Browncjht
Browncjht Member Posts: 7
edited February 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hi there. I am new to the boards but am struggling with a few things in my 'journey' so thought I would turn to the wealth of knowledge you all are so generous with sharing.

I had a double Mastectomy with reconstruction on Feb 10th. I was diagnosed with multi centric ILC in the left breast. They seen 3 tumors in the MRI biggest being 2.8 cm. right breast was clear. My choice to have bmx. Got pathology back and was told they didn't get clear margins on posterior and there were actually 8 tumors ranging in size up to 2.8 cm. I thought a mastectomy way removing all breast tissue. How is it that there were positive margins? Also she took three nodes and pathology said sentinel #1 and # 2 had 'isolated tumor cells' and #3 had no evidence of malignancy. They still consider all nodes clear with this diagnosis but it still worries me.

I am now scheduled for 2nd surgery on March 10th to remove more posterior tissue and also some tissue that was left in my right breast that was left to help with reconstruction. Also have radiation consult for wed this week to see if I will need radiation.

Has anyone else had similar diagnosis?

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  • kris1114
    kris1114 Member Posts: 82
    edited February 2015

    Yes! Me! Hi!

    I had a BMX on Dec.30th, 2014

    My surgeon told me my margins were "Ok" and never breathed another word to me. Oncologist remained silent. Had issues more than once with office #1 and switched to a new office.

    New Oncologist pointed it out right away! One positive margin for invasive ductal carcinoma. She confirmed it with the pathologist. A day later she heard from the surgeon that did my surgery and he said he took all he could and that the cancer was "right to the skin line" ??

    Oncologist #2 and current and final doctor for me says this will likely mean just a boost of radiation to the area, but there is a possibility of more surgery needed and referred me to her surgeon. A breast surgeon this time and not a general surgeon. I will know this Wednesday if I need more surgery or if I start Chemo this Thursday if they decided on radiation.

    I will come back here and update!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2015

    I'm glad a breast surgeon is in the picture now. Good luck!

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  • scvmom65
    scvmom65 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2015

    Hi! I had something like yours but not exactly. I had a double masectomy going in knowing invasive IDC with 2 tumors in tissue found on the MRI. Pathology came back that there were 8 tumors, 6 tumors in another area of the breast that was a different kind of cancer and that I did not get clear skin margins. My doctor was concerned at that point and decided to do an auxilary lymph node disection even though all tumors were under a centimeter and the sentinal biopsy was good. Had the 2nd surgery where more skin was removed to the point they completely deflated my expander and did the full auxilary lymph node disection. My surgeon said that even with a double masectomy, their is still some tissue under collarbones and such that they can't get that is considered breast tissue. Have you spoke to your oncologist yet? If not I would get him/her involved at this point. Best of luck!

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  • Browncjht
    Browncjht Member Posts: 7
    edited February 2015

    Thanks for replying ladies! I do have an apt with my medical oncologist on Monday and hopefully will have my Onco test back then too. So we will see what she says!

    Kris1114 I will look for what they say on Wed for you. I have a radiation appt on wed to see if that might be in my future.

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