Are they taking too long, could my cancer be spreading?

EbonyEyes · August 2015

Found a lump in my breast in late June. Biopsy done on August 7 confirmed cancer. Saw a surgeon last week but want a second opinion: She wants to do a radical mastectomy and I, of course, am hoping for something more conservative. Haven't seen a plastic surgeon or oncologist yet. All of us here know the hurry up and wait game -- everything takes so long! But are they taking too long? Could my cancer be spreading? How much time does the patient have?

IDC/DCIS(0.03 cm)

DCIS -- cluster of calcs, no size given

papillary type

Meow13 · August 2015

I worried about my cancer spreading and going to lymph nodes I didn't breathe easier until the mastectomy was over I was in a hurry to get the cancer out. My surgeon explained that I didn't need to worry about the one month time frame. Three months or more you start to worry about letting it go too long.

Sjacobs146 · August 2015

please get a second opinion. Radical mastectomy is rarely done these days. I also suggest that you read articles about mastectomy on this website.

Don't panic about the delay, It doesn't spread that fast. Some women even do fertility treatments to harvest eggs before undergoing treatment. That would not be te case if there was a risk of it spreading so fast

windingshores · August 2015

I asked on another thread if you might take a hormonal med while you wait, since your tumor is Er and Pr+. You need to talk to an oncologist who is up on current treatment protocols. Here are the most recent guidelines: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp#site

Lots of info here too: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastcancer.html#cat78

Kathy044 · August 2015

Here's the BCO link describing the five different types of mastectomy. Are you sure the surgeon said radical?

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/mastectomy/what_is

My mother had a modified radical mastectomy back in 1978 which was considered quite an improvement over what was the standard practice of radical mastectomy before.

I am glad you are getting a second opinion about your surgery options Ebony. Listening to someone else might make the explanation of your specific situation clearer. Can you take someone with you to take notes? BTW though I was able to have a lumpectomy I would not have considered having a mastectomy a more aggressive treatment, more practical perhaps if necessary to remove all of the cancer. If I recall from your earlier post (since deleted) your biopsy pathology included four separate specimens with cancer lettered A to D, two in each area of interest, the first A included the invasive IDC with DCIC, the others various DCIS.

Kathy

exbrnxgrl · August 2015

Ebony Eyes,

I concur with others on the radical mx. It is almost never done these days, so getting a second opinion would be worth it. A radical is really a thing of the past. As for timing, I was dx'ed on 4th of July weekend and because of coordination of ps and surgeon schedules, did not have my bmx until September 10th. I was not concerned, but my parents kept saying "Just get it out!". Glad I waited as my recon is great due to the skills of my ps. All the best to you.

CAMommy · August 2015

my mother had a radical mastectomy in 1973. You do not want this. They now perform a modified radical mastectomy. It's not the same. Please be sure to completely understand what they are proposing.

EbonyEyes · August 2015

Thanks all, I feel better after reading your answers. The surgeon wants to remove everything and, in her opinion, I will need chemo, radiation, and hormone therapy. Which makes me wonder how carefully she read my medical history I've had blood clots caused by a hereditary blood clotting disorder. I'm not supposed to take hormones. I almost lost a leg a few years ago because of a blood clot. I don't want to take the risk unless my life is in immediate danger.

When I said "aggressive" maybe I meant "invasive"? This is still new to me and I don't always use the right terminology. I want to get rid of all the cancer but I also want to conserve as much of the breast as possible and have as short a recovery time as possible.

And, yes, I'm old enough(63) to remember when radical mx was the "new and improved" treatment. There were no diagnostic tests. If the doctor felt a lump, whatever the size, both breasts were removed. There was no follow up treatment either. Or even worse, they took a wait and see attitude until the patient was dead.

windingshores · August 2015

Hormonal treatment is to reduce hormones, not to add hormones. Tamoxifen does have a blood clot risk, it's true. I don't know your age but if you talk to an oncologist there are other options.

Tomboy · August 2015

A surgeon cannot make decisions about medicine! Only surgery! Have you even seen an oncologist yet? Plus, there are other tests to have, to make sure it is only in the breast. A radical mastectectomy, means they also take part of your chest wall, and muscle. please don't let your surgeon do this

exbrnxgrl · August 2015

I agree with tomboy about not doing a radical. It is only rarely necessary. When your surgeon says she wants to take everything, be sure you know exactly what that means. Everything may mean skin, nipples and lymph nodes, but rarely chest wall and muscles. And not to belabor the point but surgeons do not make treatment decisions (chemo, rads etc) !!!!

Are they taking too long, could my cancer be spreading?

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