Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for all the welcome greetings. I went for my post-op appointment on Wednesday and received my surgical pathology report. My stage changed from clinical 2 to pathology 1. On the mammogram and ultrasound, the tumor was estimated at 2.1cm. On the surgical pathology report it stated that the tumor was multi-focal. This means that there was actually 3 tumors that started from the 1 tumor. In staging, they use the largest tumor size(1.2cm) and not all the sizes combined. Also, the grade of the tumor changed from grade 1 on the biopsy to grade 2 on the surgical pathology. Has anyone else had this same diagnosis of multi-focal or grade changing? I just wonder if the 4 biopsy samples changed the tumor in any way? I don't know. However, the good news is: All 4 surgical margins were clear and the two axillary lymph nodes were clear. This means that as of right now, no more surgeries. I have an appointment in two weeks with my Medical Oncologist. We should have my OncotypeDX score by then to determine if Chemotherapy will benefit me. Then onto 6 weeks of Radiation. I am very thankful that I am receiving favorable results but Cancer still sucks! I am going back to work on Monday. So, I took almost two weeks off after surgery. I'm doing really good physically.

Melancholy, YEAH for the clear margins!! I don't know for sure, but I think that biopsies are just tiny snippets and don't necessarily give a complete picture. Your Lx and resulting path report have the bigger picture. Sounds like you have a good team. Fingers crossed for a very low Oncotype score!

HappyHammer, the void is rather big but seems to mostly healed. Last thing left to do is the Celebration of Life for DH Memorial Day weekend. I'm hoping that there will be much more laughter than tears. Just having both DS and DILs will make it worthwhile - they are never here together. And all of DH's brothers and wives. It will be special.

Have a great weekend, dear friends!

HUGS!

Peggy, you two are adorable! I'm so sorry you lost the love of your life.

TBalding, Probably won't be able to get together with you - dang. Have a good conference. Very glad you are having nodes checked. It just makes sense!

HUGS!

Brithael, Thanks for the kind words. It's very hard to get your mind around the fact that you've been married for over 2/3 of your life doesn't it? Like you were single for 5 minutes. I love your KitchenAid rads cartoon. Really great. Sorry you're so toasted. I was lucky, a teeny bit of redness which actually looks like a tan (and I tan easily). No issues at all. Nice that you're getting hair. Hopefully it will start speeding up and resemble how weeds grow rather than grass!

HUGS!

Katzpjays, I'm in awe of #2 son's Photoshop skills. I can open the program. Period. It just defies me. I guess I do not think "graphics" well at all. Thanks!

HUGS!

Update on DHs bone scan--it appears that there is no metastasis, as far as I can tell. He just got the results on MyChart, but hasn't talked with the doctor yet. I'm pretty sure the doctor would have called him if it had shown something bad. So, that's one hurdle behind us. I'll be glad when we can meet with the robotics surgeon and RO. I'm trying my best to slog through a book and some research papers about radical prostatectomy vs. radiation & hormone suppression. I won't go into it all here, but it is very confusing and we want to get it right the first time. Prostate cancer appears to be like breast cancer--it's different for every man. Prostate cancer is usually rather slow growing, as compared to breast cancer, but that's small consolation when you know your husband's cancer is a poorly differentiated and highly aggressive one.

Hi Dorothy, rads will be at Sunnybrook...just the thought of driving (I'm in Thornhill) and parking there everyday for 4-5 weeks makes me annoyed!! Are you doing rads yet?? Where??

Poodles, great news. I have seen several research articles on prostrate cancer that seems as confusing as the breast cancer articles.

Peggy, LOVED that Rube Goldberg Seder! So sorry that your DH isn’t able to celebrate #50 with you--but you can cherish the memories of those 49 you had together. Very few couples get that far. Let the memories conquer the tears. Ironic that you’re leaving Pontiac, as I used to perform there and probably will again. (I’d better book some gigs in Spokane, I guess. My singing partner can’t afford it, but the FAR-West folk conference is in Bellevue this fall and maybe I can fly into or out of Spokane at one end of the trip--Southwest flies there).

Suzanne, yay on hitting the boosts homestretch. (That KitchenAid is so apropos--although the machine at my center looked more like a Cuisinart or Kenwood mixer). I had never been able to tan--how ironic is it that the only tan I’ve ever gotten is on a little patch of boob, hidden beneath my bra, that only my docs and husband will see??!!

Poodles, my housekeeper’s husband had the same prostate cancer as yours. He opted for daily radiation and hormone-suppression. It was a rough patch, as he is also a diabetic with heart issues, but he turned the corner last year and is not only NED but has his energy back (and is even second-guessing having retired as a chef). Cancer is a shape-shifter with multiple personality disorder, isn’t it? But “no mets” is a GREAT development. Can still keep the beast contained (or as another BCO sister put it “quash the mutant uprising”).

Tbalding, saying a little prayer that the second surgery’s the charm and the Oncotype is low!

Thanks everyone for the congrats on not smoking. It was hard but when my surgeon told me I might have cancer i walked out of her office with a prescription for Chantix. It took me a little bit. But I told her I would quit before my lumpectomy. I quit on Wednesday and on the following Monday had surgery. It has been an amazing experience. For us to do that together but alone was a bonding experience I had never imagined having. We held each other tp a higher standard each day and aimed to please each other and ourselves. #winning

Sloan, France. Thats amazing. Safe travels ad enjoy your time.

Peggy - i am not electronic friendly. I tried to go update that information for you guys but they dont have my diagnosis on there. And since my tumor was the benign phyllodes, thats not a choice either. My surgeon said that because she took so much tissue out I might always have the pain sensations. Ike I can physically touch my nipple and its numb. But anytime an article of clothing brushes it or my arm i get sharp pains. Like i said very weird feeling.

614- you are amazing at getting back to everyone. I am going to have to write everything down to stay in the loop. Lol

However, my insurance came back and approved my bilateral mastectomy to prevent any recurrence or any other breast cancer. My drs apt is May 3rd.

Has anyone done the breast reconstruction using tummy fat in here? That interests me.

I have had a bunch of stress these past couple months. But this morning I went to a Sat morning meeting for work. (I work for walmart home office) my 5yr old came with me and at 930am we got to see Florida Georgia Line perform. My 5yr olds favorite band. It was the greatest joy to see his face light up!

Hope everyone has a good weekend and the positive thoughts stay with everyone.

tsoebbin, only you know what you are capable of 8 days after surgery. As long as you’re not doing the driving and have a proper cushion between your arm & armpit, and between the shoulder belt & your chest, you should be OK. Make sure someone else carries your bags. I didn’t take a road trip (driving only 90 mi. each way to & from Rockford) until 2 weeks post-op; the first truly long (4 hrs each way) road trip I took to & from Iowa City was a month post-op.

As to lumpectomy vs. mastectomy for DCIS, that would depend on the size and location of the tumors (especially tumor size relative to breast size). You are correct in assuming that you won’t have the full pathological picture until after surgery: final tumor size, grade, node and margin status. You say you’re ER+. What about PR? (HER2 isn’t usually tested in pure DCIS). It would also depend on how comfortable you are with irrevocably losing a breast, vs. how much you’d worry about recurrence and revisit your original diagnosis trauma with every followup mammo. Mastectomy lessens but doesn’t eliminate the chance of recurrence, but overall survival rates (how long one lives, regardless of eventual cause of death) are exactly the same.

Chipsy, true that not every Dx is listed. You can list surgery, date, size, and path report info if you like. Keep up the good work on not smoking. This group is so supportive it is hard to imagine not having it. Certainly kept me sane during some very rough spots with DH especially. When do you anticipate your BMx?

HUGS!

Hi tsoebbin, I chose lumpectomy + radiation over mastectomy because mx was more invasive & longer recovery time & that chance for reoccurrence is same either way. I had 2.4cm removed, my incision was about 1-1/2". No pain only sore 8 days after surgery. I'm on small side, B cup, so with sports bra, I don't notice it much unless I bump it. I went back to work 5 days after surgery. If you're having lx, then I would plan for the trip (with conditions Sandy mentioned) and see how you feel after surgery whether you up to it. Everyone is different. It is true that you don't know exactly what you are facing until pathology, but you just have to take it a step at a time. You've come to the right place, I have learned a lot (& still learning) from everyone here. Hope this helps

Peggy-I can research some places for us. I have a former employee who spends lots of time there. He's a big wine lover too. I'm sure he can recommend a few places