Lumpectomy for atypical cells

mrochon, at this point, you need the expertise of a breast surgeon, rather than an ob/gyn.  Atypical cells are pre-DCIS, and DCIS is pre-invasive breast cancer.  While a lumpectomy may be advisable, the need probably is not urgent.  From what you've told us, you certainly have time to gather more facts and make a more informed decision.

Here's a list of NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers.  This is where you will find experts in breast health (breast surgeons). 

http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/map-cancer-centers.html

I would strongly suggest a second opinion app't. with a breast surgeon at whichever one is closest to you.  They will be able to give you a much better explanation of your situation, determine if your family history poses an additional risk, and guide you re. the scheduling a lumpectomy, if that's what's recommended.    

Good luck, and glad you've found BCO.   Deanna

Bravo to you vmudrow! I was diagnosed with ADH after a suspicious cluster of calcifications and biopsy, and scheduled for lumpectomy on 9/20. Have to head out tomorrow pre op assessment. Surgeon told me he was taking golf ball size piece. I've heard the same thing from other women with ADH that they too had golf ball size pieces removed. Guess surgeons want to clear out the tissue bed and make sure nothing else is lurking around. But my surgeon also mentioned possible radiation and Tamoxifen for me afterwards and I freaked out--no wish to go through menopause all over plus the horrid side effects of those drugs and long-term treatments. Especially since I live out of state. I'm already on blood thinners so that complicates things even more. If my pathology comes back unpleasant news, I'm seriously thinking about mastectomy as well to clean up this mess for good since I'm at a high rate of getting breast cancer also..

Have any of you ladies had lumpectomy under light sedation with local? I'm fighting general anesthesia for several reasons: my age, it makes me violently nauseous, the risks, the lingering cognitive affects, and percentage of dementia it causes in people over 60. I'm going to ask for Valium over Versed since I don't like hypnotics--I want to know what's going on, even though the surgeon won't like that. I'd even watch if they let me. I know they'll give me Fentanyl to kill the pain, which is fine but no Propofol for me.

I had conscious sedation for my lumpectomy is 2005, which took out about ?2 tablespoonfuls of tissue. (I have LCIS and ALH, and DH, but not ADH.) I didn't feel any pain, but any time I said 'Ahhh' (or anything) because I didn't know what was happening, they gave me another slug of propofol which put me out again. I had fentanyl, Versed, and propofol. It was perfectly fine.

For one colonoscopy, I think they didn't give any propofol, but just versed and fentanyl. I was awake the whole time, and when the procedure was done, I would have walked to the recovery area. (I may have needed a steadying hand.)

If it makes any difference, Valium is in the same medication family as Versed. We are all different, and different people have different reactions to different meds.

Thank you, I will read this for sure!