Will cookiegal lose her chips?

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cookiegal
cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
edited February 2017 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I don't know what made me want to write a silly headline.

I had a mammo today with not great results.

Calcifications near my old lumpectomy site.

Even if it's DCIS they will push for a mastectomy of my big ol radiated previously reduced boob.

Looking at 1 in 5 odds here, so not the worst.

However, I had a TOUGH recovery from past surgery that left me not working for almost a year.

Recon can be good for LE so I might bite, but my onc was surprised when I said my first instinct would be not to reconstruct at all.

I am 7 plus years out. I had one tiny scare before but it didn't even merit an ultrasound.


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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited February 2017

    Bummer, Cookiegal. I'm crossing my fingers that it's not even DCIS. In the meantime, I think you deserve another cookie (or 2) - and make it a big one!

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2017

    Cookie - sorry to hear the new diagnosis. It's a tough call. You were so helpful with i was making decisions. Love the thread header.

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    glad to hear I was a help with decisions.

    I know I am ahead of myself, because it could be b9, but the whole mastectomy and symmetry for a tiny bit of DCIS seems like a lot.




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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    So long story, back in 2010 the first little trip I took after radiation was to the outdoors show in Harrisburg PA. (Keep in mind I am basically a jewish princess living on the Upper East Side, but it was an easy little trip and it falls on Valentines day.) I bought a camouflage bikini top as a joke, I said if I ever have a biopsy again, I am wearing a cammo bikini. Well here I am, except that the stupid bikini is at my "country" home. So even though it has been waiting 7 years to do its job I won't be able to grab it. So I bought a new one on amazon prime. I think I will be the first person wearing cammo to a biopsy at MSK. Ain't it purty. The other one was way trashier looking.

    image

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited February 2017

    A hoot, cookie! Let's hope for benign today.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited February 2017

    yep - B9 only cookiegal. I think every girl needs a little cammo. :

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  • Lisey
    Lisey Member Posts: 1,053
    edited February 2017

    HI Cookie, if you decide not to reconstruct, or just want to see pics and here stories of thousands of women who love being flat and fabulous, I highly suggest you join (even temporarily while you decide) the Flat and Fabulous Facebook group. These are women refusing all the extra surgeries and just out enjoying life... and the clothing pics are great!. https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlatANDFabulous/?fref=nf

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  • Midwest_Laura
    Midwest_Laura Member Posts: 168
    edited February 2017

    Cookie: thanks for the suggestion!  I'm on Amazon now buying a camo bra.  It should be sexy since you can't see it because... you know... it's camoflaged.  Think I might add the camo pasties as well, since Valentines Day is coming up. 

    On a serious note, well wishes for results today.  I'm saying prayers for a benign result.

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  • blondedoris
    blondedoris Member Posts: 197
    edited February 2017

    {hugs}

    How was it, Cookie? Lovin' the idea of rocking up to a biopsy in a 'trashy' cammo bra

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2017

    What did the doc think of the camo? Hoping everything went well.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited February 2017

    Hope all went well today

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    it's on Friday, thank you for all the good wishes! I am on a break at work, which has been a decent distraction. They are actually putting me in a hotel due to the wx. I figure try to enjoy my last few days if it's bad news. I get to do something new and cool tomorrow. The radiologist was pretty reassuring, suggesting she was expecting b9. My onc is concerned it is DCIS.

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  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited February 2017

    Cookie, when you're done with that camo bra, would you consider selling it? I live upstate and while I'm not a camo gal myself (Italian from Jersey), it would be hilarious to reveal to the various doctors up here! Of course, not sure your size, I'm not even sure of my bra size now either, for that matter. Maybe you could just post the link to Amazon.

    Thanks for the funny idea. I needed some cheering up! Good luck to you as results come back.
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  • Kathy044
    Kathy044 Member Posts: 433
    edited February 2017

    cookie gal, you are kidding, same thing happened recently to me. Seven years out from my surgery date the annual mammogram showed new micro calcifications at the tumour site. Was told Birads 4a by someone in my doctors office and would be getting a call about making an appointment for a core biopsy. After several weeks of quandary wondering what to do if I had cancer results came back B9.

    Remember back when when we were talking back and forth about needing chemo or not with one positive node? That process helped me then and now again. A little 4mm local recurrence is a nothing compared to distant spread. I would have tried for lx rather than mastectomy, but didn't have the chance to say so.

    Hoping for the best for you toocookie gal. Kathy






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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    Kathy of course I remember. That was a hard decision. I hope I am not facing another hard one. We had our surgery 2 weeks apart.

    Falconer I am on a tablet, but will try to post link.

    Cheers. I had a good evening hanging at the hotel with co workers. Trying to have the best week I can.




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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited February 2017

    Cookie, I hope all goes well.

    If it turns out bad. . .I've had both a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. I can tell you the mastectomy was way way easier. I have big boobs and dealing with the moving parts after the lumpectomy was awful.

    I'm also uni-boob. Never bothered me. I wear a form on one side unless I'm exercising in which case I go half-flat. If I get a look I shrug. Most people don't even notice.

    All this advice may be moot. This could be nothing.

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    pajm, thanks for the input.

    So sorry to disappoint, Cammo bra did not come in time due to the snow.

    Oh well.

    I had a crazy busy and productive two days at work, but now it's really sinking in and I am a tad freaked about the whole steriotactic thing. Last time they just stuck a needle in my tumor I think.

    Thanks for all the support and smiles

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    OK back from hospital.

    Headline: Biopsy not as painful as previously feared.

    Someone did a good job with the lidocane.

    Took some bonus happy pills too.

    Now we wait!

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited February 2017

    Hoping for good news! Get soem rest!

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    the anxiety comes and goes

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  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited February 2017

    cookie- thinking of you. Don't worry that camo bra is just waiting for the better day. Perhaps it will go well with a pussy hat

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    Kathy I am really glad for your story, because it seems like the timing on this is key.

    Calcs at 7 years or less are more likely to be benign. After 7 years they are much more likely to be malignant. I hit 7 years in October.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited February 2017

    S#*t Cookie. Keep those happy pills close at hand.

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    I handled this really well the first two days, I was super busy at work and just kept trucking.

    Biopsy was not a painful as I feared.

    But now I am really having a hard time managing my anxiety.

    I could find out today, more likely tomorrow at work, which has a lot of deadlines and pressure.

    If it's ADH or a small enough DCIS to watch and wait or remove I will be ok.

    I am not loving the mast option, and repeat partial rads scares me too.

    I always tell people make the best of this time with no diagnosis to deal with, and for the first 2 days I was a rock star, but now I am really anxious.

    I am tempted to go into the patient portal, but I fear I won't really know how to interpret a non B9 finding.



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  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited February 2017

    Well, Cookie, last summer I did check the portal and found the second biopsy confirmed that there was 5cm of DCIS in addition to IDC. We were on our way to the Jersey Shore, and my DH was pissed that I found out that way that I'd need a mastectomy. It did keep my head clear when my BS called me the next day so I could take in her directions without freaking out completely. Do what feels right for you. You're strong no matter what.
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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    My initial report was there from last week. Not the biopsy.

    The good news, no tumor or mass.

    The ?? news. One group of calcs was in a line.

    My research hints that is suggestive of dcis that filled up a duct.

    The other group seems to just be hanging out on the street corner.

    Back in 09 I was an outlier not doing chemo with a pos node and a 22.

    I feel like I may be an outlier again, whether I try a lump with partial breast seed radiation, or watch and wait or whatever.

    I know recon can be good for lymphedema, and that is one factor for the mast.

    My gut is that this is not B9, but I hope I am wrong.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited February 2017

    When will you met with a doc to consult about the results? Sorry you have this added stress.

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2017

    I am so not sure. There is still a chance for B9. My onc is supposed to call me tomorrow, though he is on vacation. Radiologist says they call later 3.5 to 4 business days after biopsy. My work schedule tapers off in two weeks so I guess if I have to start talking with surgeons, that is when I will do it.

    If it's B9 I have been quite the chicken little.

    image

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited February 2017

    Cookiegal, no such thing as a Chicken Little in this situation. If it turns out benign we'll all be doing the happy dance with you (NOT the Chicken Dance :) )

    I hope you get news shortly and at a time & place where you can have some space/time to take some breaths and process the information, whatever it may be.

    Sending encouraging hugs. (((Cookiegal)))

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited February 2017

    When I was concerned about a lump recently, I lamented to my MO that I was pretty sure it was benign (it was) and I hated crying wolf. He put down his pen. Looked straight at me and said he'd rather me have to be sent every month for an MRI for new lumps and have them be benign than to ever put one off and allow something to grow.

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