Surgical decisions after diagnosis

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CrystalM
CrystalM Member Posts: 7
edited August 2017 in Just Diagnosed

I am a 46 year old mother of 4 grown men. I felt my lump myself and was Dx with IDC, Excuse me I am new here and the abbreviations have not been learned. I am to the point where it has spread the the left arm pit LN and I have been asked to think about two things, remove the lump, or breast, try to pin point THE LN with the Cancer, or take them all and risk Lymphedema. This is just the decision I am faced with while I wait for my CT Scan of bones/organs. I do not know how I am feeling......

I do not have the pathology info however, we do know it has spread to my LN on left side, if my 2 scans of bones and organs come back clear then we schedule surgery. Praying!!! I am a wreck, not sure if I stop my life or keep planning as though I will be here next year. I just started a new job, expenses are breaking the bank and its just an emotional roller coaster!! Who am I telling, you all are here for a reason!

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited August 2017

    Your surgeon will most likely remove the malignant lymph node, and possibly others, to biopsy them and determine your post-surgical treatment. Whether you get lumpectomy, mastectomy or bilateral (both breasts) mastectomy will depend on the size of the tumor relative to the size of the breast, and your risk for recurrence. Have you been tested for the genetic mutations that raise your risk? If you test positive, bilateral mastectomy is usually recommended depending on which mutation you have. Good luck and keep us posted when you find out your grade, stage and the tumor biology (hormone receptors and HER2 status)—go to your profile and enter that info so it will appear at the bottom of your posts so we can properly advise you.

    You are not alone.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited August 2017

    Any surgery has a risk of possibly dev?eloping LE (LymphEdema) rather or not nodes are removed. The more nodes,removed the more chance of LE developing. If LE does develope it does -if it doesn't it doesn't. Either way it's not the end of the world. If it does - it's just a bit of an inconvience but not an end to living life to the utmost.

    Scans ( CT and MRI with Contrast, Bone, and PET) should give a better idea of what is going on throughout body.?

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  • CrystalM
    CrystalM Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2017

    My surgeon stated that at this point, pre CT Scans, I am 1-2b as far as stage goes. My LN was biopsied and did come back positive for Cancer, thus why she is going to remove all or some of them. By having all of the LN removed I have a 30% chance of developing Lymphedema. Thank you for your reply....

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  • CrystalM
    CrystalM Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2017

    Thank you Kicks! She made it seem detrimental if I did develop it.

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