Recently diagnosed with cancer

Options
mjackson
mjackson Member Posts: 2
edited September 2017 in Just Diagnosed

I was just recently diagnosed with breast cancer in my left breast. The Dr. said i have fibroadenoma, LCIS, DCIS, IDC and a good bit of calcification in only my left breast. He also said it was close to the skin.Just wondering if anyone can tell me anything about this or if anyone else has had the same diagnoses. I believe they are wanting to schedule me next week for the bilateral masectomy. The intraductal tumor was 2.2 mm. I just pray it's not somewhere in my lymph node or the rest of my body.

Comments

  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited September 2017

    Welcome mjackson! I am sorry you find yourself here but this is the best place for support and information. Have they referred you to a plastic surgeon for a consult yet?

  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited September 2017

    Hi,

    Sorry you are here, but welcome. I had LCIS, DCIS and ILC. Did you get the hormonal status on the tumor? Did your surgeon say he/she did not think a lumpectomy could be done? Is it 2mm or 2 cm? 2mm would be very, very tiny.

  • mjackson
    mjackson Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2017

    Do you mean a person who is going to be doing the mastectomy? I have a general surgeon i am seeing now and he will be doing the mastectomy, but let me begin to tell you that there have been a lot of mishaps since the beginning. The Dr. said he sent in a referral to have me tested for BRCA 1 & 2 just to see if i came back positive so i could have both removed. I went up there and they knew nothing of the test at the lab, but even before all that he said that my insurance had approved me to have both breasts removed even without having the test. So, a couple weeks go by and i am still believing they are taking both breasts. I get a call yesterday, September 20, 2017 from my insurance saying that my non-cancerous breast could not be removed. I was told that it was approved by the insurance company at first and then someone above that person unapproved it. I go to get the BRCA 1 & 2 test yesterday also and they didn't even know what type or kind of blood to even draw or if it was supposed to be overnighted or not. I also was referred to a reconstruction surgeon and he had no idea why i was there, even though paperwork was sent to him. He thought i was just there for a reduction, not having cancer. I had to actually call my sister who is a nurse and works at the wound care clinic to explain to the reconstruction surgeon what it was he was supposed to be doing and then she called my Doctor and told him he needed to call the reconstruction surgeon to explain to him what was going on. I AM ALL CONFUSED and don't know what to do! I am scheduled to have the mastectomy next Thursday, 0928/2017. I don't want just one breast removed, my breasts are very large and saggy and i know it won't match when they are finished. I'm just pissed that i have been mislead this whole time.! Do you have any answers?

  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited September 2017

    According to the American Cancer Society

    The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) helps protect many women with breast cancer who choose to have their breasts rebuilt (reconstructed) after a mastectomy. Mastectomy (mas-tek-tuh-me) is surgery to remove all or part of the breast. This federal law requires most group insurance plans that cover mastectomies to also cover breast reconstruction. It was signed into law on October 21, 1998. The United States Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services oversee this law.

    The WHCRA:

    • Applies to group health plans for plan years starting on or after October 1, 1998
    • Applies to group health plans, health insurance companies, and HMOs, as long as the plan covers medical and surgical costs for mastectomy

    Under the WHCRA, mastectomy benefits must cover:

    • Reconstruction of the breast that was removed by mastectomy
    • Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to make the breasts look symmetrical or balanced after mastectomy
    • Any external breast prostheses ([pros-thee-sees] breast forms that fit into your bra) that are needed before or during the reconstruction
    • Any physical complications at all stages of mastectomy, including lymphedema ([lim-fuh-DEE-muh] fluid build-up in the arm and chest on the side of the surgery)

    Mastectomy benefits may have a yearly deductible and may require that you pay

Categories