"stupid" Questions

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vampeyes
vampeyes Member Posts: 1,227
edited September 2017 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

If there is a place for answers to these questions please guide me there.

Last night I received the news that my core biopsy was positive for IDC, next step the surgeon for lumpectomy and results of pathology test. So my "stupid" questions are:

1) Is there anything I should be asking the surgeon?

2) Do I remove the entire breast to limit chances of recurrance?

3) What did you do to prepare? i.e. I have thoughts of making freezer meals for my family in case the stage and grade is bad.

4) Did anyone feel pain on the opposite side of the lump. i.e. my lump is in the 3 o'clock position, but I feel "pain" in the 11 o'clock area... could be a pulled muscle I guess or all in my head lol

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  • Jojo0529
    Jojo0529 Member Posts: 193
    edited September 2017

    Do you know if the tumor is hormone positive? We're lymphnodes checked already. That may help your decision. Are you are the younger side of diagnoses? Those answers may help guide your decision. I chose mastectomy . I never wanted a mammon again; however, many do great with lumpectomy

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  • vampeyes
    vampeyes Member Posts: 1,227
    edited September 2017

    Unfortunately I won't have answers to those questions until after the lumpectomy. I am 41.5, my doctor is positive, but he also thought the lump I felt was just a "meatier" breast!

    May I ask how old you were when you did the mastectomy? I couldn't care less about a breast being gone if it gets rid of the anxiety of the last month!! I never want to have to go through this again. The waiting is stressful.

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  • Shellsatthebeach
    Shellsatthebeach Member Posts: 316
    edited September 2017

    Hi vampeyes, a biopsy can give you some information as far as grade of tumor and characteristic of the tumor. This information can help guide you when making decisions. I wish you luck.

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  • Jojo0529
    Jojo0529 Member Posts: 193
    edited September 2017

    i was 45 at diagnosis and mastectomy. great job on following up with the lump. my doctor dismissed and the lump sat of years. I no longer trusted my doc so the mastectomy was the only choice for me. My only concern about your doc is that he is guessing the grade? How would he know?

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited September 2017

    Once your surgeon gets the final pathology from the biopsy it might be a whole lot easier to make a surgery decision. He should have that---it shouldn't wait until after surgery because it's standard for biopsy pathology. They will run pathology again on the tissue that's taken out during surgery. From the biopsy they should be able to tell you if it's hormone receptor positive or negative---that plus grade may make a big difference with what they want to do. Your surgery may also want to send you for an MRI, and for genetic testing. Those also, if part of the plan, will help you and your team pick what type of surgery to have.

    It's a hard decision. I had a small-ish tumor and picked lumpectomy, even while waiting for my genetic testing results (BRCA negative). There was a thought to have me wait for the BRCA results because maybe I would pick a mastectomy, but then I realized I'd probably pick a lumpectomy anyway because I tend to be conservative with choices---easier surgery and recovery sounded good to me. But I found that to be a terrible decision to have to make and ended up in tears from stress and anxiety while talking with the poor genetic counselor. I know they mean well, but sometimes I think breast cancer treatment should not be "choose your own adventure." They force us to make decisions without being able to see the future, during a time that is extremely high stress.


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  • vampeyes
    vampeyes Member Posts: 1,227
    edited September 2017

    Thank you all for your responses, it is definitely helping to talk her, since we have decided not to tell family and friends yet. I guess for now I am at a stand still till I see the surgeon and get this lump removed. I hope they are quick at booking the surgery and it's not too long of a wait. Waiting is going to kill me. lol

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  • Freya244117
    Freya244117 Member Posts: 603
    edited September 2017

    Beesie has written a comprehensive guide to making the choice between MX and lumpectomy. I can't find it at the moment, perhaps someone else can post a link for you.

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