Odd Question...

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited October 2017 in Just Diagnosed
Odd Question...
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  • karentwriter
    karentwriter Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2017

    Again, I have a consultation today. One thing I have told friends that if it's best to just take the breast, that is what I want them to do. She didn't think anyone could make that decision. Is that true? What about Angelina Jolie...didn't she do that because she tested positive for the gene, but didn't acutally have cancer. I'm totally a moron on this stuff, so I'm honestly curious about this?

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  • Icietla
    Icietla Member Posts: 1,265
    edited October 2017

    Of course patients can make that decision. Many persons at high risk for breast cancer opt to reduce their breast cancer risks by having prophylactic mastectomy. With Angelina Jolie's circumstances, not having risk-reducing treatment would have been like playing Russian Roulette with a nearly fully loaded gun. She also had other prophylactic surgery to reduce her risk for cancer.

    Mastectomy reduces but does not eliminate one's risk of breast cancer.

    Many persons having mastectomy for breast cancer treatment opt for prophylactic mastectomy for the (presumed undiseased) other breast.

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  • Icietla
    Icietla Member Posts: 1,265
    edited October 2017

    karentwriter, if results from genetic testing would or might make any difference about your surgery planning, do request genetic testing for known cancer-associated gene conditions.

    Understand that successful breast reconstruction cannot be assured. Because of medical conditions and/or because of serious complications from reconstruction efforts, some mastectomees cannot have reconstruction.

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

    Yup, they'll probably let you make that choice if you want to. I was surprised how "choose your own adventure" breast cancer turned out to be.

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  • karentwriter
    karentwriter Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2017

    LOL gb2115...choose your own adventure. I'm doing the genetic test and getting an MRI tomorrow to determine for sure if they cancer has become invasive. What do they do for genetic testing? Anyone know? If it's an hour an half potentially I wonder if that is going to be super painful?


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  • Icietla
    Icietla Member Posts: 1,265
    edited October 2017

    Hi karentwriter. The MRI cannot tell you *for sure* that there is no invasion. The only conclusive testing is done by the Pathology Lab on the tissues removed in Surgery.

    They do a blood draw for the genetic testing. There may be an interview relating to possible familial cancer patterns -- who among your family has had cancer/s, what type/s, what age/s.


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  • karentwriter
    karentwriter Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2017

    Icietla,

    You were exactly right. Interview before the test for the genetics. Did the MRI...felt like I was about to be milked, but okay. So far, so good...just waiting on results to determine the type of surgery that I will have. I do not like filling out leave forms...it's almost impossible to fill this stuff out. :(

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited October 2017

    Karen, I didn't take much leave. I was out (for my lx) for a few days. I was out a bit longer for my mx, but I only ever used "sick days" (planned on taking a week, and that was about right). For each of my subsequent surgeries, I was back "in action" within a few days. I was young, and had no complications, so I may be atypical.

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  • karentwriter
    karentwriter Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2017

    MTwoman, yeah it's a weird process for intermitten days off at my company but being covered by FMLA. So that's really what is important to me. Not allowing them the chance to fire me...

    My Dr. did say for the lx it would be a few days max. So hopefully I heal as well as you. :)

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited October 2017

    fingers crossed for you!

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  • Jennifer522
    Jennifer522 Member Posts: 254
    edited October 2017

    I have 2 tumors in my right and a known benign condition in the left. I was offered a lumpectomy, single or double mastectomy.

    I choose the double. I didn't want to take the chance of dealing with this with the other breast down the road.

    When I met with the plastic surgeon, he said rarely is it requested for a single. If mastectomy, most get double

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  • karentwriter
    karentwriter Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2017

    Jennifer522,

    And I'm really fine with that as well. I don't want to take any chances either. I'm looking at major lifestyle changes so that once I get past this, I do what I can to help prevent future cancer...not that I can stop all, but I'll have to make some major changes. :)

    Good luck! Hope everything goes smoothly!

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  • karentwriter
    karentwriter Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2017

    Well everyone I tested negative for the gene and the lumpectomy is on for tomorrow morning. We'll see what they find once they are in and what might have changed for my diagnosis as well as the true stage based on that! One more day of work before I"m out for the week.:)

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited October 2017

    That's great news Karen, thanks for sharing. Good luck for your lx!

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  • karentwriter
    karentwriter Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2017

    Thank you MTwoman! I'm hoping for more good news, but I'm preparing for not great news too. But I'll have great people in my corner tomorrow as well and I picked out a wedding dress on Saturday too! So those are good positive things to focus on> :)

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited October 2017

    Absolutely!

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited October 2017

     I had lx for my Stage 1 BC and was very happy with that decision--my BS did an awesome job. Unfortunately, some additional genetic testing came back after the lx that revealed two gene mutations which cause BC, so I ended up needing BMX, too. Foo!

    Best of luck to you. Hope your lx goes on without a hitch.

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  • karentwriter
    karentwriter Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2017

    Okay, well lumpectomy is done and they took a sentinel node as it looked swollen and puffy ? Pathology hopefully will come back on Friday. I'm in pain, but have meds. It was scary and the dye was painful, luckily just a few seconds of that though. I can see the difference in my breast already and if it's swollen, I see some kind of reconstruction in my future. The righty was already the smaller breast...so that won't work for me. But I'll wait til this is all over because we could still end up taking them both or one of them anyway. Thanks for the continued support. :) I have a friend coming with dinner soon...so I'm going to eat some more. :)

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  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited October 2017

    Glad everything went well. Get some rest!

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  • karentwriter
    karentwriter Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2017

    Thank you GreenEyes81. We had roofers in our town home complex...12 hours of banging...and I have a feeling they will be doing that tomorrow as well. Blah! But I'll get to bed woon. :)


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  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited October 2017

    Take some extra hydro, knock you out even in the midst of the banging! ;)


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  • karentwriter
    karentwriter Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2017

    Probably a good idea. ;)

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