MRI months after Succesful Lumpectomy

DeeDeeT
DeeDeeT Member Posts: 76
edited July 2019 in Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results

Before my lumpectomy, I had an MRI that found the main tumor and three other tiny "areas of concern". Two more on the right side with the cancer and one on the left. The doctor sent me to get these biopsied. They were soooo small, they could not even find them. The one on the left was almost conclusively determined to be a lymph node. With that knowledge, and my consent, we proceed with our original plan of lumpectomy. We also agreed to follow-up with an MRI about 9 to 10 months after my surgery just to make sure those areas of concern really didn't change.

Next Tuesday is my MRI. I am seriously dreading this. Way back when I was making other decisions, I just wanted the cancer tumor out. Now, I'm terribly nervous. Oh well.

Personally, I'm still happy with my decision about a lumpectomy although I totally understand why others choose masectomy and I support them in this 100%. My doctors still were strongly recommending lumpectomy to me. They assured me it had the same statistical outcome in my case as a mastectomy. So please don't second guess my decision making on this. I have done enough of that on my own. . . .but I would love the support as I wait for my MRI and the results. Thank you so much.

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Comments

  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited June 2019

    Whatever it is, you will handle it! You can do this.

    Also sometimes it helps me to remind myself that my doctors have seen way more than I have and know way more than I do. If they felt fine with this plan, they had good reason to!

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  • DeeDeeT
    DeeDeeT Member Posts: 76
    edited June 2019

    Hi Salamandra!

    Thank you so much for that encouragement. You are right. My doctors are experienced with this. I trusted them when I made this decision months ago. I need to remember that. I appreciate your advice!

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited June 2019

    DeeDee - we completely get you are nervous that’s understandable. I had a lumpectomy and never regretted that decision. My BS is all about saving the breast and he described my tumor as wimpy. I’m sure that was an effort on his part to calm me down but as it was it was small.

    You do have to trust your medical team but that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t question their decisions or at the very least have them explain to you why they are advising something. The ultimate decision is yours and you need to be your own advocate.

    So keep the faith and keep us posted.

    Diane


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  • jessie123
    jessie123 Member Posts: 532
    edited July 2019

    DeeDee --- I completely understand -- I also had a lumpectomy and have my first mammogram coming up and then 6 months later the dreaded MRI. I guess this will go on for years. But we still have our breast and I'm glad about that. I also second guess some times, but I read a study last night that determined a lumpectomy with radiation has a better long term prognosis than a mastectomy --- how about that (-: It helped me with my second guessing. If they find something on the imaging it just means we may have to have a mastectomy which won't be as hard since we won't have to make the decision --- it will be made for us if there is a next time ---

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited July 2019

    I'm not one to second-guess my health decisions. For me, I'm not going to have a mastectomy unless that's the only option. Slow breaths through this waiting time.

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  • DeeDeeT
    DeeDeeT Member Posts: 76
    edited July 2019

    Thanks for the encouragement, Jessie and Ingerp. I am definitely feeling more positive about everything today than I was when I wrote my first post about my MRI. Now, I am viewing it more as just "confirming that everything is great", instead of as "looking for more problems". I will be very happy to have this behind me, though!! I'll update with my results when I know more.

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited July 2019

    Whatever you chose or choose is your choice. I chose a bmx. It's what I felt was right for me. Who is anyone to judge what we decide. People have well meaning thoughts, but when they turn it into words..lol it can be something else.

    I always dreaded the yearly mammo/sono. So I may not have to do that now...but the yearly visit to the surgeon where she pokes and prods, the 6mths visits to the onco where she pokes and prods..do me in almost as much as the mammo/sono. Next year I have to do the MRI.

    Nerve wracking...no matter what. You will be able to put this behind you and enjoy the summer in no time.


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  • DeeDeeT
    DeeDeeT Member Posts: 76
    edited July 2019

    Thanks beach2beach! You are so right! No matter what ioption we choose, we will still need follow-up care anyway. Its just our new normal for a while.


    My MRI was today and it went pretty well. They had a little bit of a hard time doing the IV, but that seriously ALWAYS happens to me. This time, there was less drama than usual, so I was pretty happy with how things went. I also didn't feel too panicky during the procedure. I do ask for meds now and that helped.

    I won't get my results back until next Wednesdays, July 10. I hate waiting. (Don't we all) but I feel pretty good about them. Thanks so much for the encouragement here!!

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  • DeeDeeT
    DeeDeeT Member Posts: 76
    edited November 2019

    My results were pretty good. They think everything is fine. I had some swelling (still!) from my radiation therapy that I had last Dec/Jan and this swelling obscured their view of two of the areas they are trying to watch. They still think everything is fine for now, but want me to have another MRI in April. Not quite the "all clear" I had hoped for, but still better than it could have been too.

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