Surgery in 5 Days

Hello to everyone,

I was diagnosed in June 2019. I was using a hormone patch about five years to deal with menopause side-effects probably fueling it along. My lateral mastectomy is next week. I was diagnosed with multi-centric invasive lobular with ductal features cancer which is estrogen/progesterone positive/HER negative. The largest tumor is about 3.7cm and they found two more with the MRI. The summer has been a blur. The first few weeks I had 2 ultrasounds, 3 mammograms, two biopsies and two contrast dye MRI’s. I just started on the anasterole.

I asked for a pre-pectoral tissue expander with the idea of doing a diep flap 6 months later and I honestly can’t make up my mind about what to do or I have a lot of doubts about my decisions. Not sure why I have to wait six months for the other surgery or if I should have agreed to the sub-pectoral tissue expander placement. I don’t know about he nodes yet. Not sure about removing the other side. I have an underlying condition so there is a bit of concern about long surgeries

I have been reading the boards but afraid to post. The upcoming surgery is making it all sink in and the fear in my gut is palpable. I am a single parent and caregiver for a few family members. I work full-time so I am mostly worried about family and what will happen if I don’t get lucky and survive this ordeal.

My ONCODX score is 12 (yeh) and my genetic test revealed a FH mutation. They said that the FH deletion is not directly linked to breast cancer but other cancers, so it is not clear if there is a link. The FH mutations can cause renal cancer or uterine fibroids/cancer.

It is also astonishing at the number of bills in my mailbox everyday and I haven’t even had surgery....That adds to the stress.

Best.

AnnC2019