3rd surgery / new PET scan

Lady,
I am sorry to hear this news. Thank you for keeping us informed. What you are going through is not fair; it's not right, it's wrong, wrong, wrong!

It's also why I regret not knowing about or having had a bilateral the first time around. Is it me, or do the doctors simply not tell us the facts?

This is the first time I've heard about a hand held PET scan. Prayers to you and your family that you will conquer this disease.

I read (breastcancer.org?) that the chest wall acts as a barrier and keeps the cancer from invading, which is supposidly why "lumpectomies and partial mastectomies are as effective as a radical".

I have a friend whose surgeon didn't "get it all", and she later insisted on a total bilateral upon receiving news that she had to have a 2nd surgery. She had no chemo, no radiation; claims to be feeling great, but was angry that she was talked into having a lumpectomy, only to have a follow-up with a local recurrance due to the surgeon's error in missing a portion of cancer, which apparantly should not have been overlooked. She went to a different surgeon and hospital for the "2nd time around, who was fortuately talented and extremely compassionate.

I have heard of the hospital you will be attending. Heard it was one of the best. My hospital has to "tranport" the PET Trailor in order to do them at all. I wondered why it was so cold, windy, and why I had to get into a freight elevator, stepping up temporary walkways and bridges to arrive at this strange outpost that was stuck to the side of a building. Very strange experience.

Hope you are in good hands, and get the greatest possible care. If you are up to it, let us know how you are doing, please. I am so sorry; had no clue you'd already had mastectomies before. You are too young to go through all this.

Be well, be loved, today is a glorious day in time!

((Hugs x 2))

Indi