Hi - I'm just gonna jump in. I'm sure as I learn more and feel a little less lost I'll chime in but for now I'm just gonna be a little selfish and ask about my situation. :)
I'm 40 and just had my first mammogram which showed a small area of microcalcification. I had a vacuum assisted needle biopsy and it showed LCIS and ADH. No children - yet (currently going through IVF - may be delayed due to this biopsy).
Now the radiologist says that these are markers for breast cancer but not breast cancer.
I'm waiting to talk to him tomorrow so that he can help me find a breast surgeon and schedule a wire localization excision biopsy.
What I'm freaked out about is that I have markers for not one but two types of cancer - I think. ADH isn't, I don't think DCIS, but what's to say it won't just develop into that given time. I don't get all of the odds and statistics.
Oh, besides the microcalcifications which he removed, there are no other indications on my mammogram, no lumps, no cysts - is this common? So would these atypical cells be all over or just in the microcalcification area? What is the biopsy going to remove? How are they going to know how much to remove if there is no lump? Can they see stuff when doing the surgery?
This sucks.
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AnnNYC Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 3,372 |
Nov 20, 2009 01:11 am
AnnNYC wrote:
Hi Fireflyxx, this stage really does suck -- I'm sorry you're having to go through it. I wish I could answer your questions, but I'm sure someone more familiar with this will come along to help. But these are good questions to ask your doctors, too -- you could just print out your post and carry it with you to ask all your questions at phone calls/visits. Hoping you get good answers soon, Ann Diagnosis: 3/9/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/5 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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adrienne2 Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 155 |
Nov 20, 2009 12:14 pm
adrienne2 wrote:
I know those scared feelings well -- I'm sorry that you are having them. I wish I had the answers to all your questions, but I don't. In my case, the mammogram showed only the micro-calcifications: the doctor inferred the location of the lump from the position of the micro-calcifications. The lump didn't show on an ultrasound, either. I do know that my surgeon couldn't see the cancer when he was doing the surgery -- cancer can be devilishly hard to see. This is why you will have a wire localization, probably using the mammogram machine. That will mark the area of the lump so the surgeon can remove it. Your doctor will remove an area around the wire, and the tissue will be sent out to the lab, where a biopsy will be done. One of the things the biopsy will show is whether the surgeon got all the atypical cells. And yes, all of this sucks, bigtime, but just remember, it's something you're doing to keep yourself well. We are hoping for the best results for you. Please let us know how things turn out. adrienne Stupid Cancer
Diagnosis: 10/21/2009, DCIS, 1cm, Stage 0, Grade 2, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+ |
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Fireflyxx Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 |
Nov 20, 2009 01:14 pm
Fireflyxx wrote:
Hi adrienne2 and AnnNYC (I'm in NYC too :) ) So I googled enough to figure out what the words were and to get a little information and then stopped. Fortunately, I don't have any problems falling asleep but it was a sad and lonely evening. Husband is away right now but we did talk on the phone. Anyway. I talked to the radiologist and he directed me to a breast surgeon to get that wire localization thingie. I have decided to just go with his choice of surgeon. Am I allowed to put the name on these pages? Anyway, I made that decision because I don't need to be researching breast surgeons in NYC - I would get overwhelmed. He also explained that the surgical biopsy will check the edges to see if there are any cells there. If so then it is a bigger issue, if not and more likely they will get it all. I was a little unclear last night about how this stuff sits in your breasts. The surgeon will also check my other breast because as I started palpating last night I realized that I felt something but I am basically unfamiliar with what is a "normal" feeling and what is an "abnormal" feeling. I have sort of fiberous (not sure if that's the word) breasties. But nothing showed up on the mammogram for that breast. So I'm calmer now - fortunately I'd don't fear surgical stuff although I have read on this board that the wire localization is a little weird. Actually, all of these are weird, having your breasts squished and numbed and needled and cut. Yup, weird. I appreciate the responses and am grateful for this community. Thanks. |
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adrienne2 Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 155 |
Nov 20, 2009 01:24 pm
adrienne2 wrote:
Hi Firefly, The wire localization might indeed be considered "weird," but for me, at least, it wasn't painful. The doctor said I'd feel a "bee sting" at the very beginning, and that was accurate. The pain went away almost immediately as the local anesthetic was injected, and the whole procedure lasted only a few seconds. It took more time to get me and my breast into the right position on the table than it took to insert the wire. By the way, I was offered the option of taking a Xanax a couple of hours before the wire localization, and I took them up on it. It relaxed me so much that I took a nap while I was waiting :) I'm glad you are having your other breast checked, too, for your peace of mind. We are all wishing you the best, and sending you hugs. adrienne Stupid Cancer
Diagnosis: 10/21/2009, DCIS, 1cm, Stage 0, Grade 2, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+ |
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Ozzi Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 78 |
Nov 20, 2009 09:47 pm
Ozzi wrote:
Fireflyxx You can't go wrong with Sloan Kettering in NYC - I was treated there and I have taken quite a few women through there. Is an option if you want to explore it . . . . . . . Diagnosis: 3/17/2000, IDC, 2cm, Stage Ib, Grade 3, 0/12 nodes, ER+, HER2- |
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Fireflyxx Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 |
Dec 1, 2009 03:40 pm
Fireflyxx wrote:
A quick update... I'm still a tad freaked out but since the holidays are upon us I am submitting myself to a frenzy of cards and party and visiting relative planning. It actually helps to be "worried" about stupid crap rather than what my upcoming excisional biopsy will hold. @adrienne2 - I don't think I will be able to have the xanax - apparently I can't have anything from midnight the night before on - except a sip of water to take my thyroid meds. I was very happy to learn that I would be sedated (but not completly knocked out) for the actual procedure. I will have get the wire thing at one place and then make my way down to the hospital for the actual biopsy. It was really, really weird walking into the NYU Cancer Institute. Even though I seem to only have marker cells and a higher risk now it's all still associated with the word Cancer. But being in that waiting room actually made me realize my good fortune at being in NYC and most likely having a situation that is pre-cancerous as of now. I'm a little nervous that they will do the biopsy and will find that it's just the tip of the iceburg...but I will go back to fretting about holiday cards in order not to worry about that. Biopsy is scheduled for next Tuesday the 8th - results should be back in 2-3 days afterwards. Thanks for being here. |
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Lisa1962 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 314 |
Dec 2, 2009 10:21 am
Lisa1962 wrote:
Fireflyxx, I just wanted you to know that I will be thinking of you as you travel this journey that I'm sure you wish that you weren't on. Take good care of yourself, and I hope & pray that the biopsy goes really well next Tuesday-----Sending B9 wishes, Lisa |
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Fireflyxx Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 |
Dec 2, 2009 10:45 am
Fireflyxx wrote:
Thanks Lisa - I'm grateful for your good wishes :) |
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