Calling all TNs
Comments
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Hey Everyone,
I have a question. I had a lumpectomy on May 9th. They got clear margins and there was no lymph node involvement. I will probably be starting chemo this month. The smallest margin was 0.45mm on the posterior side (closer to chest wall). The surgeon didn't seem too worried about this and said I'll just get radiation (which will probably be after chemo). SHould I be worried about this? If there are cells there wouldn't they grow by the time I do radiation? I just don't know if I should insist for more surgery (although I dont think he can go back in because it was close to the fascia/muscle lining).
Any thoughts?
Sandy
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Hi Sandy,
My BS cut into the chest wall so I could avoid having radiation in order to get the additional clearance--I had no lymph node involvement. My BS was an onco-plastic surgeon so he is better skilled then many, so I don't know if a regular BS can do this and I also don't know if they can go back in. I would get a 2nd or 3rd opinion.
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Heidi: LOL!!! I hate and despise her, but maybe that is what she is aiming for-getting a rise out of people.
Teka: That's just lovely!
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Heidi - yup, that's her. Also known as "mindovermatter". Her blog is just downright insulting to BCO members, and I think she posts to get material for it. Lol, crazy-glue!!
Sandy - I'm sorry, I don't have any advice. The only positive from my path report was very clear margins. But I agree with MBJ, get another opinion. A fresh set of eyes never hurts!
Teka - how beautiful. And so lovely of your daughter to do this.
Saw "X-Men First Class" tonight. I used to collect the original comic series, have several friends who owned comic book stores. I loved some parts of it, but the fangirl in me was disappointed in how they changed the backstory. Am I alone in my geek-ness, lol?0 -
kyroheal: I would also get a second opinion. My BS wants to get at least 1 cm margins. I'm doing neoadjuvant chemo in order to shrink the tumor to make this even possible. Good luck!
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kyroheal - I have a similar situation where the surgeon only had about 1mm on that side up against the pectoral muscle. At first he said that he might want to go back in to get more but then he conferred with another surgeon and decided that the radiation would take care of it.
I to worry that all of this time between the surgery and radiation (more than 4 months due to chemo in between) could mean that something is growing there. He tells me that the radiation would get anything left there but that this is still considered a "clear margin" (just not as much of a margin as they like to get).
MBJ - Will there be any complications with your reconstruction due to the loss of any muscle tissue (from the surgeon going in there)? My surgeon seemed to be concerned about that and also said that the muscle acts as a natural barrier to the cancer (although I question that). I have no idea what an Aloderm Sling is but did your reconstruction go well?
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katfin: My MRI showed that my tumor was starting to grow towards the chest wall prior to chemo shrinking it so I could have surgery. I haven't had any repercussions from this surgery and I was quite surprised that I didn't need to have radiation. He cleared everything by 1 mm or more. The Alloderm Sling was something I learned about here while researching reconstruction. Because we no longer have breast tissue after an MX, they use sterilized and processed sheets of cadavar skin to form a sling to hold the implant in place. It sounds really gross but it gives a very natural look and there are less chances of failure or the implant moving with this type of procedure. My PS always uses it for recon and I was specifically looking for a surgeon who did this, as it is a fairly new procedure with superior results.
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MBJ. is the implant still under the muscle? Did you have to do tissue expanders?
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bkj66: Yes, they are both under the muscle and I had a TE for my MX side only.
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Hey Gang..................hope all is well. I am feeling better today thank God. I know I have some messages to answer but right now I have yet another question.
How soon did you all start having side-effects after your first treatment? From others who have gone through this I seem to have had many that are not normally seen until a few treatments. I am real sensitive to meds and I will be talking to the doctor about this but I wanted to get a little more info. on how others did. I had a bad reaction with nausea, and mouth sores, finally I got some magic mouthwash and WOW WEE does that stuff work....
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Found this to be very interesting............then follow to the site for many other subjects.
http://www.chemotherapyfacts.com/types-of-chemotherapy.html
osis: 4/11/2011, IDC, 1cm, Stage IIa, Grade 3, 2/15 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2-
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My SE's were mainly a result of the Neulasta shot that I got 24 hours AFTER chemo. I was terribly achy with bone pain, even with Claritin and Aleve. All the pre-meds given for chemo seemed to keep the nausea away-that is one SE I never had. I had trouble with steroids keeping me awake, jittery, and wanting to eat. I had trouble with diahrea and constipation in the same day!
Stay on top of hte mouth sores...the magic mouthwash will help clear them up, but rinsing several times a day with plain 'ole baking soda and/or warm salt water can help keep them from coming in the first place. Did they send you home with nausea meds? If not, they should. Or call the minute you have symptoms. That is something I was told chemo patients should not have to endure, although there are several on here that have struggled with that. Your doctor should know right away if that is a problem. Don't wait over a weekend or overnight. It can usually be treated if you get something early. ONce it hits though, it can be tough to overcome and you just have to ride it out.
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Is the "magic" mouthwash biotene?
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The magic mouthwash is made by the pharmacist - maybe even prescription. It is disgusting but realy works. Can't remember what goes in it - really odd combination. I also used biotine toothpaste and their mouthwash several times a day to stay on top of the mouth sores. That was one of my most miserable moments.
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Just got back from the Dr. My PT/CT Scan was clean. I am doing the happy dance. Thanks to everyone for all their prayers.
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GuyGirl - yay!!! They need a "raising your glass" smilie on this board
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Stupidboob - I didn't get all of the worst SEs from AC, and I was able to control my nausea with drugs. It just whacked the crap out of my WBCs and I don't do well with that. However, a friend of mine got hit with everything the first cycle - mouth sores, nausea, low WBCs - she really struggled. The best you can do is tell your doctors about everything, because chances are they can offer you different things to try and help. You are down one treatment, only 3 more to go of this!
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Way to go guy/girl! Congrats!!!!
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Yeah Guy/girl
Loved the magic mouth wash.... I didn't get as many side effects on the AC I would be down and out for a week due to extreme exhaustion but the nausea was controlled with meds. Taxotere is a different story..... I thought I was going to die on Taxotere. We started (taxotere is a nightmare) lots of of good info on there. Any issue I had I called the Dr. and they seemed to have a fix for it. I did notice it was cumulative.
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I dot AC and Taxotere, but I usually feel pretty good. I get tired really easy and have no taste
I only have 2 more to go!Wishing everyone a SE free week.
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I'm 28 diagnosed at age 27 and have clinical and pathological inflammatory breast cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy (TAC 6X, every 2 weeks), 2 X mastectomy followed by radiotherapy. 10 positive lymph nodes, including the top, cancer located diffusely in the breast, partial response chemotherapy ypT4N3.
The TAC was heavy my arms, legs, head everything swell. The latest treatments, I thought I would die. Stupid thing is that I ask for more chemo, given the amount of disease found after mastectomy and the disease still remains (in the skin around the scar).
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Finished my last of 25 rads today. YAHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Congrats Babs!!! Yay!!! I finished my full fields today myself, now I'm just going for the one spot in my neck.
Welcome Marijana. I'm a bit confused, I'm sorry - you say you have skin mets, but the doctors won't give you more chemotherapy? Or do you think you have mets, but haven't been diagnosed...? I can understand wanting more poison, even after what we went through... ((hugs)) to you.
Still waiting to hear my start date...I'll probably know tomorrow.
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Marijan: If they didn't get all of the cancer then I would opt for more chemo, too! Nothing stupid about wanting to live! Big hugs--I had 6 x TC, too. No fun but I got through it.
GuyGirl: WAHOOOOO!!!!! Doing the happy dance with you! Congratulations on clean scans!!!
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Hey Guygirl! congrats on the clean scans! And Babs..done with rads...good, good news!
hi Marijana..so more chemo for you??? Sounds like you have been through alot..hang in there ok???
Can I say..I HATE CANCER!..especially when I hear from these 27 year olds.
Hey..I'm 51 and Triple Negative...I hate that you younger ladies are on this board with triple negative....but you young ladies keep me "cool"...even my kids are surprised sometimes ..ha ha
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Suze35
Now I receive radiotherapy 60 Gy on the chest, I'm still busy. I (still) have skin mets pathological proven. MBJ, Titan thank you.
Glad you're done Babs, when I'm done, big party.
Crazy, that our breasts cause so many problems.
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Congratulations Babs37. One more milestone met. Now on to the next phase of your life.
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Thanks everyone for your support. You are so right GuyGirl 'on to the next phase of my life". I'm still scared of this beast but I refuse to let it run me down! We have a great Florida vacation coming up in a month with my sister and her family and I can't wait to go have fun. Real fun this year!!!
To everyone doing chemo right now and the newbies, hang in there. You can do this!
Suze- You know I'm with you in all you are going through. I am wishing you all the best in the world and that everything will go fine with your next chemo. You are so determined that I know you can do this!!
Big hugs to all of you.
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Congrats on finishing Rads!
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To all with good news Praise God! May you continue with success! Those in treatment...I am right there with you. I am taking Xeloda right now with very little SE's. Keep fighting everyone! hugs to all
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