Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Has anyone heard of "superficial" margins? This is what was reported on my pathology after my lumpectomy just over a year ago. I asked my surgeon about it and she just brushed it off and said not to worry about it and if there was anything left, radiation would take care of it. Also is there anyone else that had ILC and had a lumpectomy? It seems that most women who were diagnosed with ILC seem to have BMX's.
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NDGrrl, glad to know someone else got Allred scores. Guess I'm not quite as "positive" as you on my PR score
If you can, I'd stay on the Tamox to suck any remaining hormones out of your body but that's me (and I'm certainly no doctor!).Scary about your dizziness. Hope your ENT finds something simple and easily cured. Keep us posted. I'm thinking of you and sending positive vibes your way!
HUGS!!!!
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TaniaE, superficial is just an adjective meaning closer to the skin (so you can think of it as the "top" of the tumor closest to the skin). My tumor was very close to the surface but there wasn't any skin involvement. My "superficial" margin was 1 mm meaning that when they removed the tumor that there was 1 mm rim of healthy, noncancerous tissue. Does that help at all?
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don't know where to post this perhaps someone can tell me
I have been done with radiation since end of May. On armidex with no problems for a few weeks
I have my first radiation oncologist appt next week
What questions are important to ask?
If anyone has a list of questions please send them on. Thx
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Florida, these are the questions I asked my RO at my one month post-rads checkup. Of course you may have different questions.
1. Can I have a summary/description of my course of treatment for my records
2. How often will I see you
3. How will I know if my heart, lungs and/or thyroid have been damaged?
4. Do I need to do anything else for skincare?
5. Skin discoloration:
I had no problems with my radiation treatments. The discoloration was just "there" but the RO thought I should keep using Aquaphor on the area (and I do when I think about it).
Please be sure to update your profile and make public your Rx and Arimidex treatments.
Hope this helps.
HUGS!!
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hi I've had a biopsy that caught a vein which made my breast very bruised and sore. Followed by a left wide local excision then I had a re-excision followed by 3 weeks of radiotherapy.
I'm just waiting for the results but am suffering a bit with tiredness and have been put on tramadol for neck and arm pain. Is this normal?
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Hi Crimbo,
I had some heavy bruising, and my breast was very discolored after my both my core biopsy and lumpectomy (think kaleidoscope). 4~5 weeks post lumpectomy it is gone. I still have some arm discomfort from the SNB surgial site, but as time goes by it has eased, and is totally managable. Hang in there, and tell your doctor if your pain doesn't subside in a few days.
~Midgie
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ND, The side effects of Tamoxifen include dizziness and headaches. These SE are not common, but they do happen. Hope it's something simple.
Crimbo, Going through radiation can cause fatigue, so don't be too hard on yourself. Are you doing any arm exercises to maintain mobility in your arm? Stretches help a lot, too.
Hey Peggy! Hope you are doing well.
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Poppy, thanks for asking. I'm doing great. My NP (in MO's office) who works with their survivorship program wants me to have a Vit D blood test. Saw my PCP this morning and got the order for it. Last time (some long time ago) it was fine but it wasn't as important at that time. So we'll see what gives.
Had a wonderful vacation visiting my sons - no responsibilities for 10 days and getting plenty of "being a mom" time which is never enough.
HUGS!!
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Peggy, I'm so glad you have a great time. I noticed when you where gone and was so glad that you let us know you were going on a trip to see your sons!
I have orders for a complete blood work up including vitamin D, thyroid (especially since I have nodules which were discovered by the CT scan) and cholesterol (because the meds I now have to take can send cholesterol levels high). So many things change!
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Nice to be missed, Poppy! My last bloodwork this winter showed my HDL cholesterol at 95 (which my PCP says is off the charts). It always runs high. My LDL is a bit elevated but my ratio was 1.5. Arimidex doesn't seem to make a difference for me, anyway. All my other numbers were fine. I'm running over to the hospital lab in the morning to get the Vitamin D done. IIRC it takes about a week to get the results. Normally I'm quite the sun worshipper but this spring/summer hasn't been very conducive to it for me. Too cool and wet. And last summer I was having all my BC "fun" and didn't get outside much.
Hope your tests come back with the best results ever!! (Nice to be one year survivors, isn't it?).
HUGS!!
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Thank you knittingPT, yes it does.0
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Congrats Poppy and Peggy on the one year mark!!! Peggy that HDL is impressive!
Just an update on the oncotype situation. I had my 6 week appt. post lx yesterday with my BS yesterday and he really helped me put this in perspective. We looked at all my factors and I think I am leaning toward chemo but he put my mind at ease about doing the radiation first. This gives me more time to think and have a good discussion with MO when she gets back from vacation. He said that chemo first is the norm, but no difference really which way you do it as far as recovery etc. I really feel like a tremendous weight has been lifted off me!
Rainy here in Maine today so hope to get some housework done. Have a great day everyone.
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PatRN10, glad that you now feel free to wait until after radiation to decide on chemo. Gives you time to research more. BTW, do talk to your RO, he will likely have an opinion on whether you should have chemo. (I'm sure everyone has an opinion anyway). Keep asking your questions. And go with your gut.
HUGS!
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that helped tremendously Peggy. Thanks
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You're welcome, Florida2015. Sometimes it is just hard to get started. I keep a running list for each doctor with the filename the date of the appointment. AND most of the time I actually update the file with the doctor's answers.
HUGS!!!
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patrn10....so glad you will have time to decide on chemo. I don't think there is a wrong choice. You just have to go with what feels right for you.
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Hey Pat! Nice to see you on this topic! I seem to remember my BS saying studies show similar outcomes as long as the treatments are completed with in the first year (for ER+, PR+, HER2-).
Lumpies, Pat has been weighing her options on another topic I'm on. I love all the support she is getting here, too.
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Pat,
I am so glad that you are able to put your mind at ease. Whatever decision you make is the right one for you
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TaniaE, I had 3 lumpectomies with ILC. The last one was kind of iffy, but the surgeon said I had enough breast tissue to do it, so I decided on a third lumpectomy. Here is my history, I have Crohns disease, I had the first lumpectomy, 2 margins taken, the second looked clear in the OR, but it wasn't. Had the second lumpectomy, and they found ILC where they did not expect it, it was not on the scans or mammos. Before the second lumpectomy it was just DCIS . So, I did chemo. My oncotyp score was 28. After chemo, when I elected the third lumpectomy, the whole area was clear. So, chemo worked, and I went on the radiation. My surgeon is from a very well know cancer center, and she said she has had quite a few people who would traditionally get a mastectomy, choose lumpectomy over mastectomy. I am also happy with the way it looks, in spite of 3 cuts on the same area.
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Poppy,123, thank you! Support is an understatement . You guys have been a lifesaver. My DH always asks "what did the ladies on the forums tell you"? ;0)
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PatRN10 -- good luck with the decision-making! I find it very stressful, so, weirdly, it wasn't so terrible for me to be told that I was getting chemo and rads! Before that--settling on doctors and treatments, that was driving me crazy. I did chemo first... so I also had time to get used to the idea of surgery and to think about it, and to gradually choose doctors and such when the time came up. Things seem to have been getting easier as things go on. Hopefully, it all will sort itself out for you, too!
PeggyG -- great to hear that you have gotten through 3 LXs pretty well. Glad all that is over for you!
PontiacPeggy -- Great suggestions of what to ask the RO after rads! I hope I'll remember them when it come time. I'm still only on 16 of 35 rads right now.
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Just had an appt. with my general/internist and he's reducing my chloresterol, hbp, and my Type 2 diabetes drugs. Through chemo I was accumulating prescriptions like crazy and still feel like a walking drug store... but now I'm reducing meds, which is such a relief! I feared I would be on a bunch of pills that would just increase as I got older! --Of course, I think it's the SEs of chemo that have helped in a weird way. I lost 25 to 35 lbs. during chemo and residual diarrhea is keeping me from putting on all the calories I'm now eating (since I have a great appetite and food tastes good again). Although, I've probably got to watch out to not let my current crazy eating habits continue when my body goes back to normal! I'll blow up like a balloon, I think! But right now, eating ice cream and candy and steak... is just heavenly!
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No rads for me tomorrow due to the holiday! I'm going to head home and just relax through the long weekend, I think. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
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April, so glad you are feeling better. I think it is fine to indulge a little after all you have been through.
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Hi guys. Just checking back in. I can't remember who asked the margins question. I have a 1mm margin in one spot and my BS said current standard is 1mm or better margins is the standard of care. Less than that and they like to go back in. My BS did a great job and I'm healing fantastically with no visible lump. My boobs match just one has a scar.
Port was placed two weeks ago and healing great. I was so afraid to put it in but I LOVE it. And I'm happy about my decision. I start radiation in late September.
20andscared I am so sorry you had to join us. Are you currently in school? If so are you off for summer vacation? Like you I got diagnosed a week after my birthday. I had gone to Vegas with my best girlfriends and came home and Boom. Cancer. Enjoy the 4th and please check back with us. Happy to walk you through how my lumpectomy went, as with all the ladies here. There are several women who are younger on this board who can also be of support. Make sure to talk with your surgeon. And your oncologist about your fertility as that is something you may have to make a decision about before you start any post surgical r reatment. Fortunately you have lots of options. Hugs...
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Happy 4th!!! Enjoy and be safe!!! (((Hugs)))
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Happy 4th!!!! Enjoy and be safe!!! (((Hugs)))0 -
My lumpectomy was done nearly 2-1/2 weeks ago. Path report indicated clean margins, but cancer cells showed up in one of 6 nodes removed at that time. Originally, I was told I would probably only need radiation and hormone Tx. However, now I am waiting to see if they are going to recommend chemo first. Not looking forward to it. Also, still have some incision discomfort under arm and also on breast. Have been having a deep, nagging pain in breast the past few days, feeling like in my chest wall. Worried that it could be a hematoma, as I have had a terrible hard cough since my surgery.
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So, short story about me..... I have a quarter size lump on my right breast that has been a concern to my dr and we have done multiple tests and what not on it, mammograms, ultrasounds and MRI. All of which have been inconclusive as nothing shows up where the actual lump is. I'm young 29, and have extremely dense breasts so my dr suggested that we remove the lump and have it tested. Which made completel sense to me. Had surgery last week to have the lump removed. Now I haven't touched around the area at all cause it's been sore and I didn't think it was a good idea.... Today is my follow up appointment so I decided to feel around and see how much of the lump they took and so on..... The lump is still there, fully intact, there's a divot directly below it, I'm not a dr but I'm assuming they missed, they did not remove the lump..... I'm so upset I'm not sure how to handle the situation.... Like I said I go see them today and this was going to be the final step to ruling out what it could be, but now I don't know.... Anyone else have this happen to them?
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staci....when I had a biopsy done the area filled in with fluid and felt like a large lump where there wasn't one before. I was told this was normal. Hope your results today show that there is no cancer. Best of luck!!!
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Hi Staci, I had the same. It fills in with fluids and protein where lump was. I had my lumpectomy 7 weeks ago and still feel it. Wishing you the best on your results.
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