My first post and so confused...
This discussion was created from comments split from: DCIS.
Forum Discussion
@annie79 i ended up with having 2 lumpectomies because of unclear margins. I was invasive IDC stage 1 grade 2, no lymph node involvment. The overall size of the area, cancer and DCIS, after first surgery was 30mm. Another 15mm of DCIS was removed second time with clear margins. I went through Peter Mac in Melbourne as a private patient as my surgeon, whilst she offered to do it at a private hospital, distance wise it was not convenient and so she suggested Peter Mac where she is also based. I'd ask your surgeon if she works out of a public hospital, a lot of them do. If she does ask to swap over and be a private patient in a public hospital. We have not been out of pocket at all apart from the first couple of consults at my surgeon's private rooms. Since then all my appointments have been at Peter Mac seeing the same people every time just as if you were in the private system.
Do your unclear margins have cancer cells or DCIS or both? Or is it that what margins your surgeon did take were too close to call? The pathology report would tell you this. You can always ask for a copy. They tend to prefer a 2mm clear margin of any cancer cells (dead or alive) or DCIS. It sounds like your surgeon thinks a mastectomy is not necessary ( which is good news) as she would ultimately prefer to conserve unless taking out too much is going to compromise the overall look. I was lucky cos i have D cup boobs so i had plenty left but someone with A or B size the outcome may be different depending on how much needs to be taken. I know when i asked my surgeon how much she was taking size wise the second time i was a bit shocked. She told me the area of two 50cent pieces, the actual thickness was probably only 2-3mm. She wasn't mucking around and i was glad of that. Whilst it's relatively easy for a surgeon to pick out the cancerous area because of the way it feels as it's a lump or a mass, DCIS is not as easy which is why they have to go back in another time. Ask heaps of questions, even if they sound silly! I know i did! Your med team are the ones who can inform you best. My situation with my husband was a bit different as he had prostate cancer at the same time so we were supporting each other through a pretty horrible time. It's a shitty time because your emotions are all over the place and you keep having to make decisions when all you want is for life to go back to some form of normality.
There is light at the end of the tunnel...over 12 months on i am still clear of cancer, as is my husband and mentally in such a much better place. Be kind to yourself and whatever decision you make, make sure it's a well informed one and that you are happy with it.
Best of luck, lots of hugs, Cath xx
Do your unclear margins have cancer cells or DCIS or both? Or is it that what margins your surgeon did take were too close to call? The pathology report would tell you this. You can always ask for a copy. They tend to prefer a 2mm clear margin of any cancer cells (dead or alive) or DCIS. It sounds like your surgeon thinks a mastectomy is not necessary ( which is good news) as she would ultimately prefer to conserve unless taking out too much is going to compromise the overall look. I was lucky cos i have D cup boobs so i had plenty left but someone with A or B size the outcome may be different depending on how much needs to be taken. I know when i asked my surgeon how much she was taking size wise the second time i was a bit shocked. She told me the area of two 50cent pieces, the actual thickness was probably only 2-3mm. She wasn't mucking around and i was glad of that. Whilst it's relatively easy for a surgeon to pick out the cancerous area because of the way it feels as it's a lump or a mass, DCIS is not as easy which is why they have to go back in another time. Ask heaps of questions, even if they sound silly! I know i did! Your med team are the ones who can inform you best. My situation with my husband was a bit different as he had prostate cancer at the same time so we were supporting each other through a pretty horrible time. It's a shitty time because your emotions are all over the place and you keep having to make decisions when all you want is for life to go back to some form of normality.
There is light at the end of the tunnel...over 12 months on i am still clear of cancer, as is my husband and mentally in such a much better place. Be kind to yourself and whatever decision you make, make sure it's a well informed one and that you are happy with it.
Best of luck, lots of hugs, Cath xx