A bit confused
Hi, after my call back from a mammogram recently, spent 4 hours having further tests and 5 biopsies. At the final doctor told me they are pretty certain I have breast cancer and went on to explain tha...
Forum Discussion
Decisions about surgery and further treatment are, usually, made by a Multi Disciplinary Team which is composed of a variety of people who represent the specialist fields--surgical, oncology (both medical and radiation), pathologists plus anyone else who may be involved. They don't meet every day and view patients in batches. This can account for the way the information we are given can change from that which we are given at first diagnosis. It's frustrating and frightening and many of us get given information in the first instance which is either not correct, or not complete.
Human nature means we want to know what is going on immediately and some of the specialists (surgeons are notorious for this) get a bit ahead of themselves and speculate on what their colleagues will recommend.
Please ask for copies of all your results and the notes from your MDT meeting. Cart them around in a folder so you can be sure everyone is looking at the same thing and you ask specific questions if you are not sure about the recommendations.
Some breast cancers, such as lobular carcinoma, are very difficult to detect and measure with any accuracy. Scans and biopsies are not very helpful in some instances. Removing suspect tissue is the best way to figure out what is going on if there is any ambiguity about the scans. All this takes time and can be distressingly invasive.
Hang in there and do not be frightened to ask for a second opinion if that will put your mind at rest. Marg xx