Lumpectomy without clear margins

Thank you 

Hi

I'm about to have a mastectomy after a lumpectomy with sentinel nodes removed [all clear].  They found invasive breast cancer, small, but removed.  DCIS with no clearance requiring a 2nd op for clearance margins.  They found more DCIS no pattern just random, so now 3rd op for mastectomy.

At no time did they suggest me having chemo since my lymph nodes were clear.  However, radiation may still be a possibility if margins are still not obtained with mastectomy.

It's a shock.  I feel for you.  At every stage the doctors/surgeons thought it was very early breast cancer, no lump at all and yet, I still need to have a mastectomy after all.

I hope it goes well for you.

Hugs xx

Hi Leasamtay, Each cancer is so very different and it is always a little worrying when chemo has not knocked it out of the park before surgery.  The 'clear margin' can not be obtained for so many reasons, even after chemo as it could be too close to the chest wall or too much damage and the list goes on.. 

It is common for taking the less invasive road first and then increase that treatment if it is found to be needed.. the longterm outcome does not usually change.  The numbers are certainly on your side and the chemo works on cancer cells at different stages of their life and should have done quite alot of good..
They are being thorough by now undertaking a mastectomy to get those clear margins.

Try not to worry, and I am hoping your surgery goes well and you are then well on the way to recovery.

sending hugs, Sharon xoxoxox

Hi, I can't really comment much on your experience because I don't why you had chemo first or whether you had scans along the way to check the chemo's effectiveness.But I feel for you and I'd be disappointed and scared too.However, maybe my story will help eleviate the scary?I had a lumpectomy for 2cm invasive cancer and full node clearance, then radiation in 2003- no chemo. 7 yrs later bc came back in the same spot. It grew to 3cms in a year- pesky little buggers to survive all that.So I had a mastectomy then chemo,then Tamoxifen. That was 5 yrs ago and I'm fine now.My nodes had been clear and so were my margins.I like to think that my poor old boob did a good job of containing the cancer twice.You've gone through a lot and now the goal post have been moved on you- not fair but it happens a lot with this crap journey.Clear nodes are a good sign that the bc stayed put in your boob so hang on to that positive. Blog back for support or info on mastectomies.big hug,Tonya xx

That sounds really disappointing and hard :(

I would think the chemo still worked though? It would have been targeting any cells floating around? 

I think quite a few ladies have had masectomy after lumpectomy so I hope they reply 

Also no nodes involved sounds great

Hang in there

Thinking of you

Sorry you've got no replies. Sometimes people miss your post or don't go on for a few days, week etc. 

I will recommend it, so you hopefully get responses. 

Cheers, Karen ??

Thank you 

Hey. 

I don't know much about your current experience. I do know though, that there will be some lovely ladies pop in here to share with you and encourage you. 

Keep smiling. I will keep you in my prayers often. 

??????