Phyllodes Tumor - Anyone else out there?

Hello Lydia and so sorry to read of your situation with a mastectomy required in 3 wks time.  Best over and done with as quickly as is possible and be on the road to recovery again.    If it were me I think I would go for reconstruction done at the same time but only you can reach that decision with the help of your surgeon and if he recommends it and you have confidence in him or her you will arrive at whats best in this case.

My Phyllodes was the size of a guinea pig and without reconstruction done at the same time as the removal of this monster an ugly scar would have prevailed.  A very good job was done at the same time as the removal of the Phyllodes by Professor Ung here in Brisbane, formerly of Sydney.

Others on here as you know have had mastectomies and everyone is different in their recovery.  It must be a very daunting experience just when you thought you were through it all too.

Personally I think the medical fraternity is a bit flippant about Phyllodes and probably because they dont know as much about it as they do the most common breast cancer and although ours is not cancer but a sarcoma at the Phyllodes stage it becomes it if left or not discovered until advanced.  Now here is your case with a Phyllodes removed and following this an invasive ductal carcinoma so I wonder really how long we have being okay.  While I was in good hands at the time the follow up visits are lucky if they are 5 mins initially a few weeks apart, then 3 mths, 6 mths and now 12 mths.  It is up to me to discover anything not right over the next 12 mths.  I got lucky that on my last imaging I was given all clear for 12 mths but now the in between period is a waiting game especially now reading your case.  I doesn't pay to be too confident that we are over it all and then perhaps more able to accept the blow of further surgery being required.

Healing thoughts to you Lydia and hoping for a good recovery through this big hoop you have to jump through.

Colleen