Surgery Option or Not?
Hi Everyone, I was diagnosed de novo Stage 4 with breast, lymph node and bone/spine mets in Oct 2018. I've had really good response to treatment with Letrazole/Ribociclib/Denosumab whereby the breast ...
Forum Discussion
Hi Everyone, thanks so much for sharing your advice and experiences, it is very valuable to me.
Having mulled it over for a few days now, I know I just need to wait and see what the ultrasound brings first. IF that is positive, I think I really need to consider the issue of surgery, a lumpectomy, and Level 1 nodes with the experimental blue dye thingy or just "normal" lymph node removal or combo thereof.
I also need to find out more about the benefits, as when I was first diagnosed they advised it would just be all too major surgery and that my quality of life was at risk, so it wasn't being entertained at that time. But that thought seems to have changed dramatically. I'm thinking, I'm still Stage 4 and that isn't going to change. However, the idea of having some of the cancer out of me, appeals to me.
You've all raised great points about cording/physio/arm effects which I need to consider further, I'll need to find out more about possible lymphodaema effects and I will need to find out more about post surgery treatment. I'm still working full time, I'm an office worker and when I asked the surgeon would my arm be affected so that it would affect my work/typing she said I should be ok.
Does anyone have the shooting pains in the breast all the time post surgery please? Are they very painful? How often? Are they manageable?
How much time did you have off work (if you are still working)? How long did it take to recover til you reached some semblance of "normal" please?
I'm accumulating my second round of questions for the Surgeon, and also my Oncologist. I also need to get clear in my head what post surgery treatment might entail in terms of possible radiotherapy, and the hormone/drug therapy I'm currently on and/or when that might/might not resume, given I've had quite positive response to the drugs currently. I don't feel I'm being badgered into surgery by either the Surgeon or the Onco...I might also ask them to put this up for discussion with the Multi Disciplinary Team and see what comes back from there.
So much to still think about... the gift that keeps on giving... lol :)
Thanks again for helping me think this through everyone, it is very much appreciated.
Warmest regards
E
Having mulled it over for a few days now, I know I just need to wait and see what the ultrasound brings first. IF that is positive, I think I really need to consider the issue of surgery, a lumpectomy, and Level 1 nodes with the experimental blue dye thingy or just "normal" lymph node removal or combo thereof.
I also need to find out more about the benefits, as when I was first diagnosed they advised it would just be all too major surgery and that my quality of life was at risk, so it wasn't being entertained at that time. But that thought seems to have changed dramatically. I'm thinking, I'm still Stage 4 and that isn't going to change. However, the idea of having some of the cancer out of me, appeals to me.
You've all raised great points about cording/physio/arm effects which I need to consider further, I'll need to find out more about possible lymphodaema effects and I will need to find out more about post surgery treatment. I'm still working full time, I'm an office worker and when I asked the surgeon would my arm be affected so that it would affect my work/typing she said I should be ok.
Does anyone have the shooting pains in the breast all the time post surgery please? Are they very painful? How often? Are they manageable?
How much time did you have off work (if you are still working)? How long did it take to recover til you reached some semblance of "normal" please?
I'm accumulating my second round of questions for the Surgeon, and also my Oncologist. I also need to get clear in my head what post surgery treatment might entail in terms of possible radiotherapy, and the hormone/drug therapy I'm currently on and/or when that might/might not resume, given I've had quite positive response to the drugs currently. I don't feel I'm being badgered into surgery by either the Surgeon or the Onco...I might also ask them to put this up for discussion with the Multi Disciplinary Team and see what comes back from there.
So much to still think about... the gift that keeps on giving... lol :)
Thanks again for helping me think this through everyone, it is very much appreciated.
Warmest regards
E