Back again for another op

Hi and welcome @kitkatb. I was new to forums too when I joined here. I hope you find it as helpful and supportive as I have.

I had to have a re-excision as well, one week after my first. The second operation was about an hour shorter than the first. It was no more or less painful, but two general anaesthetics in eight days was pretty weary making and it was several weeks before I felt I was over them.

It's definitely one day at a time @kitkatb, especially at the beginning when most of us are in shock, upset and on a vertical learning curve. It moves very fast so take some deep breaths, and come here to vent, rage, mourn and ask as many questions as you need. Big hug, K xox

Hi guys I am new to this site as well as forums.  I also had surgery 3 weeks ago to be told I have to go back next week for a re excision to widen the margins. For some reason the idea of a second time around worries me just as much if not more. I guess one step at a time. Hope all goes well with you @Harvey1903

Thanks guys :)

I had a partial then a mastectomy due to no clear margins and node involvement.  I think if there's no nodes involved, it comes down to whether more can be taken without the breast appearing deformed.

I had to have a re-excision for margins exactly a week after my first operation. The first operation was two hours amd forty minutes, the second was one and a half hours and so much harder. Two general anaesthetics so close together, at the same site, combined with the emotional strain of having to go again, and you know, cancer... It's no surprise it's harder to bounce back. But you will, take it easy on yourself, be kind to yourself. One day at a time. Big hug, K xox

@Harvey1903. I had 3 ops in the end in the first 2 months of this year. Lumpectomy, partial mastectomy and then full mastectomy. Had enough surgery to last me for at least this year. 

Thankyou @arferret   I will definately look into that.  XXX

I had to go back for a second op as clear margins were not achieved the first time and yes second time round the news was harder to take but all was good and clear margins were gained. From reading I've done on other forums there have been other people who have gone back more than twice but i imagine that surgeons would not want to do that unless it was absolutely necessary. Mine was grade 2, stage 1, no lymph node involvement. Ask your med team about the EXPERT trial and whether you would be a good candidate for it. It's a 10 year trial looking at whether early stage BC needs radiation or not. I got into the non-radiation group which means i just have to take the anti hormone drug (letrozole). Often the medical cohort don't know if they got it all till the results are back from pathology and they like to have a clear 2mm margin that has no cancerous or pre-cancerous cells present. Good luck with your results. 
Cath xx

Thanks @iserbrown   Took second op a bit harder than the first, don't know why?  Go back for results next Wednesday.   Hopefully all will be good.  A question though (to anyone - I know everyone will be different but) - how many times do they go back to get clear margins?  Didn't like to ask as I knew I would get the - wait until the results look.  lol.

@Harvey1903 
Hope you are on the better side of the second trip to Hospital.  Take care