Second surgery
On Thursday, two weeks after my first surgery (wide local excision and sentinel node removal), four weeks after my mammogram I had another surgery to remove more of a clear margin. This was just a ...
Forum Discussion
HI Rene
Yes I had 3 procedures, including my original lumpectomy. They found some DCIS cells in the lump, even though the margins were clear so back in I went for another wide local excision. The test results were that the tissue was clear but there were DCIS cells in the margins. At this stage the breast cancer team was recommending a mastectomy, purely from a cosmetic and not a medical point of view. Even so, it was my decision to make and they said that if it was my choice they would be willing to do one more excision but if there were more cancer cells in the tissue, I would need to have a mastectomy regardless.
I was prepared to take a gamble if it meant saving my breast (and I figured half a boob was better than no boob at all) and fortunately the third one came back clear. And the surgeon did a marvellous job and I still have plenty of boob left, albeit a bit distorted. Who cares? I'am alive!!
Yes, it is very hard when you're in and out of hospital and waiting for test results is the worst thing! I will keep my fingers crossed for you!