Total left mastectomy vs expander/implant?
Hi everyone - I’m newly diagnosed and have found BCN hugely helpful and reassuring. I have bilateral early cancers - invasive ductal (left side) and invasive lobular (right side). ER + PR + HER2 -.I believe ‘low grade, slow growing’. My treatment recommendation is: left side mastectomy, nipple/skin sparing with expander then later implant and right side lumpectomy. Followed by radiation and letrozole. Surgery scheduled for 22/11 at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. The choice I have is left side total mastectomy or the reconstruction? For context, I’m middle aged, slim/small breasted and physically very active. Apart from the obvious surgery and post operative worries, my other concern is around the possibility of spending many months with ongoing breast related issues. Wondering if any of you have had a similar experience….and any thoughts/advice you might have? Thank you 🎀
DCIS treatments
Last Tuesday I had my lumpectomy (wide incision). Yesterday I got my results. Well the are was bigger than first thought and a few of the convicts had escaped (now its invasive) and they aren't happy with the margins on the superior side. The goods news is that it looks like they got all the convicts in the procedure, but now the discussion will be further treatment. Because of the margins they want to go back cut out some more and do a first node biopsy. I have asked for a scan (MRI) so they can get a better picture hopefully, I am deciding do I just bite the bullet and get a mastectomy or just go in for my surgery and hope that this time they got it all and that no more little convicts are out and about. I know they plan to do radiation after, and that this will get the convicts if this is the case. Has anyone had a similar experience to me, is a mastectomy an overkill? Is having the MRI worth it does it really show if there are any more areas especially if its as small as they say it is, should I just go straight to surgery?
Uncertainty
Hello everyone, I have just joined this incredible network as I only just learnt it existed. I was diagnosed end of Oct 2019 with invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen and progesterone receptor positive, grade 3. I had my strategy informed by my surgeon sorted, that I would complete the 5 month chemo and then have the breast conservation surgery followed by radiation treatment. I was fine and mentally strong progressing through the chemo treatment because I just needed to focus on the here and now and then after all this life would return to normal. Now I have finished the chemo treatment and my surgery is planned for next week and all of a sudden I am second guessing my surgery options. This is in addition to the news that I had recently received that my father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. All of a sudden I feel nervous and thinking about reoccurrence, what’s in my control, is there a way I can minimise future risk, should I be having a mastectomy instead? I have spoken to my doctors and they say that my strategy is good for partial mastectomy /lumpectomy but ultimately it is my decision. I have a young family and alongside the covid 19 issue happening, could I revisit the full mastectomy later... Has anyone else also experienced this choice, nervousness before surgery and how did you decide? Very grateful for your time and advice.
Red swollen painful toenail
I have recently been diagnosed with IDC - stage 1, Grade 2 Oestrogen +/ PR- / HER+ breast cancer. I have had a lumpectomy. I am undergoing weekly chemo with Paclitaxel with three weekly Herceptin. I have just had my 5th dose of Paclitaxel. Today my big toe nail is red, painful and swollen. Has anyone had similar issues, is this a side effect of chemo, does anyone know of any cream to apply. Should I be speaking to my Onco.
Chemo/radiation
Hi. I am new to the site. I was diagnosed 21 june. Had lumpectomy and some lymph node removal on 24 july. Just got pathology results. All clear nodes. Clear margin. Grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. Surgeon very happy with me. I know i am very lucky and after reading alot of posts on here i am sending love and prayers to all. The surgeon said oncologist next. I thought just radiation and tamoxafin but she mentioned ki 67 result of 27% so wants me to see about chemo? Can anyone shed some light or advice or experience about this? I went back to work this week. Feeling a bit fragile but it is full moon and i am looney anyway and also menopausal madness. Thank you. Di
Costs of follow up scans and how many is too many?
I had my 18 month post surgical review yesterday. I still find these appointments rather depressing. Each time you see a different doctor (my surgeon is on long service leave) they have to trudge back over things that I have mostly tucked away at the back of my mind. Quote. "18months with the invasive cancer you had and no recurrence. You've done well." unquote. WTF. That was inspirational. Seriously what goes through some doctors heads? Isn't that why we get chopped, poisoned, nuked and hormone manipulated??????????? There needs to be a class at med school on "how to not be an unsympathetic dick" Anyhoo. The point is back for another mammo, u/s and MRI. I haven't rung up for this years prices yet but last years costs were: Mammo gap between $180 and $220 depending if there is any need for biopsy. U/s gap $125 MRI $575 no medicare rebate. Seems I am no longer in the high risk group...hahahahaha so nothing is bulk billed. So if you think you might have cancer or a strong family history you can get bulk billed, if you have had cancer you no longer fit the "high risk" check boxes so you get to pay I also wonder how many tests is it safe to have? I counted up in the last 18 months I have had 7 mammograms, 6 u/sounds I think, that could be more and 3 breast MRI's, 2 brain MRI's, 2 CT's and 2 bone scans and 1 bone density test. Whack the radiation on top of that and am I nuking myself into more problems??????
Radiation
Good Morning :) is there anyone here that hasn't had to have radiation ? My surgery was 4 weeks ago, lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. Two lymph nodes taken and all clear, plus surgical margin. The cancer was one of the smallest the Doctors have seen, and they told me it was quite possible radiation would not be an option in fact could be an issue .I'm still going to the appointment re this at the end of the month, but I've made my mind up not to have it. what do you think ? I'm so happy to be on this site, I'm having a lot of anxiety over this and other major issues affecting my life. I'm having counselling today as I'm just not coping. Thank you all for your help x
End of active treatment what now?
Hi Looking for some general information about what others experienced once active treatment for bc finished. TNBC grade 3, BRCA 2 +ve.. Lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy 1st SN +ve next 2 negative, 6 months chemo, bilateral mastectomy & left axillary clearance (all clear) and radiation.. Since diagnosis had been told that it was not necessary/we don't do that when I questioned about having scans etc. Now that treatment has finished all appts for follow ups have been made but again told no scans or even blood test to check for tumor markers..what have others experienced? should I just ask my GP instead? Jodie ??surgery results
I had my follow up today after lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy. Was very happy to hear i had clear margins. And clear lymph nodes. The tumour was larger than expected, at 31mm x 16mm. My pathology report says stage 2a. I am also hormone positive and Her2 positive. So my treatment will be chemo, radiotherapy, hormone blockers and herceptin. My surgeon seemed quite positive that this is all good news. Im just feeling really overwhelmed by the prospect of years of treatment. Im so happy to have clear nodes and margins, but so scared of the future still. I just want to see my baby girl grow up. Im trying to be positive, and perhaps im just tired but its hard today.
