I need some help......diagnosed Dec 18th with DCIS, SOLID TYPE, CENTRAL NERCROSIS, NUCLEAR GRADE 3/3. Supposedly going in for lumpectomy next week and my friends think I am crazy to undergo radiation when I could just have a mastectomy and get it over with......
This is where this gets really crazy....I hope you can follow me on this.....when I went into see the Oncologist surgeon, during my visit he wanted to know why I chose to ignore this matter from 2008 as the size was at least 9 cm of area of concern. I was told I was clean and clear from 2008 mammo center.....so that is just problem #1.......which I am not ready to deal with yet.........#2 There are 2 areas of concern, 1 being the anterior and the other the posterior. Supposedly the anterior is the positive, however the pathologist never marked which was which during the biopsy he took....so after a week with much review from the team that I am working with and no other biopsy, they feel comfortable with thinking it is the anterior where the malignancy is. I am concerned for so many reasons.......needless to say I am scared that if I go into surgery for a lumpectomy and they take out the wrong area, that leaves me to go back through this procedure a second time. Yes I could put my faith in thier hands and trust them that they know what they are doing, and everything could come out clean and with clear margins, but it is also my friends who think I am crazy not to have the whole thing removed. I have 2 kids ages 9 and 6 and they think I should be thinking of them and not my self image.....I am praying that everything will work out fine, but I feel that 2 screw ups already and mine being grade 3/3 could become invasive if left untreated for sometime...........the area that they want to take out will be about 5 cm and a little more to make clear margins.......I also know after much review on this subject that every case is different, however I just cannot help but second guess my descision.......am I crazy to want to save my breast? What about radiation? It is on my left side and I guess there can be scarring of the lung and heart due to radiation treatment......Any light anyone could shed on this matter would be greatly appreciated.....thank you, June
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June,
January 10, 2010 - 6:23pmI heard back from our medical expert, and will send you a private message about the response. If you are able to connect with this person, it would be wonderful if you could post any helpful responses/discussion to this thread, in order to help other women who are facing this same decision.
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June,
I am so glad you found EmpowHER...let's see how we can help.
I will forward your question to one of our medical experts, and I hope you hear from other women soon, who have both decided to try a lumpectomy, and those who opted for a mastectomy.
I can speak on behalf for all of us here at EmpowHER that no, you are not "crazy" for thinking of yourself (as, I am SURE you are thinking of your family, too!), you are not "crazy" for second-guessing your doctors, and I actually think this is a HEALTHY process to second-guess and question your medical team. Your medical team wants a well-educated patient, who can be assertive and also trusting, and your questions will only help the entire process go smoother, and ensure that you have the best medical team working with you.
We will get back to you soon. When is your surgery scheduled?
Take care,
January 10, 2010 - 7:34amAlison
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Thank you Alison for getting back to me so quickly as my surgery is scheduled for this Friday Jan 15th.....getting more nervous than I thought. I am looking forward to hear what others might say who might have gone through this with as much confusion as I.....again, thanks...
January 10, 2010 - 9:06amThis Comment