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StephN · 12-09-2008, 01:32 PM

Hi AA -

Yes, it is not a simple question.

I do have a friend who is a nurse who had suspicious calcifications a few years back. She did not have a family history of BC, but pushed to have a lumpectomy and have the tissue removed.

They did find "atypical cells" which likely would have gone on to form cancer.

She was fairly flat chested and the place of the excision was on the side and not noticeable. She was most relieved not to have to keep going back and and be in the "watchful waiting" mode.

Seems to be a similar situation to the person you are asking for.

P.S. It took THREE biopsies for them to confirm my cancer. My actual tumor was quite small but there were "atypical cells" in the tissue surrounding the tumor since it was no longer in situ. This is why I think she needs to get more than what a needle biopsy can take.

12-09-2008, 01:32 PM	#9
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Hi AA - Yes, it is not a simple question. I do have a friend who is a nurse who had suspicious calcifications a few years back. She did not have a family history of BC, but pushed to have a lumpectomy and have the tissue removed. They did find "atypical cells" which likely would have gone on to form cancer. She was fairly flat chested and the place of the excision was on the side and not noticeable. She was most relieved not to have to keep going back and and be in the "watchful waiting" mode. Seems to be a similar situation to the person you are asking for. P.S. It took THREE biopsies for them to confirm my cancer. My actual tumor was quite small but there were "atypical cells" in the tissue surrounding the tumor since it was no longer in situ. This is why I think she needs to get more than what a needle biopsy can take. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018. Last edited by StephN; 12-09-2008 at 01:35 PM..