Need some advice

[Liz J.]

Hi Her2 Family,

I am a little confused right now and would appreciate any input you may have. I had posted a few weeks ago about my remaining breast getting larger and some other symptoms. I want to thank all who responded. I was able to see my surgeon today and after listening to my complaints and examining me, he wants to do a biopsy next Friday. This would be done in the ambulatory center where my port was removed. He thinks it may be cystic but is not taking any chances. I also saw my onc today. I never see him on a Thursday. It is always on Mondays for my 3 week Herceptin. As fate would have it due to a scheduling conflict my appt. had to be moved to today. I immediately told him what was happening and he wants me to have an MRI before any surgery. He also examined me. It turns out that my regular testing center as well as others in the area who do MRI's don't do breast MRIs. They finally found one that does it but I think I will have to postpone the biopsy as by the time they get this scheduled and wait for results, I will be past next Friday. I feel very confident with both of these doctors. I really believe I should have the MRI first. Just wondering if anyone here has had a similar experience.

Sincerely,

Liz J.

[Sheila]

Liz
I hate that you are going through this...but you do need to get it checked, enlargement of the breast that is sudden can be a sign of inflammatory BC....an MRI would be good before the biopsy...can't they squeeze you in so as not to prolong the biopsy? I would surely ask...
I will be saying a few extra prayers that everything will turn out OK for you.

[lu ann]

Dear Liz,

I had 2 very large cysts in my other breast that they thought were the primary tumors when I had the reocurrance 2 1/2 years ago. They were wrong, I had both a 3 cm and a 2 cm cyst in my breast that were benign, free from cancer.

It probably is a better idea to have the MRI done before surgery so they know what they are dealing with. I don't think a couple of weeks will do harm.

I think inflammatory breast cancer looks more like an inflamation of the tissues almost like an infection rather then an enlargement of the breast.

Have them put you on a waiting list in case someone cancels an appt. you can move up.

Blessing to you from Lu Ann

[mamacze]

Dear Liz,
Waiting can be so difficult; especially when you are worried about the outcome. I will pray that you can sail through this with peace of mind and heart.
Love Kim from CT

[Liz J.]

Hi HER 2 family,

Thank you for getting back to me. I was able to get the MRI appt. for next Friday. In the meanwhile I contacted my surgeon's office to postpone my biopsy. I got a call back from the surgeon. He is livid. I won't even go into what he said as who knows who could be reading this (no, not paranoid), just cant believe what is happening. He flipped out about the onc recommending the MRI. He was yelling and carrying on about why this Dr. would do this and what happens if it comes back negative. I was just sort of holding the phone and trying to calm him down. Now that I think of it, I don't feel I should have been put in this position. Then a senior member of surgeon's staff called and told me that my Onc. had better contact the surgeon or things are going to get ugly. This all happened in the last hour. Don't know who else to ask for advice so coming to you for help. I don't know what their protocol is, but don't think I should be getting slammed about it. I have the utmost confidence in both Drs. but am being put in the middle.

Sorry about the long post. Just don't know what to do.

[Lani]

unfortunately many male surgeons behave like first-grade bullies.

Having temper tantrums is unfortunately tolerated in their "social" circles

Are you being treated at a cancer center where there is a tumor board. That would allow all the relevant specialists (radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, radiation therapists, and oncologists) to all examine you, look at the relevant records, slides, imaging studies and sit down and behave like adults and discuss rationally what the best plan for you would be.

If not, is there another breast surgeon in the area who could provide a second opinion?

MRIs of the breast as I understand it are much more likely to result in a false positive result than a false negative one.

You have to look out after yourself. Do not change your treatment because you fear annoying your doctor. Ask him to sit down and put in writing his reasons for how he feels so you can explain it to your family (a good excuse)listing the pros and cons in a Cost-benefit analysis. I doubt his tempermental outburst will be repeated in writing, which he knows leaves a "paper trail" and I doubt when asked to put pencil to paper he would not engage his brain and see that there may be more than one way to approach this and that thoughtfulness and consideration of the patient and their wishes and welfare.

It is always best to politely put such a person into a situation which forces the misbehaving person to do the right thing, even though they do not want to.

Hope this helps!

(Sorry for my editorializing!)

[Liz J.]

Dear Lani,

Thank you so much for the advice. You calmed me down and actually made me laugh as everything you said is so true. Unfortunately, my docs are not on the same page. This is something I have not been comfortable with since the beginning of this journey. You hit it on the head. I now have a better perspective of what I need to do. I got angry at myself after this nonsense thinking that I should have acted like a b---- and maybe I wouldn't have gotten all this flak. But, it is not my nature to go off on people. Also, I was so taken off guard by this.

I can't thank you enough for caring. Atleast I know I will get some sleep tonight.

Sincerely,

Liz J.

[Lani]

" Atleast I know I will get some sleep tonight."

That was exactly my goal in responding. Sleep well!

Lani