Is 0.1 margin clearance under tumor really Ok?
 

I had a 2.2cm IDC tumor in 6cm nuclear highgrade field DCIS. It was removed 1 year ago by mastectomy. The surgeon cut out an oval that went high above and low below the tumor to remove all the skin over the top of the tumor because it came relatively close to the surface.

My path results showed 0.1milimetres of clearance underneath it, ie chest wall.

That seems awfully close. Is it really a clear margin? Has anyone got any experience of such margins proving either fine or a problem?

I worry that it could have had micrometasases going through into the chest wall, that I may be at significantly at risk of chest wall recurrence. But I realise it could also be the thickness of a membrane that the tumor has not crossed over, a strong geographical boundary. Or not.

I have had no scans or xrays of that side of my chest since surgery or scheduled ahead. I would like to know how 0.1mm margins have worked out for others. Do you know of any true stories?
best wishes
Jessica

Re: Is 0.1 margin clearance under tumor really Ok?
 

Hi Jessica. I never got " clean margins" after my mastectomy. I received Radiation tx and that cleaned me up.

Re: Is 0.1 margin clearance under tumor really Ok?
 

I had surgery in December 2011, said the margins where clear, but they did not specify the margin. I had 29 chemo treatments plus an investigational agent called Neratinabib. I have been NED for 2 year since Herceptin. Your story is familiar to mine. So sorry its been a hard journey. Sandra

Re: Is 0.1 margin clearance under tumor really Ok?
 

Jessica this link may help http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/margins

Re: Is 0.1 margin clearance under tumor really Ok?
 

Trish, Sandra and Linda, thanks so much for your support and help. Sandra, I hope your doctor's visit goes well. It is a hard journey. Though so many others have had it so much worse than me, they still seem to manage hold onto hope and to keep the faith, not to have sleepless nights when they wind themselves up and start to focus more and more on the fear when they are tired. I had not expected there to be this change back to a deep fear of recurrences over the next 3 yrs. I thought I had it all sussed because I have been over this before several times, and I had got it into perspective so nicely. Now, with little cause, it fragments and falls in a heap again.

Re: Is 0.1 margin clearance under tumor really Ok?
 

Here's a study that recommends radiation when there is a close margin and you're under 50. I also had a 1mm clear margin after my mastectomy and didn't have radiation. On my last month of herceptin 2 tumors appeared on my mastectomy scar. I didn't see radiation in your treatment. Perhaps this is something to discuss with your doctor.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9635708


On the positive side, it's been 5+ years since my treatment and my oncologist no longer feels the need to follow me and I'm back to just my primary care doctor.