HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Margin not clear

Belinda · 01-30-2007, 04:23 AM

Hi everyone - thanks for all of your replies. I saw the surgeon today and interrogated him thoroughly on a number of fronts.

My surgeon has said that he actually "ran out" of breast tissue, and that he took all available tissue. He confirmed that there are probably some cancer cells remaining on the surface of my chest wall, but he expects that chemo (initially) and most particularly radiotherapy will deal with that. Not sure what to make of that. I am not sure that much can be done but hurry up chemo and radiation therapy. Any thoughts?

Also, this am I went for an extra mammogram and ultrasound on my RHS, and the mammogram was clear (no surprises there - even when it was 4cm my main tumour didn't show) but the ultrasound was inconclusive - extensive shadowing and in two 'sore' spots, a ridge of thicker tissue but apparently normal, and two normal-looking nodes, but no obvious evidence of lesions - didn't rule our cancer and recommended further imaging due to the "occult" nature of my LHS cancer.

So, under guidance of Mr Surgeon, we are doing another ultrasound and some needle biopsies tomorrow afternoon, at the clinic that first found my cancer, and I have been listed for a second mastectomy - this time we hope without axillary clearance - on Thursday, in case either we find cancer cells, or in case we all agree just to even me up and get rid of the risk. At this stage my hell-of-a-guy, my mum and my girlfriend all agree wit me that it should just go. And the surgeon seems to think its a sensible option, given the sneaky nature of my cancer and the inconclusive ultrasound. I would really hate to get through chemo only to find I had another sack of cancer tumours on the other side that had just gone to sleep until the storm had passed.

It will mean chemo is delayed and may not start for up to 8 weeks from my original surgery (it's only 3 effective tomorrow and I have healed well enough, no seromas or infection, and for a second and less radical mastectomy I would have up to 5 weeks to heal, all going well).

Thanks again for all of your suggestions and support. I am so grateful for this site and for all of your wisdom, especially when I know that each of you are on your own challenging journey.

Bx

01-30-2007, 04:23 AM	#6
Belinda Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Posts: 144	What Mr Surgeon said about the unclear margin. Hi everyone - thanks for all of your replies. I saw the surgeon today and interrogated him thoroughly on a number of fronts. My surgeon has said that he actually "ran out" of breast tissue, and that he took all available tissue. He confirmed that there are probably some cancer cells remaining on the surface of my chest wall, but he expects that chemo (initially) and most particularly radiotherapy will deal with that. Not sure what to make of that. I am not sure that much can be done but hurry up chemo and radiation therapy. Any thoughts? Also, this am I went for an extra mammogram and ultrasound on my RHS, and the mammogram was clear (no surprises there - even when it was 4cm my main tumour didn't show) but the ultrasound was inconclusive - extensive shadowing and in two 'sore' spots, a ridge of thicker tissue but apparently normal, and two normal-looking nodes, but no obvious evidence of lesions - didn't rule our cancer and recommended further imaging due to the "occult" nature of my LHS cancer. So, under guidance of Mr Surgeon, we are doing another ultrasound and some needle biopsies tomorrow afternoon, at the clinic that first found my cancer, and I have been listed for a second mastectomy - this time we hope without axillary clearance - on Thursday, in case either we find cancer cells, or in case we all agree just to even me up and get rid of the risk. At this stage my hell-of-a-guy, my mum and my girlfriend all agree wit me that it should just go. And the surgeon seems to think its a sensible option, given the sneaky nature of my cancer and the inconclusive ultrasound. I would really hate to get through chemo only to find I had another sack of cancer tumours on the other side that had just gone to sleep until the storm had passed. It will mean chemo is delayed and may not start for up to 8 weeks from my original surgery (it's only 3 effective tomorrow and I have healed well enough, no seromas or infection, and for a second and less radical mastectomy I would have up to 5 weeks to heal, all going well). Thanks again for all of your suggestions and support. I am so grateful for this site and for all of your wisdom, especially when I know that each of you are on your own challenging journey. Bx