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Chelee · 02-16-2007, 04:39 PM

What would be the standard protocol for having a prophylactic mastectomy taking into account all my recent tests results and bc history?

As you know I am her2/neu, 3+++, er & pr positive, 5 positive nodes, 9 of 9 on Richarson scale, and could NOT have radiation. My recent mammo showed two small masses in the breast & in axilla. My surgeon says they are consistent with lymph nodes & from the mammo, US, and MRI doesn't think its cancer but he said he *can't* say for sure its not. But doesn't look like it. (Althogh I've had ALOT of pain in this breast & axilla for 4 months)So I asked to have this breast removed. I just called and asked his nurse if this will be a MRM like my other one? She said no...just a simple mastectomy.

I asked since I have those 4 masses will I be having that nuculer testing that morning and a SNB to check for cancer? She said "No". She said the breast will be removed and when the path dept checks it out... IF it is found to have cancer...they would go back in another time. ARGH! Wouldn't it be easier to check at least one node during surgery under my circumstances? Or is it better not to, so that you don't distrub the lymph nodes?

Chelee

02-16-2007, 04:39 PM	#1
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Question about "Simple Mastectomy? What would be the standard protocol for having a prophylactic mastectomy taking into account all my recent tests results and bc history? As you know I am her2/neu, 3+++, er & pr positive, 5 positive nodes, 9 of 9 on Richarson scale, and could NOT have radiation. My recent mammo showed two small masses in the breast & in axilla. My surgeon says they are consistent with lymph nodes & from the mammo, US, and MRI doesn't think its cancer but he said he can't say for sure its not. But doesn't look like it. (Althogh I've had ALOT of pain in this breast & axilla for 4 months)So I asked to have this breast removed. I just called and asked his nurse if this will be a MRM like my other one? She said no...just a simple mastectomy. I asked since I have those 4 masses will I be having that nuculer testing that morning and a SNB to check for cancer? She said "No". She said the breast will be removed and when the path dept checks it out... IF it is found to have cancer...they would go back in another time. ARGH! Wouldn't it be easier to check at least one node during surgery under my circumstances? Or is it better not to, so that you don't distrub the lymph nodes? Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.