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Chelee · 02-17-2007, 12:43 AM

tousled1, I feel like they should check at least one node on me due to these 4 masses. They aren't sure 100% that its not cancer...so why not check? This breast is so enlarged..its just not normal. What on earth is causing all this pain in my breast and the fact thats its so much bigger?

Since I only have one arm left to use for labs...I am sure he doesn't want to have it swell up on me. But I really didn't think just one could cause that many problems? But he's the expert..not me. He did a *great* job on my other side and I had 16 removed. Has yours been fine since that one node was removed? (I want instant peace of mind...but I do want to avoid problems) I hate all these decisions.

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Mary Jo, Thanks for your reply. My surgeon left the decision up to me too just like yours did. What made it a little easier for you is they knew that area of calcifications was negative. When I ask my surgeon if he can tell me for sure its not cancer...he says he can't. So with my bc history, and all the different types of bc...it really is stressful as most can relate. Thats why I wanted to post this here and get an idea of what is generally done in a situation like this?

Thanks Kate & Mary Jo!

Chelee

02-17-2007, 12:43 AM	#6
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	tousled1, I feel like they should check at least one node on me due to these 4 masses. They aren't sure 100% that its not cancer...so why not check? This breast is so enlarged..its just not normal. What on earth is causing all this pain in my breast and the fact thats its so much bigger? Since I only have one arm left to use for labs...I am sure he doesn't want to have it swell up on me. But I really didn't think just one could cause that many problems? But he's the expert..not me. He did a great job on my other side and I had 16 removed. Has yours been fine since that one node was removed? (I want instant peace of mind...but I do want to avoid problems) I hate all these decisions. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Jo, Thanks for your reply. My surgeon left the decision up to me too just like yours did. What made it a little easier for you is they knew that area of calcifications was negative. When I ask my surgeon if he can tell me for sure its not cancer...he says he can't. So with my bc history, and all the different types of bc...it really is stressful as most can relate. Thats why I wanted to post this here and get an idea of what is generally done in a situation like this? Thanks Kate & Mary Jo! 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.