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Chelee · 09-18-2007, 04:38 PM

Joanne & Lexi, thanks for your replies. I just got off the phone after talking to my surgeon's right hand nurse. I expressed all these concerns...and WHEN we should biospy, or at least find out exactly what's caused these masses in chest and axilla...stressing to her my pain. And the fact I have put up with this over a year and half. She gave me so many excuses. The main one is since they are benign appearing its better to just *follow* them with scans and wait and see if there are changes. (I don't like the wait and seen plan...never have.) I'm in a HMO group and there is only ONE other surgeon I can see for this..and he is in the SAME breast center. I guess I'll have to see if I can get a 2nd opinion authorized at another center.

The nurse said my surgeon doesn't want to disturb the lymph nodes and cause me other problems by doing so when these masses are benign appearing. (I understand that...but it HURTS!) Pain tells the body something is wrong. I'm frustrated. In the back of my mind is always the concern that its cancer.

Becky...if your around...can you weigh in on this issue? I would appreciate it. Thoughts, opinions.

Chelee

09-18-2007, 04:38 PM	#4
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Joanne & Lexi, thanks for your replies. I just got off the phone after talking to my surgeon's right hand nurse. I expressed all these concerns...and WHEN we should biospy, or at least find out exactly what's caused these masses in chest and axilla...stressing to her my pain. And the fact I have put up with this over a year and half. She gave me so many excuses. The main one is since they are benign appearing its better to just follow them with scans and wait and see if there are changes. (I don't like the wait and seen plan...never have.) I'm in a HMO group and there is only ONE other surgeon I can see for this..and he is in the SAME breast center. I guess I'll have to see if I can get a 2nd opinion authorized at another center. The nurse said my surgeon doesn't want to disturb the lymph nodes and cause me other problems by doing so when these masses are benign appearing. (I understand that...but it HURTS!) Pain tells the body something is wrong. I'm frustrated. In the back of my mind is always the concern that its cancer. Becky...if your around...can you weigh in on this issue? I would appreciate it. Thoughts, opinions. 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.