HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - thought provoking article aimed at breast surgeons

Mgarr · 06-14-2006, 08:25 AM

Lani,

I have a tough time with all the medical articles so I may be off base here but this was my experience.

I had partial mast. & sentinel node procedure. The node was dissected in the OR & said to be clear (after path there was a 4mm met) so 10 days later I was having an axillary node dissection because of the "national standard for care" anyway, my surgeon indicated that roughly 97% of the time with micro met the patient will be clear and he was beginning a collection of data to indicate whether the standard for full node dissection should be changed.

I also had 2 fine needle biopsies & 1 core biopsy before surgery. Being fearful & anxious at the time, if I did it all again I would not have had the core biopsy. -Thinking on what Al believes - I questioned my surgeon about activation of the disease (not realizing the growth factor) and he indicated that yes, he does believe that can & does happen. So I guess the question is what about core biopsies? My lump at initial diagnosis was 2cm my lumpectomy turned into partial mast by the time it was taken out it was 3.5cm.

Mary

06-14-2006, 08:25 AM	#3
Mgarr Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 230	Lani, I have a tough time with all the medical articles so I may be off base here but this was my experience. I had partial mast. & sentinel node procedure. The node was dissected in the OR & said to be clear (after path there was a 4mm met) so 10 days later I was having an axillary node dissection because of the "national standard for care" anyway, my surgeon indicated that roughly 97% of the time with micro met the patient will be clear and he was beginning a collection of data to indicate whether the standard for full node dissection should be changed. I also had 2 fine needle biopsies & 1 core biopsy before surgery. Being fearful & anxious at the time, if I did it all again I would not have had the core biopsy. -Thinking on what Al believes - I questioned my surgeon about activation of the disease (not realizing the growth factor) and he indicated that yes, he does believe that can & does happen. So I guess the question is what about core biopsies? My lump at initial diagnosis was 2cm my lumpectomy turned into partial mast by the time it was taken out it was 3.5cm. Mary