Time changes perspective about bad news

Colleens_Husband · 05-12-2008, 08:02 AM

Colleen was pretty upset when she first found out the surgeon didn't get clean margins for her lumpectomy. This meant that a second surgery was necessary and our lives would be put on hold for at least another six weeks.

Colleen had a spiculated tumor, which means the tumor is star shaped and had long narrow fingers. After 4 TAC infusions, all they could detect was a small round ball less than 1cm in size. The cancer in the margin was a very small 1 mm by 1.5 mm piece, which cannot normally be detected by ultrasound or mammography, or at least that is what I was told.

After getting over being upset, we realized that the surgeon could have taken a smaller lump out and completely missed a very small pocket of cancer that survived at the end of one of the fingers of the tumor. If the small pocket was allowed to remain, the results could be tragic.

Instead of looking at the dirty margin as a bad thing, we are now looking at it as something that very well could save Colleen's life.

Since the pocket was so small, I think Colleen is looking to do a re-excision, but she has until May 22nd to make up her mind.

It's funny how a little bit of time and reflection can change your outlook on things.

Lee

CindyE · 05-12-2008, 09:06 AM

What a wonderful way to look at it! How true your thinking is. Keep up that positive thinking and my thoughts and prayers will be with both of you.

Gerri · 05-12-2008, 07:19 PM

Lee,

Yes, time does put things into perspective. I know how disappointed Colleen must have been when she found out that she would have to have additional surgery. However, she is indeed fortunate that this was discovered and she has options. Once it is over, you and Colleen will be able to breathe easier knowing that nothing has been left behind for chance. Great news on how well that nasty chemo worked. Let us know what she decides.

All my best to you both,

mts · 05-13-2008, 05:38 AM

I can certainly understand her first reaction too... I had a 9mm tumor removed with clean margins. A month later when I had a breast MRI (should have done this FIRST!) they found two additional (yes 2) more tumors. One was 1.4cm and the other was 4mm just barely off the clean margin of where the 1st tumor was removed. Of course this finding upped my chemo to DD and proved that technology is there for a reason. I ended up with a re-excision.
In Colleens case; The lab person behind the microscope is as important as the team working on her...
I have always understood that 4mm is about as small as any technological device can pick-up. Anything smaller is left to radiation and chemo. Otherwise, the cancer that remains in the breast unaffected by rads/chemo could be the so-called recurrences... makes me wonder how many recurrences are actualy original tumors that were never caught !
I am really glad time provided more insight for Colleen...

Maria

Colleens_Husband · 05-21-2008, 07:46 AM

Today Colleen and I will meet the surgeon and Colleen has decided that she wants to do a re-excision. I hope this is the best decision.

She decided to ask the surgeon to switch gears and do a mastectomy if he runs into anything that looks suspicious and he suspects there won't be clean margins. I'm not sure if that is possible or practical but scheduling surgeries is so time consuming that she has a fear that the time between her last chemo in February and her next chemo, which is four weeks after the surgery is getting ridiculously long.

Colleen seems to be a real fighter about all of this but I am just getting worn down by it all. I want this to be over.

CindyE · 05-21-2008, 08:54 AM

I will be prayering for Colleen and you during this time. Take care and please keep us updated as you can.

Colleens_Husband · 06-08-2008, 05:44 PM

This Friday we got a double dose of good news.

My daughter's biopsy came back and she does not have stomach cancer. Yeah! The doctors are a bit perplexed and they don't know what is wrong with her, but cancer seems to be the scariest option.

Late Friday night Colleen's surgeon phoned our house and told us Colleen had clean margins. Yeah! So it's on to the next step. It's good to finally get some good news.

Thanks for your prayers and positive thoughts.

Lee

chrisy · 06-08-2008, 05:59 PM

Lee,
Bet that made your weekend! So glad to hear you got a double dose of good news - you were definitely due for that.

Sending hugs and spray cheese smiley faces your way.

CindyE · 06-08-2008, 07:13 PM

So good to hear the wonderful update from you. I will continue to pray for more good outcomes for Colleen.

ElaineM · 06-08-2008, 08:50 PM

Hi,
congratulations to Colleen on the clear margins.
I hope they can figure out your daughter's problem.

Jackie07 · 06-08-2008, 09:16 PM

So glad to hear the good news! Now you are ready for a 'Happy' Father's Day next weekend! Congratulations!