Hi, I’m 12 days post-lumpectomy (Grade 1, tubular) and they also took out the sentinel gland and a few other nodes, though my surgeon told me after the operation that it was all clear - even congratulating me.
I’m due to have six weeks of radiotherapy, the start date of which I’ll find out this Thursday when I go back for the post-op meeting with the surgeon.
BUT - I’ve recently read a couple of articles by women who were told pre-op that they’d only (yes, I know) have to have radiotherapy, but even though the lymph nodes taken out during surgery were clear, they were still recommended chemotherapy.
So over the last few days I’ve been getting more and more worried that I could turn up for my appointment on Thursday to be told that, despite clear lymph nodes, despite a G1 tubular tumour, that I could still have to have chemotherapy after all.
My question is, am I worrying about nothing, or has anyone else had that experience?
Thanks!
FC
Hi FireCracker
I had a mastecomy in October and my breast surgeon advised me that I was ok the lymph nodes were clear. I then saw the oncologist who advised that as one of the tumours was 2cm (borderline) it was suggested that I have chemo. I am seeing the oncologist on the 12th so I will be asking more questions as to why I have to have it as the breast surgeon advised me the lymph nodes were clear. It all gets confusing when dealing with different people. I am worried they may want me to have radiotherapy after the chemo!
I got an infection when I had the reconstruction and had to have a skin graft this is why my appointment is not until january.
Hope everything goes well with your treatment
Summer
Hi there
I was diagnosed at the beginning of March last year and was told all along once they knew nodes were clear I would need just rads and Tamoxifen, I had to have two lumpectomies as they did not get clear margins first time. I went back expecting to be told at worst the margins were not clear and I would need more surgery. I arrived and saw tbe consultant who told me it was now clear. I was just about to jump up and down cheering when I was told I was Her2 positive and that I needed chemo and herceptin. This was a terrible shock but I believe I am not the norm and most of the times they dont change treatment plan.
Good luck, I have my Herceptin tomorrow, a mammogram and also my appointment with the rads consultant.
Summer, I was the shame in that it was the breast surgeon who said no chemo. I learnt further down the line the breast surgeons are the experts on surgery, but the oncs are the experts in chemo as thats there speciality. I would always take notice of the person who is the expert in that part of the treatment. Hence once the oncs said chemo and herceptin it was a no brainer. Good luck.
Certainly agree with stargazelily on this one, but remember that you are an individual and that you will be given the correct treatment for you, so don’t worry about what anybody else’s treatment is.
Your breast cancer was individual to you and so will your treatment be.
Good luck and keep smiling
Mazzalou xx
Hi firecracker
With a small grade 1 tubular cancer having Chemo would out weight the benefits of not having it unless you had positive nodes or were young and needed herceptin…
If you have had all your path results back then your treatment plan is unlikely to change however if your still waiting on results until they know for certain they cannot be 100% that your treatment plan will remain the same.
However tubular cancer is an extremely slow growing cancer and rarely spreads beyond the breast so I would think it was probably pretty certain that your treatment would not involve Chemo.
Lulu x
Thank you very, very much, everybody - I definitely feel more confident now!
And Stargazerlily, how were all your appointments today?
Large hugs all round,
FC