Recently under went a 2 nd lumpectomy, on the 24 th of Feburary, 2014, the 1st being on the 5th of Feb. I have Er+Pr+ Her2- phase 2, involved the removal of 3/4 sentinodes. Pathology report from the 1 st operation showed unclear margins, leading to the 2 nd op. Just yesterday my surgeon called to tell me “good news and bad news”. Pathology report from 2 nd op. showed no carcinoma cells. Yea right? Then the bad news…the margins had been met in the 1 st op.! I really hadn’t needed a second operation! Has anyone else had this experience?
I had my first lumpectomy on 28th January, 14 ; received my results on 13th February, showing that I had cancerous cells in the margins. The tumour was a grade 3 (aggressive) cancer. Had second surgery to remove margins on 3rd March. I found the second surgery more difficult to get over in terms of feeling wiped-out by the anaesthetic (?) or, possibly because I was given anti-biotic (by injection)…whatever, I was not firing on all cylinders until yesterday (ie 5 days following surgery).
I am puzzled that you had further surgery and then discover that it was unnecessary - surely the results of the first surgery showed unclear margins - therefore warrenting further op.? Forgive me if I am being naive - it;s all very confusing to me! I do know that I am bothered that - after the second op - my breast is significantly smaller than the other - and that is before the swelling goes down! Whilst I was in post-op one of the nurses came in and said to me “They have taken quite a lot of flesh, and it will leave a bit dent in your breast, but it could be improved - but not on the NHS …”
Glad for you that the margins were clear though!!! Good news!
I had a wide local excision with clear margins but a second tumour, then had another lumpectomy where yet another was found on top. Scans could only see the biggest at the bottom, because of this they didn’t know if they had got it all so had mastectomy to be sure . They then test all the remaining tissue taken and confirmed there was no more cancer in this, so like you I didn’t need this final op. However there was no way they could have known, if would imagine it would be something like this for you too.