Feels wierd posting in the recovering from treatment section, as I’ve been posting in going through treatment for so long!
I had my meeting with the oncologist yesterday, for what I thought was going to be a “we’ve got it all out - here’s a prescription for tamoxifen” meeting - however - I was blown away by what felt like a totally new diagnosis. After having gone through a mastectomy and DIEP recon (three weeks post surgery), I’m now informed that the tumour was vascular invasive! He explained how he cannot guarantee that cells haven’t gone into my blood stream!!!
I feel like I have been newly diagnosed - prior to this, I was told that they had removed the whole tumour - great news!!! Then this. There was talk of the possibility of chemo (!!!), but they decided that it would be too harsh for the benefits that I would gain.
So Tamoxifen has been prescribed - but with only a 5% benefit - is it worth it??? Is it worth all of the potential side effects for just 5% protection.
I’m now left as fearful as I was before I had my surgery - I don’t feel I can ever move on. Is there anyone else that is in a similar position? What did you do?
Just wanted to let you know that there is an old thread on here from May 2012 with regard to Vascular Invasion. You will find it under appointments and waiting for test results.
Hi magical moon
At the moment I really wish the onc hadn’t told me. My anxiety levels have reached sky high. I feel worse than when I was first diagnosed. At least then I felt that the treatment offered some hope. Now I feel like I’ve lost all hope.
I feel like I am a sitting time bomb. They didn’t feel the need for chemo but felt that tamoxifen is the best treatment. I am so reluctant to take it if it only gives me an extra 5% survival.
I left a message for the bc nurse to call me about this,perhaps she can help me make sense of it.
How am I ever going to get my life back on track with this hanging over my head? I thought it would be a case of if they had a clear margin it would be job done. Bearing in mind it was grade 1 so the thinking was that I had caught it early. Never has this vascular invasive thing been mentioned as even being a possibility.
I can understand your panic and fear and really think you should talk to your BC nurse for advice. Sometimes this info is given out without the onc realissing just how it subsequently worries you. The fact they aren’t pushing chemo must be a very positive sign.