I was diagnosed on Friday with IDC 18mmx15mm (C5) in R Breast and 9mmx5mm nodule indeterminate in LBreast. This was confirmed with Ultrasound,Mammogram,Echogram and Suction needle biopsy. Fine Needle with pump syringe on end to get several samples. The samples were examined and confirmed IDC (C5) in RB and unsure (C3) on LB. There is no obvious lymph node involvement. I am 75, widowed and living in Italy. My nearest hospital in 1 hour away and the nearest centre of excellence is 5 hours car or train. The team at the local hospital say sentinal node bippsy, Quadrantectomy, intrasurgical radiation/ breast reconstruction for RB with some sort of guided removal of the small node in the LB. BUT they couldnt fit me in for 30 days. Yesterday I went to the hospital 5 hours away and they said that because Ihad ot had a core biopsy they could not do intrasurgical radiation But they can book me in on Monday (im a private patient)! I dont understand why one hospital can do it without and the other will only do it with? I really feel that the standard radiation treatment of 5-6 weeks 5 days a week would be more than I can manage and I am really worried about seeding during the wait period for the wound to heal prior to the start of post surgical radiation treatment. Does anyone understand why one will and one wont? And is there any real need to have a core biopsy before surgery. I thought that the best thing, given that all the signs are early stage, is get it out-clean the area and think about post operative hormone/chemo etc after the results are back from the tumour analysis. I dont know what to do for the best. Any advice please?
Hi geogal,
Welcome to the forum, but sorry to hear you’re going through this.
It’s difficult to comment on what happens elsewhere, however, if intra surgical radiation is intra-operative radiotherapy here, then this treatment is relatively new in the U.K. & from what’s reported on the forum, this is just being rolled out. Most of us have a shorter course of radiotherapy over 3 weeks.
I think most of us worry about it spreading whilst waiting for treatment, but there’s no evidence waiting a few weeks makes any difference.
It might also be an idea to post on the ‘ask our nurses’ board about the investigations you’ve had & the proposed treatment.
Do come & chat whenever you need to, there’s loads of support from those of us where you are now, as well
as those of us out the other side.
Take care
ann x
Hi Geogal, you really have had the works in biopsies havent you. I cant comment on your treatment or how they deal with things in Italy but i am sending you a big hug and hoping you get answers soon xx