My has been diagnosied with 2.3cm lump, second bio came through a positive, the first was negative but consultant not happy with the result hence the second. Ultra sound shows no spread to under arm, the consultant tells me that he can only the see calcification in the lump, but as my wife is 37 she needs a MRI scan before surgery. We did CT scan and bone scan are both clear and there is no sign of any spread. I asked him about the staging if it was 2 or 3, he said it may even be stage 0 and he will only be able to tell once he does the op and takes samples and sends them off to the lab, I guess all of this is good news and points to early stages and no spread. He currently intends to remove the lump and the surrounding area and not the whole breast and start chemo, all this subject to the MRI scan, now waiting for the MRI scan to be setup and surgery arranged.
Hi - it sounds as thought it has been caught early so prognosis is good. Hope all goes well.
The fact that there is no spread is good. My lump showed as 2.2 cm on ultrasound but after removal it was measured at 16mm so I don’t know if how accurate the measurements are on scans etc.
Good luck with the MRI and the surgery. Let us know how she is getting on.
Attaria,
It really sounds like your wife’s bc has been caught very early. I was diagnosed Dec '07 at age 42 with a grade 3, 3.5cm triple negative tumour. I had neo-adjuvant treatment (chemo first followed by surgery). When I was first diagnosed and told by my consultant that they would be carrying out a number of scans, I was absolutely terried and convinced myself that they must only be doing this because they think the cancer has spread. I now know that they usually carry out a lot of scans on younger women because we are more likely to have a grade 3 tumour and they want to err on the side of caution and although I was terrified at the time, I am now so appreciative that they were so thorough. Also, when they carried out the ultrasound when I was first dx, I was told that my underarms looked clear and it looked like the lymph nodes were unaffected. I knew that they had to wait until surgery to be 100% sure - as the lab checks for micro cells which will not show up on an ultrasound, but I had surgery three weeks ago and was given the good news that my nodes are indeed clear. Best wishes to you and your wife on this journey - she is very lucky to have such a supportive husband. Jacqui
Hi
Beware USS are not accurate when it comes to predicting tumour sizes and I speak from bitter experience. I was told that two tumours measured about 5 or 6 cm each and they turned out to be 1 inch and 1 cm.
At least they haven’t been reliant on mammorgrams - even less accurate!
D
Well MRI tomorrow morning and op planned provisionally for Friday, subject to MRI scan. The Mamo and Ultra sound have shown the effected area as being only the lump so not sure what to expect. Also the lump measured 2.5 cm on Ultra, but I saw the notes yesterday and the mamo area showing irregular patterns was actually 1.5cm by 1.5cm. So in short not sure if the MRI will confirm mamo findings (which is good) or not. Not sure if anyone has had the same experience. If the effected area is the lump area then the lump will be removed with a clearance plus testing vis dye on under arm nodes and chemo plus (6 to 8 sessions) radiology to follow, plus hormone treatment if relevant.
With luck your wife may be like me and not need chemo - I had 16mm grade 1 tumour removed, one intermammory gland affected and removed but 7/7 lymph nodes tested clear. I had 29 rads and am on tamoxifen for 5 years.
Had a minor scare when doctor decided to order bone scan after I commented that I had a bit of a sore back … thankfully I was told yesterday that the scan results show me as normal.
hope the surgery goes well and your wife is soon on the mend
Attaria,
I hope your wife’s MRI scan goes well tomorrow and that the tumour turns out to be smaller than first thought. My fingers are crossed for you both that the surgery also goes well and that the nodes are all clear - here’s hoping that you get the good news that your wife will not have to undergo chemo. Best wishes to you both, Jacqui
PS: Please let us know how your wife gets on - I’ll be thinking of her.
Attaria,
Sorry that you are on this site.
My tumour was very small 7mm and I was very lucky to have it picked up as I did. I had a wide local excision and node biopsy with the dye during the op. All nodes clear and I’ve just started radiotherapy and tamoxifen for 5 years.
I hope that your wife dosen’t have to undergo chemo. I think the surgeon doesn’t rule out anything until the op is completed and all the results are in that’s why you are left wondering and in a state of limbo for a while. It’s a horrible time waiting.
Good luck to you and your wife tomorrow and Friday.
Attaria
Please pass on my good wishes to your wife and assure her that your beast care team will do everything to remove the tumour and get her to good health as soon as they can. Stay positive and take each consultation as it comes. Every cancer is different. ASk as many questions as you need to. Keep in touch.
Love to you both
Bridie
Well back from the MRI this morning. The good news is that is seems to be one lump, the bad news is that its 3.5cm as to the 2.5cm originally seen. The radiologist specialist mentioned that as it is borderline re size they may want to do chemo first and shrink the lump and then operate. However all be discussed at their medical panel on Monday night, surgeon, specialist etc. I guess three things could happen, operate as is, remove whole breast , or do chemo and then operate.
Thank you Bridie, speak Monday night.
Hi Attaria,
Itis so bad waiting isn’t it. The not knowing is dreadful. Please try not to anticipate anything, although it’s difficult, I know. At least they are all confering on this and your wife will get the best care I’m sure.
Thinking of you and your wife, please tell her we’re all thinking of her.
Let us know how things go.
Well met the consultant this morning and the MRI was clear other than a 3.4cm lump. The plan is to operate Friday pm remove the lump and do some sentinel lymph node testing as a precautionary measure to ensure the arm pit lymph nodes are clear. Things seem to be improving and my Mrs was much happier today.
Glad to hear that the MRI came back clear - other than the lump of course. Good luck for the surgery on Friday and fingers crossed that the lymph nodes are indeed clear. Let us know how your wife is getting on.
Attaria,
Good news. Hope all goes well on Friday and let us know how you get on.
Toffee
Pleased to hear that your wife will be starting treatment soon - the waiting is the worst bit and once started on treatment everything looks more positive. Best wishes for Friday I’ll be thinking of you. (I had my lumpectomy last Thursday and apart from swelling and tiredness am feeling absolutely fine.)
Attaria,
I’m delighted to hear that the MRI scan was clear and that your wife is feeling a bit more optimistic. Best wishes for the operation on Friday - my fingers are crossed that the nodes are clear and that your wife has a speedy recovery. Things will get better Attaria - it is initially extremely frightening, but as your wife gets further along with her treatment, things will improve. Please hang on in there and let us know how you are both getting on. All the best, Jacqui
good luck both for friday. please let us know how it goes
Bridie
Well into surgery on Friday night out late that night, lump removed with sentinel testing of the lymph nodes. In over the weekend and at home this morning. Just waiting on the test results (i) margin of clearance (ii) lymph nodes, should take a week.
keeping everything croosed for good results, please keep us up to date.
love to you both
bridie