How often does post surgery dx differ from initial dx?

i have my mx on wed and i am totally terrified about the results. how often/ much did the diagnosis given to you based on scans/ biopsy differ from that following you surgery? thanks

Hi Flower,
So sorry you are having such an anxious time just now… the waiting is horrid.

If it’s any help, my surgery basically confirmed the diagnosis I’d been given at biopsy, but added the definitive position on grade (which I hadn’t been told before) and node status (I’d had one enlarged node at scan, at surgery what they termed ‘pre-cancer’ was found in three nodes as well as scar tissue in the one that has been enlarged).

As I’m sure you know, it’s only after the surgery they can do the full pathology. It’s not likely to be significantly different from what you already know, and sometimes it is better than people fear.

Hope all goes well for you and that the ‘next steps’ see you on the path to health once more. Take care.

thanks. I have been a complete mess since i went to breast clinic on 20/1 - “for piece of mind”!
it all unravelled there and then when they pretty much told me it was bc. Got formal dx on 27/2 ILC with alot of “abnormal tissue” and two tumors one 15mm and one 17mm. "no evidence " not in nodes as yet. have mx on wed. had a meltdown yesterday again- mind running riot and ended up in floods of tears for about 5hours. I am really not coping at all. The strength of some of the women on this site is inspirational x. I am only 37 as well- so noone in my circle of friends/ family/ work has experiece of this at this age so feel so isolated x

Hi Flower, good luck on Wed. I had ILC & MRI showed up larger area. My post mx results matched pre mx results and just confirmed how much was ILC & said that rest was DCIS.

Hi Flower

Firstly good luck tomorrow. As easy as it is to say try not to worry too much. I had a WLE and lymph biopsy together with a reduction so they could take as much as possible on 16 Jan and now 5 weeks later feel good. The worst part Ifound was the drain not the scaring or the operation. I too had two lumps but luckily one was not cancerous hence the WLE as at times pre biopsy it looked like it could be a mx. Like Revcat said it’s the actual operation that gives a full picture as my original lump of 29mm became 35mm after surgery.

It’s a scary time but a do able task. The professionals are great and this site keeps you sane, whether it is to rant, get advice or share experiences.

Thinking of you tomorrow keep us posted

Carolyn

Thinking of you for tomorrow - hope it goes as well as it can

BIG HUG

Flower, big hug from me too. I will also be thinking of you tomorrow and sending you love and healing through the airwaves!! Life throws up some terrible things at us, but you’ll get through it. You are probably much much stronger than you give yourself credit for. This time tomorrow night your op will be all over and you’ll be sitting up having a cuppa and talking to lots of other women with similar stories and that will give you strength too.
Much love.
Mxxx

thanks so much for your words and good wishes. they have really helped. just saw Kylie on the BRits and 5 yrs ago she had BC and chemo and is now looking fab!

Hi Flower
Same from me. I have ILC, pre surgery they thought I had one/maybe two on right side, and one on left. After surgery, one was slightly bigger and other was slightly smaller. The ‘maybe’ turned out not to be, but they also they also another tiny 3mm one near the second, but still had good margins, and as I had clear nodes too I stuck with the WLE’s even though they still recommended bilat MX. I’ve just had my one year check and all is fine.

And keep thinking about Kylie - I had a friend at work who’d had BC 5 years before, quite serious, lots of infected nodes, and she’s absolutely fine so I just kept thinking ‘LX, Kylie’ like a bit of a mantra really.

Not in nodes is a really good thing. I also had a lot of abnormal tissue but this wasn’t really found until after the WLE surgery. You’re a good bit younger than me, so will probably have chemo, but even with my symptoms, which sound very like yours, I wasn’t recommended chemo. So if you get it it will probably just because they’re being cautious because of your age.

Hope the op goes well - it is really tough going through this, especially at your age, but you will come out the other end. Let us know it goes.

S
X

Hi Flower,

Nice to communicate with you again. As you know I was in similar situation to you. Told pre op I had Invasive lobulat BC, but post op told I had Invasive lobular, Invasive Tubular, DCIS and LCIS; but it didn’t really change any of the management. Basically as invasive lobular > 2cm adviced to have chemo, I was Stage 2 Grade 2. Now half way through chemo and definitely surviving, even taled with onc tonight about eventually returning to work. PM again if need or phone.

Fiona xx

hi everyone. got out of hospital today after mx. the care was fantastic. the scar is so neat too. i looked in the mirror the next day after surgery and was so surprised with how neat it looked. pain has been minimal too. the doctors and nurses were first class. results in a week or so. thanks for all your support x

Hi Flower,

Glad the first part has been OK, I’m sure you will find the rest of it not as bad as you thought either.

Take care, don’t over do it- as I do !!

Fiona xx