What does this mean please?
I am booked for a mastectomy on 1st July with immediate reconstruction & a sentinal node biopsy.
I saw the surgeon today & got all my paperwork. When I have got home & read it, it said the above on the biopsy report. I understand the Intermediate DCIS, but dont know what focal possible microinvasion means, or the B3a.
Thanks for reading xx
Hi Cath
Pleasw feel free to cc all our helpliners who will be able to help you with your queries, lines are open 9-5 weekdays and 10-2 Saturdays on 0808 800 6000
BCC have written a publication allied ’ Understanding your pathology results’ which you can find via the following link, just cut and paste to read:
Tak care
Lucy
I have been for my vacuum biopsy this morning and have been told by the doctor that I have b3 atypical fibrocystic changes. I am 38 and absolutely terrified of what this means. I have an appointment to get my results on monday. It’s going to be another long weekend…
just to update, I spoke to my BCN and she said they found a small area of microinvasions & thats wht they are doing the SNB. I have it done in a week…its goign to be a long week.
I am scared of so many things…thay it will be in the lymph nodes, that I will not like the look of the implant, how I will feel emotionally about it all…it goes on & on.
I feel worse the closer it gets.
Hi cath4512
Hope all goes well with your op. I am having the same on the 5th, with SNB too. What recon have you decided on? Hate all this waiting around, just want it over with now. Trying to fill the days is hard. Have been signed off from work as think I would be a liability!
Take care x x
Hi starxgal
I am haing an immediate reconstruction wiyh strattice & implant. I dont have enough bodyfat for flap recon.What are you having?
I am still working as I am a fitness instructor & personal trainer & the majority is self employed so I need to work as long as I can. My last class I teach will be on Saturday & I have my op Monday.
Do you have DCIS? mine is a 6cm mass.
The waiting is awful isnt it?
hugs xx
Hi cath4512
I am having implants, with doc hoping to use my own tissue to rebuild as I want to be smaller in the cup but he will have strattice available for back up. Yes, I too have DCIS in both breasts, 10 x 4mm and 23 x 10mm in the left and 77 x 40mm in the right. I have been put in touch with a friend of a friend who had the same op last year, she is meeting me later this afternoon so will be good to speak to someone face to face about it all.
But heh, what a beautiful morning, so nice to wake up to some sunshine…lifts your spirit.
Mandy x x
Yeah its a gorgeous morning here as well.
I was thinking of mentioning a double MX tbh. That way I cant get it in my other side. I already have implants so in a few months he will need to change the implant on my other side so it matched with the MX side. My thinking is, if Im having an op on the other side anyway, why not remove the risk?
I dont even know if its possible tbh, but its a thought.
I wanted my own tissue using but he said I was too slight. I think it will feel more natural for you.
It will be good meeting someone who has been through it, I hope you feel better after talking to her. Let me know how you get on.
Have a lovely day xx
Had a really nice chat with Karen, she reassured me completely. Was able to describe how she had felt, and her recovery afterwards so please that we have met. We plan to meet again afterwards. She did the last ‘Moon Walk’ in London, and is doing ‘race for life’ in Leicester on Sunday. A lovely lady who looked fabulous.
Then I had a call from my GP to say that I have to stop taking my warfarin from Sunday and that by Tuesday he anticipates that the level will drop to a dangerous level which will mean me being admitted to have IV Heparin! So I had better get a move on and get my bag packed!
Mandy x x
Hi Mandy, glad your chat with Karen went well. Did she say how long she was before she was able to drive/clean shop etc ?
You will be going in the day after I have my op then. I am getting my stuff together on sunday. I have to go in at 7.30 Monday morning, I have the isotope stuff, for the SNB injected at 9.30 then wait for theatre I suppose.
This is such a surreal situation & I cant get my head round it. Monday is looming now & I am scared. Not of the operation, but of how I will feel about myself after it & also whether it has gone into the lymph nodes.
I have a lovely day planned with my daughter & my 2 gorgeous grandchildren. They are aged 1 & 2 & they always cheer me up.
Cath xx
Morning Cath!
Enjoy your day…I have two grandchildren too, 6 weeks and two and a half…something else we have in common. I too keep thinking about the lymph nodes and am praying that they are clear, cos prognosis is really good if they are not compromised. Fingers and toes crossed for us both. Time is revving up now that’s for sure. But I have had that 'nestintends ticket going on…sorted my wardrobe out yesterday, two big bags for charity ( a cancer one for sure!) and this morning have stripped off my suite covers and got them in the wash cos don’t expect I will be feeling like doing any of that stuff afterwards for a while.
karen didn’t drive until 8 weeks post op but she had the op where she had implants but also used her back muscles. She is having her nipple reconstruction next month, and has only waited so long due to work commitments.
How old are you? I am 55. Enjoy this sunshine today, and try not to worry cos it’s all out of our hands now. I read somewhere on this forum that we are now part of a club that we didn’t want to join, that’s pretty accurate heh?
Mandy x
* nesting instinct!! Damn predictive text!
It sure is a club we didnt want to join.
I have been nesting too lol. cushion covers washed, kitchen cupboards done, windows cleaned & like you wardroab clearout. I can feel a shopping trip coming on for when I feel better 
to restock.
My grandchildren are, Isaac 2 and a half, and Isobel just gone one. Its great having grandchildren isnt it? you get all the good bits with none of the stress.
I am 47 & am lucky (if you can say any of this is lucky lol) that they have started screening at 47 instead of 50 in my area. It was a routine mammogram that picked it up.
You are right, its out of our hands now & at least not long to wait.
Have a good day, stay busy.
Hugs Cath xx
Hi Cath
Just wanted to say that I will be thinking of you tomorrow morning as I wake. Hoping and praying that it all goes to plan and that you get good news re the lymph biopsies. Speak to you in a week or two, when we are both on the other side of all of this.
Take care of yourself and do everything that they say you should…sending positive vibes and a virtual ‘cyber’ hug!
Mandy x x x x
Hi Cath, I’m back! Arrived home from hospital this afternoon after 14 days, all is well but my experience was eventful!
How are you and did yours go ok?
Went for my preop on Tuesday 2nd which was fine but a couple of hours later, whilst my whole family were midway through housemoving my son, I received a call to say that I had to be admitted immediately due to low levels re my warfarin (that I had been told to stop after the previous Saturday). Luckily my case was pretty much packed, so in I went in to be placed on a 24hr heparin drip. Surgery then went ahead on Friday 5th, in for about 4.5 hours in total with two surgeons and their two registrars working either side. All went well, they were able to use my own tissue instead of strattice with the implants. Was euphoric next day, ok a bit sore, but I was buzzing and pressing that green button on the PSA!! C cup, brilliant.
On the Sunday I had told my family not to visit as I wanted to sleep and watch the tennis final. At lunchtime it began to go downhill, felt really unwell, and whilst being put on the commode my BP crashed 80/50 along with my HB showing I had a bleed somewhere. Was given two units of blood, docs being called back from their weekends, cardiologists getting involved as they were fearful of a clot on my heart valve. Anyway…ended up back in theatre Sunday evening and woke up at 1am in recovery. They had to remove the left implant, found the clot along with some dead tissue and so removed that which meant the implant was now too big for the space. Had an expander fitted with some silicon, so am now modelling the lopsided look. Further delay in leaving ( four drains came out pretty much as was expected) due to my warfarin levels being so slow to get back to normal. They wanted me to have an INR of at least 2, but I have increasing by only .1 a day, so today after blood test reading of 1.3 I pleaded to be allowed out, saying that I would attend my surgery every morning for my Fragmin injection and that my lovely sister would inject me at night. Otherwise it would mean at least another week in hospital.
So I am home, about to go and sleep in my lovely bed…no noise, strip lighting, bedpans, snoring, farting etc etc. But had to write to you first.
Really hope you are okay.
lots of love Mandy x x
Hi Mandy
Well you dont do things by halves do you? What a nightmare for you. So glad you are now home & hopefully you will be able to get a good nights sleep.
I am sporting the lopsided look as well. I went to theatre & when he opened my breast & removed all the tissue & nipple, he noticed that I had extremely strong pec muscles & did not need the strattice. So what ho did was just leave my original implant in for now & stitch me back up. He will replace both my implants later so they are symetrical. I have my left breat with implant & tissue & then my right with just implant at the moment.
However, I developed a seroma under my arm from my SNB which they drained last friday & also my right boob has now filled up with fluid & is bigger than my left one lol. I can feel the fluid moving around when I move & its quite uncomfortable.They wont drain thta yet as it can lead to infection & loss of implant. Hopefully my body will just reabsorb the fluid.
I also had an infection where he removed my nipple & was on penicillin for a week… The skin has broken down & is not healing properly. I will have that checked again tomorrow.
I am still feeling sore & cant do a lot of things yet. My BCN has said no cleaning, driving, ironing etc for 4 weeks & then to introduce it slowly due to my seroma & infection. Its doing my head in letting other people do things for me. It sounds great when you think you dont have to do anything, but in reality its awful.
Its never straightforward is it? Mind you, your story is a lot more complicated than mine, I bet you cant beleive what happened to you.
I get my results tomorrw & am getting nervous & hardly slept last night. I flip between it will all be ok & the worst case scenario lol.
When do you get your results?
Take care hunni,
love & hugs Cath xxx
My results tomorrow too Cath…here’s to good news for us both heh? Just had a gentle stroll to docs and chemist and back again, and then my little sis who works from home here in the village, washed cut and dried my hair which feels blissful! But that has shattered me and I am off for a lie down! Nothing ever is text book or straightforward is it? But our bodies are all different, and we have to just accept what will be. As long as we are good girlies and follow instructions to the letter, then it’s up to a greater power than us to what happens next…I wish a smooth, uncomplicated next stage for us both.
Sending a hug back lovey,
Mandy x
everything crossed for us both tomorrow. I go at 2pm, what time is your appointment?
I am still getting tierd if I do anything. I went to the supermarket with my daughter & was shattered when I got home.
I will speak to you tomorrow hopefully to celebrate our good news.
Love Cath xx
Hi Cath
Had my appt and told that there was no spread into lymph nodes, hurrah. But…it’s two steps forwards and one back for me at the moment! On checking wounds, left breast with the expander is looking great, but they will give it another week to heal before filling. Right breast however had a piece of blackened scabby area, about the size of 50p piece. Main surgeon was happy to leave this alone, have it dressed every two days and put me on antibiotics. My female plastics surgeon I could tell was not so happy with this and arranged for medical photographer to attend and snap away. It was left that I would attend clinic next week.
This morning, received phone call from Ms ****** to say that following the weekly plastics meeting my case was discussed at length and it was decided that because I am on Warfarin I should not be treated any differently from someone not on it. Therefore I have to return tomorrow to have this area removed and then to have skin graft from my thigh! They will put me first on list and as long as no complications I hope to be home in the evening.
Now then, what was the news for you matey?
love M x
Hi Mandy, my lymph nodes are clear too PHEW. What a nightmare for you, sounds like they are sorting it though.
I am also having trouble healing. I have exactly what you decribe…how wierd is that? A black scabbed area above the horizontal scar on my breast, also size of a 50p piece… The surgeon seems to think it will be ok & that he will be able to do my reconstruction in time for my wedding in November. I am worried though. If it doesnt heal he cant do the recon in time. I dont know whether to postpone the wedding.
I cant go as I am now as Im lopsided. If it was a normal holiday I wouldnt be bothered, but its my wedding & honeymoon in Jamaica & is costing a fortune. I want to feel good about how I look. I really dont know what to do.
I have been really upset today. Everyone thinks I should be over the moon, which I am in one way, but on the other hand now I know Im all clear, I can deal with the fact that I have lost my breast, nipple & feeling. The last few weeks have been awful as you know & its all hitting me.
We are now left with a deformed body, for the time being at least & we have to deal with that. I think this on top of maybe having to move the wedding has really got to me. I feel deflated & people dont understand why.
I hope you feel ok hun & thta all goes ok tomorrow. I will be thinking of you. Please let me know how you go on.
Love Cath xx