Margin Error

Ask our Nurses your questions
1

Following my 2nd excision for lobular cancer (I’m 62 and told initially stage 1 grade 2 - no lymph node involvement or lymphovascular involvement), I was advised to have an oncotype dx test carried out - which I did. .

Once the result was received, I had my oncologist appointment and radiographer appointment to inform me of next steps. The score was 14 so no chemotherapy was required. I was advised I would receive 5 radiotherapy sessions and continue with Letrozole. I felt relieved and prepared for the radiotherapy sessions.

However, 2 weeks before the sessions were to begin, I received a telephone call from the radiographer who apologised and said that at mdt meeting they had misread the pathology report regarding clear margins. They read it as 1mm - but it was actually 0.1mm! This affected the choice of treatment to now include 5 booster sessions of radiotherapy. I was taken aback and just wanted to get off the phone to process what I’d heard.

My radiotherapy began last week and I have 6 sessions left. Today I am feeling quite low and frightened that, what started as a ‘very positive prognosis’ may not be, due to the close margins. Looking for reassurance that it’s not as bad as I’m imagining it to be.

Thanks

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Hi @diamondhusband

Just wanted to pop on here and say I’ve read your post and the nurses will hopefully answer your question on Monday.

I’m sorry to hear you are feeling down, it’s not surprising when they have come back and changed the results of the margin. If you want to talk to somebody before the nurses come back on Monday at 9am. MacMillan have a helpline that is open 7 days a week between 8am and 8pm 0808 800 0000.

If it was me I would also ring my breast care nurse on Monday to talk it through as they have all the information about you.

Take care.
:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Hello diamondhusband

Thank you for posting

Being diagnosed with lobular breast cancer and undergoing cancer treatment such as surgery and radiotherapy can be an emotional time and as @naughty_boob says, it is not surprising you are feeling low and frightened after being told your margin results had changed.

Even though your margins have changed slightly, the rest of your diagnosis remains the same. A change in treatment plan can feel alarming, but it is not uncommon to have boost sessions of radiotherapy as part of breast cancer treatment. The boost is given as an extra precaution to prevent the breast cancer coming back.

It is important that you speak to your breast care nurse or treatment team about how you are feeling. They will be able to reassure you and explain the reason for the change in treatment plan.

It can sometimes be helpful to talk to someone who has had a similar experience. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. You can be in touch with your volunteer by phone or email and they can share their personal experiences to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen to how you are feeling.

You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0800 138 6551 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org, so they can then match you to your volunteer.

You may also want to call our helpline if you would like to talk this through further or discuss other questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.

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Best wishes

Angela

Breast Care Nurse

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