Hi all, I recently received my first clinic letter from the oncologist (due to start EC-T on Tuesday). I had a right side SMX in June with implant reconstruction and lymph node removal. I was advised that chemotherapy was recommended due to the lymph node involvement and my age. I asked my surgeon if there were clear margins and he said yes, my oncologist said it was all taken out. However, on the clinic letter it says:
Anterior margin 0.6mm, deep margin 0mm, lateral 0.8mm. My tumour was only 41mm and my breast is bigger than that.
I’m so confused about how that could be clear margins and presumably because it was a mastectomy there is no more tissue to take out - but does that mean I had positive margins and that is why I’m having chemotherapy? After chemo I’m having 15 sessions of radiotherapy and then hormone treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitor so I’m having a fair bit of preventative treatment, but I’m really worried that I wasn’t told something. Has anyone else had these margins with SMX? Thank you x
Hi @sunshine-smile I can understand this is a bit concerning having been told the margins are clear. I could assume the clinic letter was for healthcare professionals rather than the patient. Some hospitals address letters to patients and are less technical others address them to GP/ healthcare and we are just cc’d.
If it was me I would give my breast care nurse a call to discuss this, they will have access to all the information on your case/treatment.
You could also call the BCN nurses on 0808 8006000 from 9 on Tuesday ( as it’s bank holiday) but they won’t have all the information but you can recall what the letter says.
If you are starting chemo in September you may want to join the monthly thread so you can support and be supported by others having chemo at the same time as you. I found the support invaluable. Here’s the link for Sept 2025
Thank you @naughty_boob I think I will contact my BCN to try and find out more details. The letter is addressed to me and the GP is cc’d. It’s just so unnerving as every time I get a clinic letter it has something on it that I wasn’t told and it sends my anxiety spiralling.
Thank you for the information about the chemo monthly threads, I will just about get into the August thread so have joined that one.