My first procedure was done under local anaesthetic and continual radiological guidance ( vacuum assisted excision ) as part of a medical trial called the small trial. It was quite obvious to me after a while that it wasn’t going well - as a Nurse I could tell by the manner of the staff . When I asked the Radiologist said that they thought they had lost the lump - it had pinged out of their grasp and that the marker clip got lost as I have what she politely described as loose breasts. An Isogel tag was inserted at the site where the Radiologist suspected the tumour had gone as a guide . They removed 40 grams of tissue instead of the expected 8 to 10 grams - 40 slices in total.I’m a big woman and tall but have small breasts for my size - B/C cup.
My results showed that 8 samples were positive for cancer and as my tumour was very small it was suggested that they might have got it all though I doubted it. I was told I would need to wait 4 weeks for the haematoma to clear before they would be able to properly visualise everything on mammogram . After having the mammogram the results were not clear cut - I was anxiously waiting feeling like the world had gone mad as I knew they hadn’t got it . My Radiologist was with me but the second Radiologist thought it was gone and my films were sent to the University that were running the trial - their Radiologist confirmed incomplete excision. I was then brought in for lumpectomy and SNB under general anaesthetic 2 and 1/2 weeks after that - this was completely successful with another 6 mm tumour removed with good margins and clear SNB but there was still evidence of haematoma from the initial procedure when I had my radio frequency tag fitted a few days before - the same Radiologist did that so she knew exactly where my tumour was without needing to fully visualise it . I’m happy with the shape of my breast and my scars are barely noticeable .
I don’t know if an MRI would pick up DCIS if it’s hiding in haematoma at present or if it would just pick up the haematoma . I doubt that they would be working blind as such as they have obviously seen where your DCIS is - it’s unusual I think for them not to have got any of it first time around but it’s quite common to find DCIS that wasn’t initially diagnosed or more extensive DCIS than previously thought when they actually get in to operate . I’m sorry that you’ve lost so much healthy tissue - it’s easy to lose trust in your team and it can be hard to get it back. When everything is finally sorted if you are unhappy with the shape of your breast then there might be an option to have a cosmetic procedure .
I had some lingering questions about my first procedure and much later my BCN arranged a meeting with the initial Radiologist for me which did give me closure. For a while I had felt angry and bitter as I felt that they shouldn’t have tried to get me into the trial in the first place - I was the first person on it in my hospital the pathway hadn’t been worked out properly communication was awful ( though I now have a good relationship with my Research Nurse who was working his socks off to get everything up and running ) but after the first failed procedure I felt a bit like a discarded guinea pig.
I would suggest getting in touch with your BCN - write all your questions down and ask them . Another option would be to write to your Surgeon via his secretary - the hospital website or switchboard should be able to tell you who to call. If you would prefer not to do that in the first instance then maybe a call to the Nurses on the helpline would be of benefit - they might be able to answer some of your questions 0808 800 6000 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. Take care xx