Hi all,
I finished neoadjuvant chemo on June 1st and was due to have a lumpectomy on July 6th. However, due to a large shadow on my MRI, I had some biopsies taken and they showed IDC, LCIS and DCIS throughout the breast so I now need mx.
My onc wants me to have this ASAP as it’s been 4 wks since end of chemo. This means mx no recon.
He said I can’t have expander implant as I will be having radiotherapy and this will damage it.
I’m seeing my surgeon tomorrow for an emergency meeting to plan.
To have immediate recon would mean potentially waiting a few weeks due to the waiting list - which could be dangerous.
will delayed recon make any difference to the final way it looks? Sounds so trivial, I know, but up until the end of last week I was expecting a lumpectomy so still trying to get my head around it all. I have large boobs and it’s going to be strange without one!
Xxx
Hi
had a bit of this whirlwind this week as my margins, after two ops, ate still not clear. Decided to go in for margins again but was considering mx and thus recon. This may still happen. I’ve watched the video and read the leaflets. All I can offer is my thoughts but personally, I want the cancer thing to be over. Done, sealed, no ‘oh we’ve just found…’ Secondly, radiotherapy with a recon is tricky and can really bugger up an implant so for that reason, I’d avoid. In my case, I’m hoping radiotherapy will zap these tidgy bits that might be left. Thirdly, you need time to consider what type of recon. From what you say, they want to get you under the knife asap and so a type of recon decision now may be rushed.
i think the whirl of thoughts, information, decisions, anxiety is not to be inderestimated. To cope, I’ve broken things down into steps. Step 1 was lumpectomy, step 2 was nodes, step 3 was oncotype test, step 4 is clear the effing margins. Further steps will include radiotherapy or may contain more surgery. I don’t know.
good luck and best wishes for whatever you decide.
Thanks so much flyingarcher.
I made the final decision today and am sticking with mx no recon on Thursday.
They also warned me that if the cancer comes back in a few months, the recon would be wasted so this way I can hopefully have a year clear before having it done. Apparently after 2 years, recurrence rates drop off significantly for my type of BC…
I guess I just decided that I’d kick myself super hard if it spread during the time I’d delayed so I could have an immediate recon done. Esp as all the docs have advised that I should have mx asap this week. So I’m booked for Thursday ?
Good luck with your next op and radio - I hope those damn margins clear for you!
Xxx