I will finally be getting the results of my WLE and SNB on Thursday afternoon. I cannot wait to know the outcome and at the same time I also dread it. I’m very fearful of terrible news and hate the thought of more uncertainty/surgery/tests. Is all the important info usually available by the meeting following surgery? Is this when we start develop a treatment plan? Not sure what to expect so just trying to brace myself for the next bit. Have found all the hurdles to get to this point so far, so hard. Everyone says the waiting is the worst bit but knowing is pretty dreadful too!
In your experience what are the key things I need to ask my surgeon -assuming he won’t just tell me all I need to know anyhow?! I don’t want to leave the appointment kicking myself for not asking an important question!
I’m sorry I think I should know what these initials stand for having probably been through that bit already! Is this when you get the results of the biopsy and find out if you have a tumour or not and if it’s spread to the nodes?
Your consultant will (hopefully) tell you they got clear margins from the WLE which means there was non cancerous tissue around the lump they removed and that there was no cancer found in the nodes removedin SNB
Im sure your consultant will be much better than mine and give you all the info that you need but i did have to ask about clear margins. Also mine gave me wrong info about treatment. The ONCOLOGIST decides treatment plan which will be a seperate appointment you will get shortly after providing you dont need more surgery.
Everything crossed for best possible outcome for you xx
That is really brilliant advice everyone - thanks so much for sharing your top tips - have added those questions to my list! The hospital just called to say that I also have an appointment on Friday morning with the oncologist. The call freaked me out as I am in such a fearful place, fearing the worst and on tenderhooks waiting for these results.
Is it normal to see the oncologist so soon after getting results? Does this mean really bad news?!
Thanks so much everyone - I find this forum such a brilliant support!
Aww Jacqui you sound so worried and i feel for you as i was there recently tying myself in knots with the worying.
I just replied to your other similar thread. It is not a bad sign, the oncologist will want to discuss the treatment/s for the next step so i hope that this means you dont need any further surgery
Oh thanks Clare - I am a quivering wreck today - I just replied to you on the other thread! Your respone has helped calm me down though - thanks so much! x
It’s a good job that there are more clued up people on here than me!
I do hope it went well and if there are other things you’d like to know then this forum is a wonderful place for information and support.
The only thing I would add to the what has already been said is that if there is anything you forgot to ask or say is that you can always ring them back.
I wish you the best of luck and do let us know how it went
Its a good job there are more clued up people than me too!
The meeting did go well thanks - clear margins and no lymph node involvement - but now I have a load more new questions! I have posted another question about how people decide whether to have chemo or not if their situation is ‘borderline’. Have a meeting with the oncologist on Monday to discuss next steps and this is the next big issue for me now.
Many thanks for your kind words. You are right - this forum is a wonderful forum for support and advice!
Very good news that they got clear margins and no lymph node involvement. More tests will be done on the “lump” that was removed and all information fed into a fancy computer that will come up with the ideal treatment plan - which is what the Oncy will discuss with you.
I wish you lots of more good news and do make sure you come back and tell us what was said.
Apologies to piggy back this post but I await my results. I will take the questions mentioned, but also wondered what stage would I ask for a copy of the pathology report that I have seen mention?
Also my biopsy they didn’t know Her (?) sorry not sure about that, but know it is important, will my surgeon be telling me or do I await the oncologist?
From the replies I assume following lumpectomy, bit of recon and node removal they will only be telling me at my appointmrnt on thursday if I need more surgery the type of cancer, and it may be a week or so later I get my treatment plan from the oncologist?
I asked my surgeon for a copy of the pathology report and he said that he would arrange for it to be sent to me along with a copy of the letter he will send to my GP (which I always get copies of since I asked for them).
Re the Her status - not sure if those results will be available at your meeting as that is a result that requires more time as the staining is more complex. Mine was borderline at the time of the biopsy and my BCN phoned me a week or so later to say it was negative.
Basically at my meeting with surgeon yesterday I found out that the margins and nodes were clear, final type, size and grade of cancer and have meeting on Monday with oncologist to discuss treatment options.
Some people seem to get a choice about whether they go for chemo or not, i wasnt given any even though I had microscopic traces of cancer in my lymph nodes. The fear is that some stray cells will have got into my bloodstream and to be honest I’d rather go through it all now than risk a recurrence and think I could have done more earlier. There have been other threads on this forum discussing the pros and cons of chemo when it’s optional so you may find those useful if you can find them!