Hi,
I had WLE and axillary in Jan and was told that lump removed was 15mm IDC (grade2) with DCIS in one margin and that although I would need to have further surgery as all IDC was removed I should have chemo first. Finished chemo in June and had mx 6 July.
Went for results of pathology on the removed tissue - saw yet another new doctor - and was shocked when she opened with the words ‘we removed cancer of 76mm’ and you’ll be needing radiotherapy’. When questioned this turned out to be the DCIS, but within it they also found a second area of IDC of 14mm … this is as big as my original mass despite 6 sessions of chemo.
I was so surprised that I didn’t really question this at all (and didn’t like the consultants manner or attitude anyway). Now I am wondering about the implications of this. Does it mean that the second tumor was there all along but didn’t show on mamm or ultrasound and didn’t respond to treatment, or that it has developed while I was having chemo. Is either worse? Does it mean that my cancer is resistant to chemo so if there are stray cells around that they won’t have responded either?
I’m not in a panic or anything. Just confused and feeling stupid that I didn’t ask.
Jacqui