1. < Breast Cancer

Locator clips placed during lumpectomy for radiation therapy

Posted by healinhand @healinhand, Feb 18, 2023

I’m interested in how many people where provided information in there chart’s regarding the placement, quantity, and type of clip that was placed in there breast, axilla during surgery?

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marcia115 | @marcia115 | Feb 26, 2023
In reply to @happyat65 "When I received my CT report it showed a clip had been left in after my..." + (show)
@happyat65

When I received my CT report it showed a clip had been left in after my partial mastectomy. I developed ocular myasthenia gravis about two weeks after I completed radiation. I called and questioned what the clip was made from since foreign bodies could have caused the autoimmune disease.
We all have the right to have a copy of our records and be informed.

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happyat65
That is a very good question, I have a few clips in each breast, have no
idea what they are made of, and never thought about it till I read your story.
When I go back to the Dr. in April I will ask him. are all clips different? Please
when you go back to your Dr. and find out, please let me know.

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healinhand | @healinhand | Feb 27, 2023
In reply to @bjjoyce1 "Is there a difference between a clip and a marker? Wonder why they placed my clips..." + (show)
@bjjoyce1

Is there a difference between a clip and a marker? Wonder why they placed my clips during lump removal surgery, and they were left in when I read others had them removed during surgery. I believe they should be removed because my body attacks itself without any metal being placed in it. Does anyone know when the markers should be placed?

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There normally placed in the cavity to guide the radiation therapy

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1 reply
bjjoyce1 | @bjjoyce1 | Feb 27, 2023

Thank you. I was told a marker is what grows my cancer. i.e. 100% estrogen 95% progestogen, HER 2 (and situ ?)
Tumor markers can help doctors understand the stage, growth, and seriousness of your cancer. Ki-67 is a biomarker test for people with breast cancer. It is one of many different tests available.

The clips are to help with radiation, but I have been having a reaction to a titanium clip and wanted it removed. So are they removing a marker or a clip with surgery? It gets so confusing.

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1 reply
elliej | @elliej | Feb 28, 2023

My clips were placed during biopsy to use as a locator to view exact location of tumors and guide upcoming surgery and any future exams. I have 3 clips. I had my 6month post treatment mammo yesterday and the technician could see easily the exact tumor location. The clips will always remain. Modern medicine is amazing.

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drcvs | @drcvs | Feb 28, 2023

I was not informed about the clips and found out about them a year later. I have no idea what they’re made of. How’re ever I’ve developed severe auto immune disorder since then.
How do I find out if it is or isn’t related to the clips?

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1 reply
bjjoyce1 | @bjjoyce1 | Mar 3, 2023
In reply to @timely "Hi @bjjoyce1 I have different mast cell problems so I understood what you were talking about...." + (show)
@timely

Hi @bjjoyce1

I have different mast cell problems so I understood what you were talking about. Allergic reactions effect my eyes and eye lids.

I am allergic to the yellow dye or something else in Fluorescein for eye dialation.
They have to use a different one for me. I get eye lid swelling and red eye.

They may have used it when I had cataract surgery as I then had problems aferwards too.

Since then, I have had allergic reactions to some meds.

My daughter is allergic to soy.
Both she and I had an allergic reaction to the pre-surgery cleaning solution, chlorhexidine.

We both developed large bumps all along the surgical stitching line as we both had reactions to the self-dissolving stitches used. My body tried to encapsule these stitches.

I would ask if now they could do a skin test prior to surgery of the materials used for stitching and anything used to sterilize the stitching material.
If you have any silicon allergies,
I would inquire if they used bio zorb with a lumpectomy to help area fill in where the tumor was removed. The titanium pieces are attached to the ends of this. The bio zorb is self-dissolving.

Most likely the titanium was placed as future markers to show up on mammograms too. Ask your Dr.

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I do not know. At this time I believe she used staples and she said she filled in the gab . She did not removed the previous one, and evidently put more than 4 titanium clips in place. She said she did not know the count. I have been trying to get the operating report bec that should have the number. I prev had #14 nylon used on my thumb without any keloids. First time I didn't react.! The surgeon used glue, so it will be a wait and see. Since Nov 2020 I have not been able to cut my grass w/o having profuse sweating, tight band around my head, etc. I can not use betadine which i react . I do not know about Bio zorb. Soy has 72 names and is in 92% of all medicine OTC/scripts. They now are putting derived soy in sorbitol and Lactose milk powder. My reactions can be ana, angioedema and/or get thin skin and boils. Along with losing control of my bowel and bladder. Not fun Thank you for the Bio zorb info.

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healinhand | @healinhand | Mar 4, 2023
In reply to @bjjoyce1 "Thank you. I was told a marker is what grows my cancer. i.e. 100% estrogen 95%..." + (show)
@bjjoyce1

Thank you. I was told a marker is what grows my cancer. i.e. 100% estrogen 95% progestogen, HER 2 (and situ ?)
Tumor markers can help doctors understand the stage, growth, and seriousness of your cancer. Ki-67 is a biomarker test for people with breast cancer. It is one of many different tests available.

The clips are to help with radiation, but I have been having a reaction to a titanium clip and wanted it removed. So are they removing a marker or a clip with surgery? It gets so confusing.

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Did you get any relief?

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1 reply
mimis | @mimis | Mar 5, 2023
In reply to @healinhand "Did you get any relief?" + (show)
@healinhand

Did you get any relief?

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I just had one put in. What kind of reaction did you have.

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lifebydesign | @lifebydesign | Mar 6, 2023
In reply to @drcvs "I was not informed about the clips and found out about them a year later. I..." + (show)
@drcvs

I was not informed about the clips and found out about them a year later. I have no idea what they’re made of. How’re ever I’ve developed severe auto immune disorder since then.
How do I find out if it is or isn’t related to the clips?

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I am so upset I too were not info. I never signed a consent of any kind, only after I read my post surgical report i discovered the surgeon placed clips for radiation. Surgeon were well aware that I did not plan on having radiation this was said to her many times just before my lumpectomy surgeryx2 and she took it upon herself and placed clips I requested a call from surgeon and when I questioned about the clips she did not know exactly how many she placed “4,5, maybe six” was her response this was not noted in the report., also didn’t know if it’s titanium but stated I will be able to go through the airport with no problem. Big concern here. I want these clips removed.

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Young@65 | @happyat65 | Mar 6, 2023
In reply to @healinhand "There normally placed in the cavity to guide the radiation therapy" + (show)
@healinhand

There normally placed in the cavity to guide the radiation therapy

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My surgery clips were put in before my surgery to show where the cancer cells were located. They called the clips “fish hooks.”Clips were counted by the pathologist and my surgeon thought the uncounted clip was suctioned out. Unfortunately he was wrong. It is still in my breast. I hope to have reconstruction this summer and the clip be removed then.

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