Repeat lumpectomy? And treatment decisions. Need advice

Posted by kikay @kikay, Dec 15, 2023

Just had lumpectomy Dec 1. Pathology report was: positive margin on the posterior edge DCIS Micropapillary Grade 2. My surgeon called me yesterday for re-excision or another lumpectomy. I was hesitant to do it since I am a single mom and I was so difficult for me and my teens . Today he said he present my case to the tumor board to help me decide. Any suggestions? Did my surgeon messed up and missed the rest of the cancer cells? Or he just didn’t see the cancer with his naked eye just what he told me? What is the percentage that second surgery will be successful. ? After this , my oncologist said I will have radiation and hormone therapy for 5 years since my ER is positive. I need help in decision making please.

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@sue417

Hi
I feel your pain. I am awaiting my pathology. Had a lompectomy, December 15. My DCI s was in situ. The surgeon told me that it's a difficult cancer to remove. Because it's not like you can see a tumor so they have to go buy the ultrasounds and MRI . I now wait for weeks for follow-up and pray. He got it all he took quite a bit. My breath was left intact but much smaller than my left. He told me I will have to have radiation possibly tamoxifen but that's a drug. I will not take. I wish you well with your outcome

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I understand waiting is the hardest part. I waited for 1 1/2 before my pathology result came out. I will be praying with you for good report. God bless.

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@mchler73

I also had a re-excision and my surgeon told me that, although it is rare, since the DCIS is invisible there was a possibility I could have to go in a 3rd time. Luckily that did not happen.
I just finished 20 treatments of radiation and will meet with my medical oncologist December 26th to discuss Tamoxifen. Your plan sounds similar to mine. Take care!

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Hi again. I just got a call from surgeon telling me tumor board was cancelled this Thursday and will be rescheduled January 4. Just got a question. How long was the wait for your second surgery? In your pathology result , what grade do you have? Mine is Grade 2. I am thinking if I need to just let my doctor do the surgery sooner and not to present to Tumor board. Idk how fast the growth is.

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@kikay

Hi again. I just got a call from surgeon telling me tumor board was cancelled this Thursday and will be rescheduled January 4. Just got a question. How long was the wait for your second surgery? In your pathology result , what grade do you have? Mine is Grade 2. I am thinking if I need to just let my doctor do the surgery sooner and not to present to Tumor board. Idk how fast the growth is.

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@kikay
My first surgery was August 1st and my 2nd was September 28th.
However, after my first surgery my, surgeon told me I had clear margins so I thought I was good but when I saw my Oncologist’s on September 6th, they told me I needed more taken out. I ended up switching surgeons and luckily, he fit me in on September 28th.

Mine DCIS was also grade 2. It took over a month to get my first Pathology report back because it was sent to Mayo Clinic to also be reviewed by the pathologist’s there.

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@mchler73

@kikay
My first surgery was August 1st and my 2nd was September 28th.
However, after my first surgery my, surgeon told me I had clear margins so I thought I was good but when I saw my Oncologist’s on September 6th, they told me I needed more taken out. I ended up switching surgeons and luckily, he fit me in on September 28th.

Mine DCIS was also grade 2. It took over a month to get my first Pathology report back because it was sent to Mayo Clinic to also be reviewed by the pathologist’s there.

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Oh wow. Hmmm. I was thinking to call the surgeon now and ask how fast we can get the second surgery ? So it can wait then. Like 1 1/2 month.

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@sue417

Hi
I feel your pain. I am awaiting my pathology. Had a lompectomy, December 15. My DCI s was in situ. The surgeon told me that it's a difficult cancer to remove. Because it's not like you can see a tumor so they have to go buy the ultrasounds and MRI . I now wait for weeks for follow-up and pray. He got it all he took quite a bit. My breath was left intact but much smaller than my left. He told me I will have to have radiation possibly tamoxifen but that's a drug. I will not take. I wish you well with your outcome

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I had a similar lumpectomy. I now get checked every 6-12 mths ultrasound and mri.
I refuse to take tamoxifen and the various versions.
Thx for sharing..!

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@smarchese

I had a similar lumpectomy. I now get checked every 6-12 mths ultrasound and mri.
I refuse to take tamoxifen and the various versions.
Thx for sharing..!

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Hi
Did you have to have radiation? If so for how long?
Hiw long ago was your lumpectomy? My cancer was at 12:00 above the nipple

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Because of my recent cancer diagnosis of Radiation Induced ANGIOSARCOMA - as a result of my 1st breast cancer in 2014 - I read several studies - the main one was published in July 2014 - that the new protocol is to not do a Lumpectomy but to do a mastectomy and depending on the low stage of cancer - (stage 1) and the small size of the tumor (less than 1.5 mm) no radiation is recommended. An aromatase inhibitor may be taken. I took the AI LETROZOLE (Femara). So prior to the July 2014 published study 2 months prior I had a Lumpectomy - 6 weeks of Radiation and took the AI. Pill LETROZOLE (Femara) and 9 years later I got breast cancer in the same breast - I was diagnosed with ANGIOSARCOMA - which is the delayed side effect of receiving radiation for the treatment of breast cancer in 2014. It was cancer of my blood vessels- and it is rare and Aggressive. I just had a Mastectomy of my breast. It was recommended that I have no treatments but will be monitored by scans every 3-6 months and have conversations with My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every thinking moment. I regret that they would not allow me to have my breast removed the first time - if I would have had it removed I wouldn’t have had to take 6 weeks of radiation but I would have taken the AI Pill Letrozole (Brand name: Femara). I just wanted to give you an insight of my 2 cancers - and what I’ve learned. Not to tell you what to do. But I did do lots of research and read studies on my new type of cancer Radiation Induced ANGIOSARCOMA (R-I-A)
This is Mulkey518.
May God continue to Bless you.

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Dear Mulkey518:

My heart goes out to you, my soul aches for your pain! Thanks for sharing your insight with wisdom and those painful lessons that you learnt with us to guide us the path of our journey ahead! Your courage with wisdom is hugely appreciated and treasured!

May the gracious Lord comfort you and bless you, my comrade in spirit!

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@kikay

Oh wow. Hmmm. I was thinking to call the surgeon now and ask how fast we can get the second surgery ? So it can wait then. Like 1 1/2 month.

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You could definitely call and see how soon you can get in but as far as I know waiting a month or so is fine……

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@mulkey518

Because of my recent cancer diagnosis of Radiation Induced ANGIOSARCOMA - as a result of my 1st breast cancer in 2014 - I read several studies - the main one was published in July 2014 - that the new protocol is to not do a Lumpectomy but to do a mastectomy and depending on the low stage of cancer - (stage 1) and the small size of the tumor (less than 1.5 mm) no radiation is recommended. An aromatase inhibitor may be taken. I took the AI LETROZOLE (Femara). So prior to the July 2014 published study 2 months prior I had a Lumpectomy - 6 weeks of Radiation and took the AI. Pill LETROZOLE (Femara) and 9 years later I got breast cancer in the same breast - I was diagnosed with ANGIOSARCOMA - which is the delayed side effect of receiving radiation for the treatment of breast cancer in 2014. It was cancer of my blood vessels- and it is rare and Aggressive. I just had a Mastectomy of my breast. It was recommended that I have no treatments but will be monitored by scans every 3-6 months and have conversations with My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every thinking moment. I regret that they would not allow me to have my breast removed the first time - if I would have had it removed I wouldn’t have had to take 6 weeks of radiation but I would have taken the AI Pill Letrozole (Brand name: Femara). I just wanted to give you an insight of my 2 cancers - and what I’ve learned. Not to tell you what to do. But I did do lots of research and read studies on my new type of cancer Radiation Induced ANGIOSARCOMA (R-I-A)
This is Mulkey518.
May God continue to Bless you.

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I had Invasive DCIS small tumor- less than 1cm and clear margins. I did have 5 treatments of radiation in June 2023, May 1st lumpectomy/Diagnosed March 12th! Stage 0, grade 2!
I pray I do not get a radiation induced cancer. I do regret having radiation. I am not taking the
Estrogen blocker. Just diet and exersize.

I pray it will not come
Back. I will keep you in my prayers also. 💕😌

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