Q_uilted T_hrifted
Today I saw the surgeon and she said the lumps are gone and canceled my ultrasound scheduled for today. I have a lumpectomy on Thursday October 6th
If the lead and 2nd node under my arm comes back during the surgery with no cancer cells just those two nodes will be removed. If there are cancer cells present then all of the nodes under my arm will be removed. There is then a 60 percent chance of swelling in the arm possibly for the rest of my life and the need to wear a compression band around my arm. Whether they find cancer cells in the breast and/or underarm or find no cancer cells I will have radiation treatments that will begin about 4 weeks after the surgery and will be daily for 5 weeks.
At this point it has still been my choice as to whether I want a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. I am comfortable with my decision to go with the lumpectomy. My cancer is stage II since the cells left the breast and went to my underarm. If the surgeon felt strongly about the need for a mastectomy she would have said so. It could change still if she gets in there and finds more cancer.
She did prefer to keep the port in and not take it out during my lumpectomy. She said there have been times when cancerous cells are found to the point of needing to do more chemo. I pray that will not be the case but I am ok with keeping the port in and waiting to have it removed. It is much harder to have it put back in if it was needed. I am listening to my surgeon. She has done quite a few of these procedures! I l like her too. That is nice.
Today I saw the surgeon and she said the lumps are gone and canceled my ultrasound scheduled for today. I have a lumpectomy on Thursday October 6th
If the lead and 2nd node under my arm comes back during the surgery with no cancer cells just those two nodes will be removed. If there are cancer cells present then all of the nodes under my arm will be removed. There is then a 60 percent chance of swelling in the arm possibly for the rest of my life and the need to wear a compression band around my arm. Whether they find cancer cells in the breast and/or underarm or find no cancer cells I will have radiation treatments that will begin about 4 weeks after the surgery and will be daily for 5 weeks.
At this point it has still been my choice as to whether I want a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. I am comfortable with my decision to go with the lumpectomy. My cancer is stage II since the cells left the breast and went to my underarm. If the surgeon felt strongly about the need for a mastectomy she would have said so. It could change still if she gets in there and finds more cancer.
She did prefer to keep the port in and not take it out during my lumpectomy. She said there have been times when cancerous cells are found to the point of needing to do more chemo. I pray that will not be the case but I am ok with keeping the port in and waiting to have it removed. It is much harder to have it put back in if it was needed. I am listening to my surgeon. She has done quite a few of these procedures! I l like her too. That is nice.