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BILATERAL MASTECTOMY - is follow-up required??
Bilateral mastectomy & removal of 4 lymph nodes done 3 weeks ago. Follow-up with surgeon told me I'm "good to go," & he does not need to see me again. No chemo or radiation required. Very happy to hear this, but still need reassurance that no follow-up is required. Thanks.
Best Answer
Thanks so much for getting back to us with your "progress report."
You've made my day!
Warm regards,
bluebutterfly
You've made my day!
Warm regards,
bluebutterfly
Hi to all,
An update: It's pretty much over for me now .... by that I mean, "It's all good." I am soooo thankful!
This stuff was all brand new to me 4 months ago, but thanks to help from you gals, weeks of research, a WONDERFUL surgeon (perhaps those are in the wrong order), an AMAZING local cancer clinic, a conscientious G.P., the sweetest young resident Dr. who was learning from my surgeon, etc etc .... I am totally confident that I am "good to go" now.
Not to forget my AMAZING husband who took right over, attended every appointment with me, cleaned the house, cooked the meals, took me out for dinner 2 or 3 times a week for a break from it all, did the laundry etc etc. Such a wonderful & special man. I am soooo very lucky.
Anyways, I know I haven't responded here for several weeks. Life was going full-blast @ about 150% of normal for a while here. Still is actually ....
Re: my follow-up (for those who were wondering). At this time, I have an appointment with my surgeon for July (6-month check). On Feb. 15th I will see a medical oncologist simply for the purpose of deciding whether or not he might want me to start Tamoxifen, as my Estrogen & Progesterone receptor levels are very high. (8/8 & 7/8 respectively on the Alred scale). Luckily the Her-2/neu is negative. (so thankful for that too!). If you're not familiar with that one (as I was not) .... google it, it's fascinating! Then I am sure they will give me further f/up appointments as required, probably for a few years.
The 2nd opinion from the "Go to Guy" (as my surgeon calls him) from the cancer clinic in our largest city is, in my opinion, completely reassuring. He says nice things like,
... "no evidence of lymphatic or vascular invasion"
... "this small focus of low grade carcinoma would be expected to have no metastatic potential"
... and "typically, these low grade lesions behave as for DCIS, & should have been cured by this procedure" (i.e. mastectomy & removal of 4 negative lymph nodes)
I realize how very lucky I am, & will continue to remember in my prayers those of you who were not quite as lucky as I. I thank you all for your concerns & comments. And if I can help anyone else out there, please feel free to ask. The bad news though is that I cannot follow this forum daily, but will try to at least check in once or twice a week.
Having this cancer was not all bad. It has given me a new perspective on life, & a new ability to "not sweat the small things" as much as I used to. My very best to everyone!
An update: It's pretty much over for me now .... by that I mean, "It's all good." I am soooo thankful!
This stuff was all brand new to me 4 months ago, but thanks to help from you gals, weeks of research, a WONDERFUL surgeon (perhaps those are in the wrong order), an AMAZING local cancer clinic, a conscientious G.P., the sweetest young resident Dr. who was learning from my surgeon, etc etc .... I am totally confident that I am "good to go" now.
Not to forget my AMAZING husband who took right over, attended every appointment with me, cleaned the house, cooked the meals, took me out for dinner 2 or 3 times a week for a break from it all, did the laundry etc etc. Such a wonderful & special man. I am soooo very lucky.
Anyways, I know I haven't responded here for several weeks. Life was going full-blast @ about 150% of normal for a while here. Still is actually ....
Re: my follow-up (for those who were wondering). At this time, I have an appointment with my surgeon for July (6-month check). On Feb. 15th I will see a medical oncologist simply for the purpose of deciding whether or not he might want me to start Tamoxifen, as my Estrogen & Progesterone receptor levels are very high. (8/8 & 7/8 respectively on the Alred scale). Luckily the Her-2/neu is negative. (so thankful for that too!). If you're not familiar with that one (as I was not) .... google it, it's fascinating! Then I am sure they will give me further f/up appointments as required, probably for a few years.
The 2nd opinion from the "Go to Guy" (as my surgeon calls him) from the cancer clinic in our largest city is, in my opinion, completely reassuring. He says nice things like,
... "no evidence of lymphatic or vascular invasion"
... "this small focus of low grade carcinoma would be expected to have no metastatic potential"
... and "typically, these low grade lesions behave as for DCIS, & should have been cured by this procedure" (i.e. mastectomy & removal of 4 negative lymph nodes)
I realize how very lucky I am, & will continue to remember in my prayers those of you who were not quite as lucky as I. I thank you all for your concerns & comments. And if I can help anyone else out there, please feel free to ask. The bad news though is that I cannot follow this forum daily, but will try to at least check in once or twice a week.
Having this cancer was not all bad. It has given me a new perspective on life, & a new ability to "not sweat the small things" as much as I used to. My very best to everyone!
Kat,
Sorry ... I can't spell 1st thing in the morning before my 1st cup of java. I meant to say, "thank" you for your help ... not "think."
Sorry ... I can't spell 1st thing in the morning before my 1st cup of java. I meant to say, "thank" you for your help ... not "think."
Kat,
Still praying for you & hope you are staying positive & comfortable. It's one heck of a ride, but you seem to have been able to rise above it all & maintain your sense of humour. I think you for all your help & think of you daily.
Still praying for you & hope you are staying positive & comfortable. It's one heck of a ride, but you seem to have been able to rise above it all & maintain your sense of humour. I think you for all your help & think of you daily.
To golddusttwin:
I certainly apologize for offending you. All I could think about when I read your post was what my surgeon had just told me that day - that even after four positive lymph nodes were taken out, there would have to be chemo. I do have a serious cancer and have had to make some choices that made me think "This is my life. I have to do whatever I can to survive for my children." After reading your post, I thought you might not have further treatment, and it made me think again how important it is that you do all you can. I do apologize for seeming to insinuate that your surgeon was not competent. I truly did not mean that.
To Katarina,
I send positive thoughts and prayers your way.
Mary
I certainly apologize for offending you. All I could think about when I read your post was what my surgeon had just told me that day - that even after four positive lymph nodes were taken out, there would have to be chemo. I do have a serious cancer and have had to make some choices that made me think "This is my life. I have to do whatever I can to survive for my children." After reading your post, I thought you might not have further treatment, and it made me think again how important it is that you do all you can. I do apologize for seeming to insinuate that your surgeon was not competent. I truly did not mean that.
To Katarina,
I send positive thoughts and prayers your way.
Mary
All of your friends here, who love you and know all that you have gone through and understand the seriousness of your current situation, will definitely be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers!
♥♥,
bb
♥♥,
bb
What about me? If anyone needs prayers, it's me. (kidding/no kidding) Today, for the very first time, I was offered hospice, and it's serious!!
Mary, your last comment makes up for all your messing up before. You put a big smile on my face.
Cheers to all,
KATRIN
Mary, your last comment makes up for all your messing up before. You put a big smile on my face.
Cheers to all,
KATRIN
To Mary: I too was a little, shall we say, offended when you suggested that my surgeon might not be quite up-to-snuff, or somewhat incompetent. In fact, he is the leading surgical oncologist in our city of over 100,000 people. And we here are very lucky to have 'stolen him away' from a major hospital in the bigger city 200+ miles away. I think my surgeon is taking VERY good care of my life!
Also, your situation appears much more severe than mine was/is (and mine was serious enough). Yours showing 16 out of 25 nodes as malignant ...... well, I will only hope & pray that your TX is going successfully, & I wish you all the best. Prayers for you! P.S. my nodes were negative, all 4 that were taken out ....
Mary, feel freee to add further comments if you wish, but let's not malign the specialists that we know nothing about. Their competence (or lack thereof) cannot be judged in an ad hoc group such as this. Let's just all try to be helpful here, and choose our words carefully. I know that you meant me no harm.
Prayers going out for you daily .....
Also, your situation appears much more severe than mine was/is (and mine was serious enough). Yours showing 16 out of 25 nodes as malignant ...... well, I will only hope & pray that your TX is going successfully, & I wish you all the best. Prayers for you! P.S. my nodes were negative, all 4 that were taken out ....
Mary, feel freee to add further comments if you wish, but let's not malign the specialists that we know nothing about. Their competence (or lack thereof) cannot be judged in an ad hoc group such as this. Let's just all try to be helpful here, and choose our words carefully. I know that you meant me no harm.
Prayers going out for you daily .....
Sounds like you know more about this topic than I do, and you have given the second opinion. I will not utter another word.
Guess I unintentionally misled you. Sorry about that. Don't have to see my surgical oncologist again, but yes, will definitely have regular follow-up appt's @ local cancer centre. In fact, the path slides went to the biggest Cancer Clinic in our area, some 200+ miles away .... and I will be receiving written reports from them later this week, which are expected to confirm what my surgeon said, that I am cancer-free.
How very fortunate I feel right now. Thanks for your posts, both of you.
How very fortunate I feel right now. Thanks for your posts, both of you.
I go to Sloan Kettering in NYC. My lymph node dissection came back with 16 out of 25 malignant. My surgeon told me that more than 3 lymph nodes even with mastectomy requires, I believe, chemo and radiation (definitely radiation). If I were you, I would go for a second opinion and think about that surgeon. This is your life.
Good luck and take it further.
Good luck and take it further.
What was your diagnosis? If you had cancer you should absolutely have follow up every 3 or 4 months for a year or two with your hematology oncologist. At the bare minimum, you should see your GYN for breast exams. You may be done with the surgeon but if you've had cancer you must continue surveillance.
Best wishes.
Best wishes.
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Mary, I do not find your comment the least bit helpful, but rather the opposite. Are you suggesting that because gold...has a life that is hers, she is the ultimate boss of her physicians, who are not only experts but in contrast to her and you, were consulted for this purpose, and to guide her, treat her, and advise her?
Unless you really know what you are talking about, you have no business telling golddusttwin to better watch out for that doctor. not one word has been mentioned that makes her surgeon even the least bit suspicious.
golddusttwin, please do not feel anxious about those words uttered. i am certain you are in good hands. KATRIN