Sarge--
Guest
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 Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 11:22 am Post subject: Lymphedema phobia??? |
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This is the first time I am posting to any website; I really need to talk to someone. The last 15 months for me have been hell. I am 42 years old. In July 2003 my mammogram showed microcalcifications in the left breast. I had a sterotactic biopsy in August 2003. The sterotactic showed atypical ductal hyperplasia, so I had a needle localization biopsy of the left breast in September 2003. The excisional biopsy showed Proliferative fibrocystic changes including radial scar with florid and focal atypical ductal epithelial hyperplasia. My local hospital sent the slides to the Mayo clinic who said "They consider the findings diagnostic of atypical ductal hyperplasia and agree that they fall short of those required for a confident diagnosis of DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In situ). I wasn't very re-assured by the statement that the findings simply fell short of a confident diagnosis of cancer. I was referred to an oncologist and went on Tamoxifen right away. I was scheduled for a follow-up mammogram in 6 months. One month before my scheduled follow-up, I found a lump in my right breast. I had the mammogram and it didn't show anything, but the lump was there and could be felt by my surgeon. He rmended another excisional biopsy which I had done in March 2004. The biopsy showed focal intraductal epithelial hyuperplasia and sclerosing adenosis, ductal ectasia and cystic change - no malignancy or atypia. I went to a breast care center (surgical oncologist) for a second opinion and they concurred, rmending another 6 month follow-up with mammogram. Again, about one month before my scheduled mammogram, I found another lump in the right breast (same area as previous lump). The surgical oncologist did an ultrasound and identified a solid mass and rmended another biopsy. Three days before surgery, I found another lump right next to the one being removed. On October 18, 2004 I had my fourth biopsy on both lumps. The results were again a very close call, showing sclerosing and blunt duct adenosis with radial scar and focal atypical ductal hyperplasia, but not enough to call it DCIS. The surgeon rmended an MRI which I had this last Tuesday. The MRI was inconclusive. It showed numerous small scattered foci of enhancement diffusely distributed throughout both breasts. The areas are too small to characterize accurately. the MRI report goes on to say that these are most likely benign, but DCIS and LCIS cannot be excluded. My surgeon said that since the MRI is inconclusive, he would rmend a 6 month follow-up MRI. He also volunteered to send my latest biopsy out for a second opinion to the country's expert on breast cancer. so now I am waiting for the expert's opinion. I am very thankful that so far, no cancer has been diagnosed, but I feel like I have a time bomb waiting to go off in my chest. I am so tired of dealing with multiple surgeries and biopsies, and each one takes its toll on me psychologically and physically. I have had 4 biopsies in 13 months! I am considering having a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy. My surgeon is checking to see if my insurance would cover this procedure since no cancer has yet been found. Also, there is no history of BC in my family. If the expertes back and says it is DCIS, my surgeon rmends that I have the bilateral mastectomy because there is so much atypia in both of my breasts. I know this sounds terrible, but I am hoping the expert says it is DCIS. I don't think I can face another biopsy. The lumps keep appearing so fast, I am doing a breast self exam nearly every week (sometimes every day). I am scared and confused and tired. SInce I don't technically have breast cancer, I don't feel like I can join a suppport group, but I need someone to talk to. My husband is trying to understand, but all he keeps saying is thank God it isn't cancer, don't worry. It is impossible not to worry. I know it is just a matter of time before I find another lump, and have to go through this again (my last biopsy showed tht the ADH involves posterior margin, meaning they didn't get all of it out, I think). Am I over reacting? I am having toruble sleeping, I can't get all this out of my mind. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who can relate. Thanks.
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Muttsmom
Senior User
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 631
Location: Northern AL
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: Lymphedema phobia??? |
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I think you're very smart in getting the mastectomy. I was dx with BC, but opted to have the other breast removed as well because I was only 43 and Stage III. My cancer was invasive, but from what I understand, DCIS is considered breast cancer, but Stage 0. It's cancer, but is still incapulated and hasn't broken free to spread into other tissue. There's several ladies on another board I've posted on for about 5 years that were dx with DCIS and both had either a Mastectomy or Bi-lateral mastectomies. There is NO history of breast cancer in my family, and it really doesn't play that big of a %. Many are dx that have no history.
Now, the part I'm confused about.
You have the subject as "lymphedema phobia". The risk of lymphedema comes from having your lymph nodes removed during a lumpectomy or mastectomy. Have they done anything to your lymph nodes?
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04 |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3778
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject: Re: Lymphedema phobia??? |
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Sarge, this is not your first post. It is your 11th. Your stories are filled with inconcistancies that you have failed to explain. I can only assume that you are a pranckster posting messages. After careful concideration and multiple attempts to contact you, I have no other option but to delete your account and block your IP.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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