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AEMA
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I had my routine mammogram last July and AI technology picked up an abnormality.Apparently it was a7mm non cancerous calcification. I had a biopsy and eas told this had removed most of it. I then had a magnetic seed fitted a few weeks later and then surgery to remove it. On feturning for results I  was told it was actually 38mm so another surgery was needed. I have now had 3 re-excisions to remove it but as it can’t be seen on xray the margins have not been clear. I was told it is actually 4cm this time. 

I am 16 days post 3rd re-excision and awaiting a phone call with the results. Hopefully it will be good need this time and I can go on to radiotherapy. 

I am not sure if I can have another re-excision if the margins are not clear this time. There was talk of a mastectomy before last surgery but as it is still pre-cancerous cells I am not keen to go down this route yet. 

I feel lucky it has been pickrd up so early but still stressed that it was 7mm supposedly at the start and now 4cm. 

My surgeon is lovely and I realise she is working blind but it is still stressful awaiting results each time. 

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    Hi AEMA,

    A very warm welcome to our forum.

    I am so sorry that you have needed so many re-excisions. Waiting for results is one of the most stressful parts of our cancer journey. I  had a lumpectomy for Mucinous Breast Cancer, stage 1, 15 years ago. Less than 6 months later ,I found a lump in my other breast. This turned out to be pre-cancerous. Just under a year from my initial surgery, I discovered another lump in my original breast and had a double mastectomy. I know just how anxious I felt, with every additional scan and biopsy and truly feel for you.

    I sincerely hope that your margins are clear this time and that it won't be too long before you can start radiotherapy. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi there. Thank you for your reply. 
    I was so sorry to read about your cancer journey, just awful. I hope you have more peace of mind now. 
    i still haven’t heard my results from last op but hopefully will this next week.

    Part of me wishes I had just gone for mastectomy and it would be over but part of me still says “no” I need to keep trying. 

    Have you had reconstrction surgery or not? That would be mynnext dilemma. It is never ending is it? Initially I was told surgery followed by radiotherapy and tjat would be it apart from annual mammograms for five years. “We won’t need to remove your breast”. Now it looks as if that is exactly what is going to happen. 

    Thanks again for replying. 

    AEMA

  • Offline in reply to AEMA

    Hi AEMA

    I hope that you do get your results this coming week. I think that most of us want to hold on to our breasts for as long as possible.

    The question about having reconstruction, never arose for me. I had previous non-cancer-related surgery, which left me with severe scarring at the usual donor sites. I had also stopped breathing on the operating table with previous surgery. This now makes any operation more risky than usual. I was happy to risk things to get rid of the cancers, but not to do this just to keep up appearances. I have a selection of prostheses that I use for different activities and I manage fairly well with these.

    The one problem with a double mastectomy, is that I can no longer have mammograms, so it can be difficult to keep an eye out for any recurrence. I hope that you won't need a mastectomy, but it is perfectly "doable" if you have to. I found that I recovered more quickly from the mastectomy than I did from the lumpectomy.

    I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for good news!

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

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