Phyllodes Tumour

Hello everyone. I'm 28 and I've just had a rollercoaster of a journey with a lump in my left breast.

I had a lumpectomy to remove what the doctors were convinced was a fibroadenoma. It turned out to be a benign phyllodes tumor. I understand these are quite rare, fast growing (it was in my case!) and can regrow.

My pathology report showed that the tumor what removed entirely but, in certain sections, they were unable to determine whether the thin band of fibrous tissue abuts the surgical resection margin. I.e they weren't sure if there was a wide enough cut around it (presumably because they assumed with my age and health that it was in fact a fibroadenoma). 

They are reviewing my case today, but I have a relative in Canada who has told me that the surgical resection margin in 1cm around the tumor site minimum there to prevent regrowth.

On the basis that my surgeon decides not to re operate and just discharges me, does anyone have experience with regrowth?

I obviously put all my faith in doctors and especially my surgeons they have been wonderful. I just cant help worrying about a regrowth when my aunty (also a doctor) has raised concern about the pathology report.

Any advice would be appreciated !

Parents
  • hi there!

    I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis and I hope you’ve recovering well. I can only explain about my experience I went through. I was only 12 yrs old when I was first diagnosed so i wasn’t really familiar with medical terms so sorry. At the time the doctors weren’t sure what to do so we eventually came to decide to have an operation every time my tumor came back. So thats what I did for like for the first 3 yrs and they sent it to lab each time to make sure its benign and not anything malignant. After that it stopped growing and it went from 3 months to 6 months to yearly checkup appointments. I go for my checkup appointment regularly and i also check my own breasts regularly to see any changes and if i do i explain it to the doctor the next time i see him. Check your breast regularly and make an appointment with gp if you’re concerned about anything or any changes and make use of any help available from the hospital like the breast care nurses etc. Its your body youre the best at knowing whats changing/happening. When i went for a routine appointment the doctor asked abt any changes i told him he examined and said its fine blah blah but I knew my tumour came back again and i had to convince and get the doctor to examine my breast again and they agreed with me. The lump was v small and taken out but thankfully it was fibroadenoma and today I've officially been discharged from the hospital. I hope this helps you and reassures in some way. There will be difficult and hard times but i hope youll get through it and i wish you all the best! If theres anything you wanna ask you can ask  

Reply
  • hi there!

    I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis and I hope you’ve recovering well. I can only explain about my experience I went through. I was only 12 yrs old when I was first diagnosed so i wasn’t really familiar with medical terms so sorry. At the time the doctors weren’t sure what to do so we eventually came to decide to have an operation every time my tumor came back. So thats what I did for like for the first 3 yrs and they sent it to lab each time to make sure its benign and not anything malignant. After that it stopped growing and it went from 3 months to 6 months to yearly checkup appointments. I go for my checkup appointment regularly and i also check my own breasts regularly to see any changes and if i do i explain it to the doctor the next time i see him. Check your breast regularly and make an appointment with gp if you’re concerned about anything or any changes and make use of any help available from the hospital like the breast care nurses etc. Its your body youre the best at knowing whats changing/happening. When i went for a routine appointment the doctor asked abt any changes i told him he examined and said its fine blah blah but I knew my tumour came back again and i had to convince and get the doctor to examine my breast again and they agreed with me. The lump was v small and taken out but thankfully it was fibroadenoma and today I've officially been discharged from the hospital. I hope this helps you and reassures in some way. There will be difficult and hard times but i hope youll get through it and i wish you all the best! If theres anything you wanna ask you can ask  

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