Rollercoaster breast surgery

Back at Easter I visits my GP as I had a yellowy discharge  from my right nipple. I had previously been told I had a few cysts but they were nothing to worry about.

I am a mum of 4, and breastfed my babies each for more than 12/14 months. I don’t smoke and I am relatively fit for my age (52).

The GP referred my to a consultant and I was called in for a mammogram. They found calcification areas, and asked me to go back for a vacuum biopsy in the mammogram machine. I put this off a few times as I really thought this was all nothing. 

I eventually went and it wasn’t a nice experience - very uncomfortable and rather painful having a needle inserted while you’re positioned in the machine,

shockinglu this resulted in two weeks being told I needed surgery for a wire and an open biopsy, That was at the end of August. I am recovering well but still a bit painful. 

Anyway was called back this morning only to be told I have precancerous and the markers are high(?). 

They have booked me in for more surgery on Oct 8th, to remove more of the area and go down to the muscle.

i will then need three weeks of radiotherapy after a few months. I was also told I may still need further surgery.

im in a bit of a spin to be honest.

my daughter leaves for Uni next weekend so I am already emotional!

amyone else been through all this ?

thanks 

  • Hi Gp

    Your experience is very similar to mine - well the begining is.  I was diagnosed with high grade DCIS (calcifications) last March after screening. TBH I was okay with it as I knew DCIS has a 100% survival rate. I had it in both breasts and had the same biopsies as you - your're right its not pleasant and a darn sight worse the the operations themselves.

    I had two surgeries, 1st to remove the DCIS and the 2nd for margin clearance. Unfortunetly the pathology (post surgery) showed invasive in both breasts. I also had radiotherapy and now on hormone treatment as mine was ER+.

    It is a bit of a shock to begin with and your reaction is perfectly normal, I did feel better once I knew what I was dealing with.x

  • Thanks, sorry you’ve had to go through all that. 

    I had all the ducts removed during the first biopsy and another area taken. They now want to take more - cos of markers? Don’t really understand it all, it’s been such a shock and I couldn’t take it all in at first. I really wasn’t expect to have more surgery. I know I’m lucky and it could be a lot worse. X

  • Hope there Gp

    i also have had a very similar experience and found that having the initial biopsy in the mammogram machine was much worse than the two ops I had for lumpectomy and then 5 weeks later for lymph node biopsies as they found invasive cells. Glad you are recovering well now from your surgery.

    Got my results yesterday and not spread to the lymph glands thankfully. I have to start Anastrazole next week which I will take for 5 years and have 15 sessions of radiotherapy. 

    All a bit of a shock as this was only picked up on a routine mammogram.

    Wishing you well.

    Love Mary x