Hi MickeyM,

A very warm welcome to our forum. 

Stereotactic biopsy will give your team the chance to look at your breast in more detail. This doesn't always signify bad news, but is a good sign that your care team is being thorough. It is impossible to find out much until the results of your biopsy come back and you know exactly what you are dealing with. You should find some information about DCIS and calcifications on the Cancer Research Website. Try to avoid consulting Dr Google, as much of his information is out of date, poorly researched and aimed at the more spectacular cases. This will only serve to worry you further.

There is a lady called Karen1971 on the forum. She has been posting under the title ‘Waiting on breast biopsy results.’ If you do a search for her, you may be able to help one another through this.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you Jolamine, your reply was really helpful and appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time xx 

Thank you Jolamine, I think it must be about my results, perhaps he just agreed to see me at MDT rather than a phone consultation the following Monday with the breast care team. Here's hoping . 

Certainly is a rollercoaster, thank you for you re-assurances.  Hope you have a good weekend too. 

Love n hugs Mickey xx ️

Morning Jolamine, 

Sorry for the delay on updating you. I've had snippets of information re my surgery results since last Friday and I've been trying to process it.  It didnt help that the surgeon and BCN I saw on Wed for my delayed results apt were pretty hostile to be honest and it was like pulling teeth to get to the crutch of my situation. I was refused my pathology report and not even sat in the consulting room where I could have seen some information on screen.  Basically I was told that I should just accept what I'm told and not ask for more information that could increase my stress.... Anyway, I don't want to dwell on the negative - I've formally since requested my pathology report and will see what response I get to that. 
 

In short, there was another muscinous tumour found underneath - both were in a bed of 5cm DCIS. They found scattered areas of dcis throughout the breast as well as the other known area. They didn't get clear margins on the masectomy and cannot re-operate due to the reconstruction, but told me they probably couldn't get anymore anyway. So next steps radiotherapy added to my treatment plan and I have just received an oncologist apt for 14/02. 

I'm still processing it, but know it has to be done. 

How are you and how is hubby's mobility is it improving at all yet? I hope so. 

Love n hugs Mickey xx ️
 

Hi Mickey,

I am so sorry to hear all of this. It is so difficult when you don't get the rapport that you need with your consultant and nurse. I came up against similar hostility when I was first diagnosed and, eventually changed surgeon after 11 months - what a difference it was to find a surgeon that I could trust and, who was willing to pick up the pieces. It is disappointing to hear that he didn't get a clear margin - do you know how much was left? It is good to hear that the second lump was still mucinous. The DCIS is fairly normal and, I expect that this is still low grade.

 I also had to request my pathology results. Accepting  what I was told and not asking for any more information just isn't me and, I really thought that I was going mad at one stage. You have a lot to process, but remind yourself that this type of cancer is not very aggressive. I am ok thanks, but hubby is not making much progress with his exercises yet. I sincerely hope that you have more success with your oncologist than you've met with so far.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

I'm not even sure if I am allocated a specific breast surgeon, or who did my masectomy ‍♀️. Every time I go, it's someone different. I expect that they will just close me now and it will just be my Oncologist and Plastic Surgeon involved. Yes, I was pleased it was another muscinous tumour, made it simpler all round. The widest area of DCIS was always mixed grade, but I'm assuming the other area and scattered areas are low, but no-one has confirmed the grades post surgery. Re the positive margin they really didn't want to tell me, but I kept asking and the surgeon said it was .5, but they doubted they would have been able to get anymore even if they could re-operate and so radiotherapy it is. 

Thank you for your reassurances Jolamine. 

I hope hubby starts to see some progress shortly, I can only imagine how hard that must be. 

Fingers crossed the Oncologist is supportive and gets me sorted on the radiotherapy and hormone therapy without too  much further delay. 

Love n hugs Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

It seems terrible that you don't know who your surgeon was. Did he not come round to introduce himself to you before your surgery, or come back to see you before you were discharged? I sincerely hope that you find your oncologist more supportive and that you can move on to treatment quickly.

Please let me know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

No, my Plastic Surgeon came to see prior to surgery and marked me up. He also came to the ward every day, but no sight or sound about the breast surgeon. 

Thank you, I'll keep you posted. 

Hope things are going well with the sale of your business too. 

Love Mickey xx ️ ️

Hi Mickey,

So much for keeping the patient informed, when you weren't even told who carried out your surgery. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a better relationship with your oncologist!

We're slowly getting there with the business. I had an offer in today.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thanks Jolamine, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that the offer is a good solid one. Love Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

How did things go with your oncologist? I hope that this was a better experience for you, than the one you had with your consultant.

The sale of the business should go through on 1st March. I'll be glad to put it behind me. 
Kind regards,
Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

I'm really pleased to hear that the sale of your business seems all set to go through. Keeping my fingers crossed for 1st March for you. New beginnings as they say. How is hubby getting on? 

I'd like to be positive and say the appointment went well, but sadly that wouldn't be true. I think having a late apt time 4.15pm didn't help. Reading between the lines the Oncologist must have had enough of seeing clients and so I was passed to her Registrar. That in itself wasn't a problem, but there was no discussion, she literally had the consent form in front of her and started ticking it off. She couldn't answer my questions and had to keep leaving the room to check with the Oncologist. Having done that 3-4 times, the Oncologist then came in. I was told by her that the hospital provided the creams as they had realised it was easier that way. When I asked about this at my planning session last Friday, I was told this was not the case, frustrating again!

Long and short of it is that I have my covid test booked Sat 12/03 and my 15 sessions aimed at chest wall and reconstruction start on 14/03. 

I asked to see photos of anyone with my type of DIEP op who had radiotherapy, but there are none. I have offered to do intermittent photos so that in the future there will be some available in my hospital for people like me who would like to have a visual of how it could impact their reconstructed breast. I had my pre-photos done yesterday. 

I'm still very worried about the impact, but I know it has to be done to reduce my risk of local reoccurrence after positive margins on the masectomy. 

I am also now day 6 on my hormone therapy journey with Anastrozole. I decided to go with the morning to start as prescribed. So far nausea, insomnia and tiredness are the side effects, I wouldn't say my hot flushes are any different, but I still get them anyway. 

Thanks for thinking of me Jolamine. 

Love n hugs Mickey xx ️

Hi Jolamine, 

I'm really pleased to hear that the sale of your business seems all set to go through. Keeping my fingers crossed for 1st March for you. New beginnings as they say. How is hubby getting on? 

I'd like to be positive and say the appointment went well, but sadly that wouldn't be true. I think having a late apt time 4.15pm didn't help. Reading between the lines the Oncologist must have had enough of seeing clients and so I was passed to her Registrar. That in itself wasn't a problem, but there was no discussion, she literally had the consent form in front of her and started ticking it off. She couldn't answer my questions and had to keep leaving the room to check with the Oncologist. Having done that 3-4 times, the Oncologist then came in. I was told by her that the hospital provided the creams as they had realised it was easier that way. When I asked about this at my planning session last Friday, I was told this was not the case, frustrating again!

Long and short of it is that I have my covid test booked Sat 12/03 and my 15 sessions aimed at chest wall and reconstruction start on 14/03. 

I asked to see photos of anyone with my type of DIEP op who had radiotherapy, but there are none. I have offered to do intermittent photos so that in the future there will be some available in my hospital for people like me who would like to have a visual of how it could impact their reconstructed breast. I had my pre-photos done yesterday. 

I'm still very worried about the impact, but I know it has to be done to reduce my risk of local reoccurrence after positive margins on the masectomy. 

I am also now day 6 on my hormone therapy journey with Anastrozole. I decided to go with the morning to start as prescribed. So far nausea, insomnia and tiredness are the side effects, I wouldn't say my hot flushes are any different, but I still get them anyway. 

Thanks for thinking of me Jolamine. 

Love n hugs Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

I am so sorry to hear that you had another bad experience with the Oncologist and the Registrar. It is hard to believe that they could not put you in touch with anyone who has had a DIEP and radiotherapy. Well done for offering to do photos yourself for the future. 

I am glad to hear that you have already started Anastrozole and that it hasn't made your hot flushes any worse. Here's hoping that the side-effects don't get any more severe..There are a number of people on this forum who have had a DIEP flap op - it might be worth starting a new thread and asking if someone would be willing to send you some photos via private messaging.

I'm sure that you'll be glad to start reconstruction in a few weeks - I hope that it all goes well..

This time next week I should be retired. All seems to be going well so far. Hubby is finding his tremors getting worse and is having difficulty carrying cups of coffee or doing any fine movements with his hands - he's finding this hard to accept when he was always a keen DIYer.

Love & Hugs,

Jolamine xx

Morning Jolamine,

Thank you for the reply and useful advice. I will keep you updated how I fare with the Radiotherapy.  I have another Oncologist apt on Monday now. That was set up to prescribe my Anastrozole, however, now that I have it anyway, I'm surprised they didn't cancel. It will be an opportunity for me to ask questions though. I've not been offered any bone scans or supplements yet for bone strength etc. I will ask about that. I can't remember if you were prescribed anything to help with that when you were taking letrozole? 

I expect it will feel very strange next week for you. I'm so pleased that the offer has gone through though. Another stage in life achieved. Sorry to hear that hubby's tremors are getting worse. I can understand that must be very difficult for him, especially when he was such a 'hands on - DIYer'. Can  anything be done to help with this? 

Sending love and hugs Mickey xx ️

HI Mickey,

I too am surprised that they haven't cancelled your Oncology appointment for Monday, but this gives you the opportunity to ask some questions. Wrie down all that you want to ask before you attend. I have had a few bone scans throughout the years, but was never given anything for my bone strength. As far as I know my bones are very strong and never gave any cause for concern on any of my scans.

Yes, it will feel very strange next week. The offer hasn't gone through yet. It is due to go through on Monday and the new people take over on Tuesday. I really don't quite believe that it is happening so soon. It is getting harder for hubby. They say that all the medication that he is already on is what they would prescribe for the Parkinson's, but that they cannot increase it any further. I am currently looking for a small trolley with big wheels which might help him to carry drinks and snacks through when watching television. If I can't find one I'll need to get one made for him.

I hope that all goes better for you on Monday than it did last time.

Love and hugs,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

Just checking in to see if your offer completed on Monday? I hope you've managed to find a suitable trolley for hubby also. I'm so sorry to hear that there is no further prescribed medical intervention. 

I saw my actual Oncologist on Monday and she was more approachable fortunately. It kind of threw me though and I lost my thought process . Hubby had to tell her that the Anastrozole was causing me to be very forgetful . 

Love n hugs Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

Thank you for thinking of me.  The offerr didn't complete on Monday, but all was finally settled yesterday. It seems very strange not to be in the surgery today, but I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life now.

I haven't managed to find a trolley yet, but should find something soon now that I have more time on my hands.

I am glad to hear that your Oncologist was more approachable on Monday, although I can understand why this threw you after your previous experiences. Did she have anything useful to say to you?

Love & hugs,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

That is fantastic news for you, but I can imagine that it will seem strange. Although change is one of the only constants in life, it still can throw us, even when a positive change. Like you say look forward to a new chapter in your life now.  Have you anything specific you want to spend time on now? 

Fingers crossed you'll find the perfect trolley for hubby soon.  

No, she confirmed that they don't give out the creams and so I have no idea why she told us they did at my previous appointment.  Positively,  she didn't say anything misleading this time . 

Have a great weekend Jolamine. 
love n hugs Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

This may well be a recent cost-cutting exercise. I think that some clinics do still give out the creams, but if yours' doesn't, why not ask your GPs if they can prescribe something?

Have a good weekend.

Love and hugs,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

Thabk you for the suggestion, I did try that and GP was happy to prescribe E45. My chemist, however checked the radiotherapy guidelines and said not to use it as it has Lan (something I can't remember how to spell ) in it. She suggested Aveeno but GP came back and told me they're not allowed to prescribe that either anymore. Seems only cheap stuff can be prescribed now and I want to try the best for lessening the impact of my reconstructed flaps. 

Thanks so much for thinking of that though for me. 

Have a great weekend too - love n hugs Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

E45 has Lanolin it. Unfortunately, I cannot help you with this, because I never had radiotherapy. Your care team should be able to recommend the best cream for you, even if it doesn't provide it.

Love and hugs,

Jolamine xx