Lost marker clip

Hello Dotty, I had marker clips put in when I had the initial biopsies taken and my understanding is that these are used to help identify the area of 'suspicion' rather than to identify cancer margins. When I had my lumpectomy they removed all of the markers with the tissue but the subsequent pathology report showed that not all of the margins were clear so I had to have more surgery. It's not uncommon for this to happen, and hopefully your margins will all be clear when the pathology report comes through, but do raise any concerns about the missing marker clip with your nurse/medical team who will hopefully be able to reassure you. It may be worth chasing up a date for your results appointment too as 6 weeks is a long time, although the christmas / new year holidays and covid may have impacted wait times. Good luck with the rest of your treatment, hope it all goes well for you  x 

I have chased up my appointment & BCN said my results are pending, sorry if I haven’t made myself clear but the marker was lost possibly dropped on the theatre floor or sucked up in the suction tube, they did check with ultrasound & the clip wasn’t in the tissue where it was supposed to be 

I think these marker clips are 'so small' that anything is possible and it would depend 'where it was actually located' when they put the marker clip in (if this makes sense..... meaning it could of been on the edge of 'it' - in the centre of 'it' or even slightly away from 'it'.

I would keep saying that 'it' is OUT yahhhhhhhyyyyy.

As for the clip, well 'try' not to worry about the clip it could be anywhere, like you say on the floor, somewhere on the operating table, even stuck on the end of the tweezers when messing with 'it'.

Just focus on getting results back for clear margins

The waiting game on this is the hard one - just focus on 'it' is out.

Just had a thought, it must of been there 'before' starting the operation as they went in knowing where 'it' is - so it could easily of got lost during the removal of 'it'.  

Yes that’s right I’m thinking positive, it was definitely there the day before when the wire was put in but like you said at least it’s out that’s the main thing 

 I didn't have clips inserted on biopsy so had a wire inserted morning of surgery.  I found out 6 years on I have about 10 marker clips now which they put in during surgery as the area they removed was small -11mm, so they have a reference point in future 

That’s interesting I didn’t know that they also put them in during surgery. I’m going to ring again this week to see if they have a date for my post op appointment as it’s been 6 weeks now, I don’t really like to keep on because I know how busy they are 

I would feel the same, however, from the outside I would also say to you 'what if they haven't arranged a follow up' and you keep waiting and waiting and driving yourself mad at the same time.

Phone them, use family as an excuse that they keep on at you - or even make out that you are a sister phoning on your behalf and explain how it is upsetting you not know what is happening etc.

Either way - six weeks is a good time to see how operation site is healing and that you want peace of mind. If you phone they may even explain how long you should be waiting - for some reason, I am not sure if they call you back to have area checked if all healing well - I think then next appointment may be with the Oncologist (I'm not sure though). 

Phone  you know it makes sense - even use us bunch of Fruit Loops on here xxx

Thanks for your advice, I will definitely chase it up again this week. I’ve been calm & distracted by Xmas since my surgery but the last few days I’m definitely in the fruit loop group