Ok, so I was diagnosed with a small 13mm invasive, grade 3 cancer on 5th December. Treatment was going to be Lumpectomy and radiotherapy and hormone therapy.
Had surgery, lumpectomy and sentinal node on 26th of Jan. Went for the results on the 11th of Feb.
I was told the tumour was 24mm, grade 3 and that it had spread to one of the two lymph nodes removed. She also said that my margins wern'tclear on two sides so they were going to reoperate again, on the 23rdof this month to get clearmargins. They had also sent a sample off for oncotype to see if I now needed chemo as it was in the nodes. I wasn't happy about more surgery, but obviously, you do what you need to do. I clarified it all with the nurse afterwards to make sure I understood what was being said.
An hour ago,thepostman delivered a copy letter the doctor sent to my GP stating that I had a 24mm Grade 3 invasive cancer PLUS a DCIS. WHAT?????? I knew nothing of a DCIS.
It then went on to say that two margins were positive for cancer. Treatment to be re excision to get clearmargins and oncotyping.
I've just rung the BCN's as the report mentions superficial margins and she nor I understand what is meant by that and i wanted to know if I had read it right that there was a DCIS too and why that wasn'tmentioned!
OP on Tuesday, let's hope they get it all out this time!
HI
Glad you are feeling much better having spoken to your doctor. I think they don't always mention everything as I had some information which I found out nearly a year later by asking for my hospital records.
The tumour is 'the most important' part of your diagnosis and this is what your treatment plan goes on. DCIS is for want of better words "pre-cancer", it is generally treated the same because it could turn into cancer, but at that moment the DCIS isn't the most concerning part of your diagnosis for your oncologist.
It is, as you say fairly common - I had 15mm tumour grade 2, ER+ and then 2 areas of DCIS totalling 54mm, grade 3, ER- (so 2 different types entirely - I'd been told about the DCIS, but not the fact that it was a different type. However, it was removed with the cancer and then the treatment plan is radiotherapy and then for the tumour, tablets for the following 5 years (this July it will be 4 years post surgery)
Yes, only 0.5mm isn't much of a clear margin is it? So, definitely better safe than sorry by going back in again!!
Good luck with your next op. Plus, I hope your oncotype is good, so it's just the radio and tablets. One hint on those, if you get any side effects, try asking for different brands as the coatings of the tablets make a huge difference. I am on Anastrazole - the brands Acccord and Teva don't give me side effects at all - I took a different type once when the pharmacy didn't have any of those brands in and I ached all over!
Lesley x
