My wife has breast cancer
We are at an extremely low point in our lives. My wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer in November and has now undergone a double mastectomy with reconstruction. We had been led to believe by the first surgeon / specialist, that it was likely only a very small tumor, 1.5 cm and that no lymph node involvement was likely. He recommend a lumpectomy and that he would test the sentinal nodes at that time. My wife wanted a mastectomy, double in fact, as this tumor is exactly where over 2 years ago the mamogram had found a suspicious lump. At that time a stereotopic biopsy was ordered, and after a long wait to get in, they refused to do the biopsy on the basis it was too close to the nipple, and that using ultrasound, they could rule out cancer. Well, it was cancer, and now it has spread.
To get the mastectomy, we had to go see another specialist. She biopsied the axillary lymph nodes and found the spread and agreed to perform the double mastectomy.
We just got back from the meeting with the Doctor today to go over the pathalogy report. The tumor was 3.8 cm in size with satellite nodules 0.2 to 0.4 cm in surrounding tissue and dermis of the nipple.
The biggest shocker was the lymph nodes. 6 of 17 tested positive. This puts her in a dangerous category of probably stage 3 with a significantly increased mortality. The AJCC stage is pT2 pN2 and pMx. Its the lymph nodes and number of them that really makes this bad.
We had just started to feel a bit better after the surgery, and knowing that the tumor was ER, PR positive, which makes treatment with tamoxifen and or an aromatase inhibitor effective. My wife is 45 and not menopausal, so the ER PR positive was less likely, but will present some challenges.
If I could pass any lesson on here, it is that you should not accept any advice to not biopsy a suspicious lump or mamogram mark. My wife cried, begged and pleaded for the biopsy, but they wouldn't do it and rule out the risk. A subsequent and recent mammogram even showed the suspicious spot had shrunk. Her Doctor didn't find the lump, I did. Early detection is key they say, but their methodology of relying on mammograms and playing the odds puts the individual at significant risk. Had we caught this 2-3 years ago, my wife's odds of beating it would be near 100%. Now, I am afraid its down around the 50/50 mark.
To make things worse, right around the time my wife was diagnosed, her mother passed away. We were glad we didn't tell her mom because we would have blamed her death on the news.
My wife is a fighter, and I know she will do everything she can to survive. What will kill me is to see her pain and suffering. That's the part I really can't take.
BB
Reply With Quote
Ontario "Your's To Discover"
