After having my 2nd opinion from UCSF I am now more convinced the treatment option I have decided upon is the right one for me. Frank and I met with a Dr. Hwang. She reviewed my files, examined my MRI and Ultrasound images, examined me and listened to our questions. After reviewing everything, her conclusion was she completely agreed on the left side mastectomy. There was a question prior to her examining my MRI about why I was not doing nipple and aerola sparing surgery-which alarmed me. After viewing the images, she agreed with my Dr.'s suggestion. The tumor as well as other areas of concern that appeared on my image, were too close to the nipple area. This confirmed my Dr.'s suggested treatment. She confirmed the size of my tumor is close to 3cm. right in there with my Dr.'s guess.
Her only question was, why do the the right side? No questionable areas present, treatment from radiation was excellent and this area would be closely monitored going forward. A healthy breast so why remove it?
Even after listening to her, I still am going to go forward with a bi lateral mastectomy. I know I do not want to live with the worry of maybe again something will appear then I have to go thru this process over again. Deep down I am a conservative person...not one to take risks and this is not a risk I am willing to take. Many women have gone thru a bilateral mastectomy and have done fine. I can do the same and be assured my risk is lowered more.
As for a confirmation of my cancer tissue she assured me after reading the lab reports that the possibility of the test being incorrect were just about nil, especially after viewing the images and such. So, no need for a confirmation on the tissue sample.
Another appt to check off the list-done.
So, tomorrow the hospital for pre-admitting.
Keep me company as I travel thru my journey facing breast cancer again.
Why would anyone want to read about someone else's problem when you have plenty of your own? Maybe one day a loved one, a friend, or you will be diagnosed with breast cancer. My blog might offer insite into cancer resources, thoughts, questions to ask, or guidance in helping you deal with this disease. These are my experiences and suggestions. Every breast cancer is different. If you are touched by breast cancer, be sure to consult your Dr. for direction in treatment.
I equate my blog to the emergency evacuation instruction the flight attendants do before you take off on an airplane. Nobody pays attention to them but when your plane is about to crash you think, "sh*t, why didn't I pay more attention to them? Which color cord do I pull first again?" We have so many things going on in our lives that one more thing to dwell on that doesn't apply to us right now may not be important but when it does, we wish we would have paid attention.
My blog is something you might read a couple times or maybe follow. Hopefully you gain some knowledge about breast cancer, in particular, Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC). It is the 2nd most common type of invasive breast cancer however it only accounts for approx. 10% of all invasive breast cancers. It is the silent breast cancer. It is generally not detected with a mammo but rather an ultrasound. Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) is what I have been diagnosed with. My suggestion to every woman who is of mammo age insist on an ultrasound with your mammos.
UPDATE 3/2011
I have had my bilaterial mastectomy and I am recovering. ILC is a sneaky cancer as I said above. My various Dr.'s here and at UCSF confirmed the size of my tumor should be between 2.5cm-3.5cm with possibilty but not most likely, 7cm. After my surgery, my tumor was confirmed to be 11cm. My Dr.'s are very knowledgeable and are on top of things. This is simply the truth about ILC. I had mammos every 6 months, ultra sounds, and MRI's. With all of these, it was not picked up until 1/2011. The good news, if you can call it that, only 1 sentinel node out of 2 has micromastic findings and 5 aux. nodes were negative.
Be sure to start my adventure from the blog history on the right. I have tried to bold points to make it easier to extract the important information. If there is anything you get out of this blog, refer to my Dr.'s listed below if you know someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer in the East Bay. These Dr.'s; Dr. Gottlieb, Dr. Wotowic, and Dr. Sherman are my 3 musketeers....all for 1 and 1 for all!
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