Well, I'm back and it's good!

CAMary · Post by **CAMary** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:06 pm

I only got a preliminary report since a couple of the pathologists can't agree on what they see...but they DO agree on the important stuff which is stage 0/non-invasive and grade 2 which is pretty common as far as aggressiveness (grade 3 would be more concerning)...

Apparently they saw a different type of atypia mixed in with the pathology - many women can have both - but not usually in the same tissue, and it is considered something that puts a person at-risk, but not pre-cancerous, like the other stuff - so it is actually "less" worrisome than what was initially found, but still abnormal - does that make sense?

Anyways, since this is a sort of unusual finding, they will be discussing me @ next Tuesday's tumor board meeting, and will probably send the sample out to UCSF (which is a major research facility) to have their pathologists take a look and get a definitive diagnosis...

If they agree it is more of the original stuff, I will have to go back in for re-excision, as the margin of clear tissue on one side was not large enough - if it is the other kind of atypia they won't need to do anything more...I'm fine with either finding. The important thing is the staging and prognosis remain unchanged. Also, they do not yet know hormone-receptor status, since they are still arguing over what it is - but the surgeon implied I would likely be a candidate for Tamoxifen, as a risk-lowering treatment....

SO yeah, it's good news! FINALLY!!

Love you guys,

Mary

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:33 pm

Hi Mary!!
Your right!! Finally good news!!
Sounds like these guys are on the ball with sending the sample to UCSF for another check!! Nothing wrong with that decision...
I can tell that you're feeling better about all of this!!

Love
Dee~~~~~ :bigbighug:

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:47 pm

Love, Shirley

barbaranoela · Post by **barbaranoela** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:25 pm

Great News Mary-------

Take a nice

and relax--

So happy that U can take the Xtra sigh of relief--

Luve -
Barbara

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:45 pm

Great news, Mary!

You sound more relieved and less stressed than before - it's better knowing isn't it?

I think the "round table" discussion is a good idea - two (or more) heads are better than one, usually.

Also, sending the sample out to UCSF is a great idea too. I like the second opinion idea when it comes to invasive and radical proceedures.

Take care of yourself and let us know as things progress. I'm really happy you received good news.

Love and

Mars

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:54 pm

It sounds like good news Mary. Relax now and rest. Love Oma

cludwig · Post by **cludwig** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:56 pm

Great news Mary.

Love,
Cristi

JJ · Post by JJ » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:58 pm

Yippee Yahoo!

:manynanas:

JJ

Carol Arnett · Post by **Carol Arnett** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:26 pm

Good news I have been praying for, Mary. I hope you can relax a little, now. Love, Carol

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:07 am

Love,

Polly

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:35 am

Morning Mary,

Great News!! The kind you really needed to hear and I think their approach to send a sample away and discuss it at their weekly meeting is really one to be applauded. You sound like you found a physician and his colleagues who are really proactive.

Love, Maggie

Alice · Post by **Alice** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:09 am

Hi Mary,

I'm happy for you! Take some deep breathes now and celebrate!

Love,
Alice

Peggy · Post by **Peggy** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:03 am

Love,
Peggy

CAMary · Post by **CAMary** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:42 pm

Yep-

Knowing (something, anything!) is *always* better than not knowing - I feel a sense of inner-calm and control inside that I haven't felt for about 6 weeks. Because now I know what is, and I have a plan to make it alright...

You know, if it weren't so clinical, it would *almost* be flattering to think that my :boobs: will be the topic of discussion for a tableful of men @ next week's tumor board...

Apparently my surgeon has diagnosed 4 cases in the last week-and-a-half...I was shocked

at that rate - truly an epidemic and no woman is immune from the risk...

I am also glad I did not hear of Elizabeth Edwards' recurrence while I was waiting for results. The type she initially had is what starts out as what I have - but hers was not caught until it already became invasive...

I feel like I am a weird combination of unfortunate, yet very, very lucky!

Mary

kate_ce1995 · Post by **kate_ce1995** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:40 pm

Mary, I vote for very very lucky. Even if it is unfortuate to have (and there is no denying that) your docs and your raised awareness that you have it, will allow for the careful screening and with a little more luck hopefully will never get to the invasive point. I heard through the grapevine that a classmate of mine has BC but it wasn't found until it had spread throughout her spine.

I dread the day I have to deal with mammograms and such because of my mom's history. Hers wasn't even a lump. They did the biopsy because of lumps (cysts) and an area that was concave instead of convex (or is that the otherway around...dented in instead of rounded out). Hers was likely the flat tissue type that doesn't create lumps. Even after the surgery her surgeon could not pick out the area on her mammogram.

I'm glad you are calm about it now. Katy