I'm a breast cancer surgeon. AMAZING

[Gincision]

What the thread title says. I've been a consultant for nearly 2 years. Open for questions...

Ran out - I was like you, didn't care about my breast as long as they got rid of it all and told my team.

However my amazing breast surgeon did a beautiful job of removing the whole tumour with clear margins so I still have a reasonable looking breast - I'm now grateful because it has meant I've been able to return to normal life very quickly, wear the same clothes etc. She knew what she was doing ;)

This probably sounds really silly but what I'm most worried about is being put to sleep! Any tips on dealing with that?

despondent - gincision is obviously the expert (and thank goodness she is!). I have the BRCA2 gene, and it came down my father's side. Even doctors still sometimes assume that it will be the female side but dads DM and her DM both died of BC at a young age.
My surgeon has also said to keep taking the aromatase inhibitors as I have no side effects.
Another question - sorry! I had decided against recon as I felt I'd had enough surgery (had oopherectomy too). If I needed recon on both sides, how long is the recovery time? My surgeon seemed a little negative about it.

What do you think of the recent NAP6 findings about blue dye? Will this change your practice?

What's this?! I am currently still sporting a blue boob months after my breast surgery, is the blue dye dangerous?

Hi gin...you do a marvellous job.
I had breast cancer last year er/pr positive...
No chemo...finished radio last June. My breast is still painful and I can't tell what's scar tissue or a new lump....what's the likelihood of it returning so quickly.
Also...tamoxifen..I have hardly any side effects...is it definitely working? Literally the odd night sweat but nothing else.
Oh and last thing...they did give me further scans at the time... my bone scan they did barely an hour after I'd been injected....would it still have been accurate? I worry as have lots of lower back pain/sciatica...
And thank you

Do you see many male patients?

The topic title made me laugh!

I went to the GP this week. She said she reckons what I felt was lumpy breast tissue rather than an actual lump, and has said she’ll check again in a fortnight. Can you describe the difference in terms of feel between lumpiness and a lump? She couldn’t and so I’m not feeling very reassured!

You are one of life's angels OP! Thankyou 😀

I went to the GP yesterday because my nipple has inverted and that's new. Both drs who did the breast exam can feel 'thickening' behind my nipple and see dimpling of t breast when I move my arm.
My GP used to to work in the breast clinic before becoming a GP and he's sent me to the rapid access breast clinic next week.

He said they'd be interested in my family history as 4 of my mums female relatives have died from BC before 40 and my mum had it at 30- I'm 27

What can I expect to happen next week at the clinic? I'm shitting myself if I'm honest.

Is there still a link to HRT and breast cancer? I want to start HRT but the reports from the 80s have put me off a bit. No history of breast cancer in my family (fingers crossed).

OP is it true that there’s a link between Iodine deficiency and breast cancer?

WeirdScenes the evidence for a link is suggestive but not conclusive:

The thyroid, iodine and breast cancer

I take a multivitamin that supplies both iodine and selenium, another micro-nutrient that plays a role in thyroid regulation.

Hypothesis: iodine, selenium and the development of breast cancer.

Ensuring that you have adequate iodine and selenium intake certainly isn't going to do you any harm.

I once went to a talk by an academic who was convinced that one of the reasons why breast cancer is so common in the west is the high consumption of dairy (on the grounds that China has a low rate of breast cancer, but Chinese-Americans have a higher incidence) - is there any credibility to this?

Another question - are (prophylactic?) mastectomies still recommended for ductal carcinoma in situ? My mum had one 19 years ago now - I think the doctor said that it could have developed into cancer a few years later.

@Hangingaroundtheportal NAP6 was a survey run by the Royal College of Anaesthetists looking at allergic reactions under anaesthesia. Blue dye was in the top 5 causative agents (though overall incidence of true allergies was still very low) so there is talk about whether it can be changed. But if you've already had it and not reacted, you're at no risk from it still being there.

@ranoutofquinoaandprosecco I'm an anaesthetist (not brave enough to do my own AMA!) so can try to help your fears if there's something particularly bothering you?

Ghosts the possible link between BC and dairy consumption has been studied extensively and it's not considered a significant risk factor:

DAIRY PRODUCTS AND BREAST CANCER RISK

Here's how it compares to other risk factors:

BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS TABLE

I eat lots of low fat or non-fat dairy products and it doesn't concern me a bit. By the way, the academic who gave that talk you went to should go back and review his or her statistics course. Co-relation is not causation.

Thank you for this opportunity. I have a moderately high genetic risk but have not yet been offered braca testing. Just annual mammography and examination. Is this enough? There was the mention of tamoxifen use in certain areas around the UK for ladies with strong family history. What's your take on this. If you were in the moderately high risk what would you want in the way of monitoring and potential treatment options. Feels like waiting for the inevitable.

Thanks MissConductUS - I'll have a look at those links. I was a bit sceptical when I went to the talk (it was by Jane Plant, who was a geochemist).

Thank you for this opportunity. I have a moderately high genetic risk but have not yet been offered braca testing. Just annual mammography and examination. Is this enough? There was the mention of tamoxifen use in certain areas around the UK for ladies with strong family history. What's your take on this. If you were in the moderately high risk what would you want in the way of monitoring and potential treatment options. Feels like waiting for the inevitable.

I might be mistaken here, but I thought it was triple negative breast cancer that was linked to the BRCA gene? Not hormone receptive cancer for which you would be taking tamoxifen for?

@SockQueen thanks for that info x

There is a FH of both. Hence the question

I am 33, was diagnosed with triple negative BC in Dec and have the BRCA1 gene mutation.

I have had chemo, bi-lateral mastectomy with reconstruction and am waiting for radiotherapy.

What is the chance of my BC reoccurring?

Xxx

How do you feel about the Optima trial?

Ghosts, a geochemist giving a lecture on breast cancer etiology? I'd be skeptical too.

I had a mastectomy over 10 years ago. I was left with a lump/pad of fatty tissue under my arm. I want it to be removed as its so unsightly and yet another constant reminder . I was promised a review by my surgeon at the time but wasnt in a good enough place mentally to deal with more hospital stuff .I have asked my gp to refer me which he has agreed to saying its up to the surgeon anyway what happens. Do you have referrals like these come back to you and if so what do you do with them?