Breast cancer cases: history of pat

BREAST CANCER CASES: HISTORY OF PAT

Pat is 65 and has three children.
She noticed one day that one of her breasts seemed to have become smaller. She had had a mammogram the previous year, and was not unduly concerned, deciding to show the breast to a doctor at her annual clinic check-up, 6 months later. However, shortly afterwards, she visited her GP with an unrelated problem and the GP noticed some puckering of the skin around Pat's nipple, and decided to send her to a breast specialist.
Some 13 years previously Pat had had surgery for cancer of the pancreas, and so felt she did not want to worry her family unnecessarily. She therefore kept her concerns to herself, and found the month she had to wait before seeing the specialist very stressful.
The consultant who examined her was 80 per cent certain that her condition was malignant, and did a fine needle aspiration biopsy. There was no discussion at this appointment about what Pat's options would be in the event of the consultant being proved right. She was sent for a mammogram and an ultrasound test.
About 10 days later, Pat went with her daughter to receive the results of the tests. To their delight, the consultant told them that the lump was almost certainly benign and was a fat necrosis, formed of dead cells. However, he did a further fine needle biopsy as well as a Tru-Cut biopsy, and said he did feel that the lump should be removed. Pat's daughter took down all that was said at this appointment in shorthand so that she and her mother could go through it together when they felt calmer.
A couple of days later, Pat received a letter asking her to go in to hospital the following day for a lumpectomy. Feeling much more cheerful, she had her operation, and left hospital within 3 days.
Pat returned alone for a follow-up visit to the consultant a week later, and her dressing was changed by a nurse. The consultant told her that his first diagnosis had been correct, and the lump had been cancer - a ductal adenocarcinoma which was encased in dead cells within the fat necrosis. He also told her that she would need to have a course of radiotherapy. Pat was very frightened, and went home to ring BACUP, who sent her leaflets and were very supportive.
She has had a meeting with the oncologist to discuss her proposed treatment, and is waiting to start her radiotherapy. The oncologist has warned her that, as the cancer was deep rooted, the radiation treatment may leave scar tissue on her lung, and she should ask her GP for some antibiotics if she has any subsequent sign of chest infection.
Once the radiotherapy course is finished, Pat will have a partial prosthesis as her breast will have shrunk slightly.

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CANCER

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