Lumpectomy ruled out for Large Breasts ?

Shekhar

Hi ,

My mother 64 years old has been diagnosed with a lump with malignant cells in her right breast. As the cancer is in first stage and the size of the lump is not large the initial treatment plan was to have a Lumpectomy followed by radio therapy for 6 weeks. However when the radiologist was consulted he felt that since the breat size is very large effective radio therapy can not be carried out and suggests Mastectomy. I am a little confused . In view of the small size of the lump my mother is in favor of Lumpectomy . Has any one come across /know about a similar situation ?  Please advise

Leah_S

Shekhar, I would suggest getting a second opinion from another radiation oncologist before you make any decisions.

Best of luck.

Leah

hrf

I also suggest a second opinion. I also had very, very large breasts and had lumpectomy and radiation. No one ever mentioned a potential problem.

pejkug3

I suggest a second opinion as well.  I was a 48H at the time of my lumpectomy.  I asked SO many doctors if a MX would be a better option for me.  I was told over and over, NO.  They said that I was a perfect candidate for lumpectomy.

Megadotz

Get a second opinion.    I'm a DD and the RO told me it would have been harder to get the right angles if I'd had an UMX instead of a lumpectomy, since the nodes were included.  FWIW, the skin effects from radiation are more severe with a mastectomy than with a lupectomy  according to my RO.

 Make sure that you're talking to a differtent center, there may be issues with the equipment at that center.  

Good luck. 

sandik

I'm also a DD. My Dr told me it was because I have large breasts that the lumpectomy is a good choice. Even for a re-excision they said I'm lucky I have large breasts. I would ask for a second opinion!

moonlight60

Well, after my lumpectomy/mastoplexy, I was only a C when I had rads, but my RO told me that because I was on the larger side, I could be treated in the prone position (less impact to the lung). I agree with the second opinion at a different center if you can.

Blessings2011

I was a 38DDD when I was diagnosed, and my first option was a lumpectomy followed by radiation.

However, in my case, the cancer was multi-focal (in two places) and the surgeon said that she might have to take out such a large wedge of tissue to get to the two spots, I might not be pleased with the results.

It wasn't a case of too-large breasts, it was a case of two tumors being taken out of the same breast.

lago

The radiologist told you this? Not his/her call. You should be talking with a breast surgeon and a radiation oncologist.

Druanne

The only thing my RO said about large breasts is that they tend to have more severe skin reactions to the radiation treatments.......and he was also worried about it hanging down to the side when lying down........I am just a D so everything was fine for me.......

cookiegal

Sheckhar.....we have a whole thread on lumpectomy and reduction. It's the proceedure I had. You can google it too. It's true that if you are huge radiation is tougher.

I do think you need second opinions all around.