Did BART affect your decision for lumpectomy vs mastectomy?

JohnLeo

Did BART affect your decision for lumpectomy vs mastectomy?

JohnLeo

Hello.  My wife was just diagnosed with triple negative stage 1 IDC breast cancer.  The tumor has a low grade (1) and is about 7mm. She is 40 which is just about the same age her mom was when she died from breast cancer but has tested negative from BRCA.  We are now waiting for results from her BART testing.

After much research and soul searching, she has decided to go with a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy.  However, she may change her mind if the BART testing comes back positive.  We were just curious if anyone else had a positive BART and what surgery they decided to go with (assuming they had a choice of course), particularly if triple negative.

Thank you.

Stackofbills

Hi! I just had a lumpectomy (two weeks ago today), and my TNBC is stage IIa, Grade 3.  1.5 cm and positive in one lymph node. My BART testing was negative.  My surgeon was fantastic in giving me the latest research information so that I could make an informed decision. He then looked at my husband and said  "Do not help her make this decision. It is very personal, and not about you.  If the cancer ever returns I promise she will find a way to blame you for influencing her decision." Dr. C. is 67 years old and the best in our area. He told us that he had seen that situation play out several times in his office and didn't want it to happen again, so he tells the husbands to be silent but supportive.  I came home that day and did my own reasearch and found that survivor rate does not change either way, but the luppectomy has the bennefit of radiation.  The radiation seems to help with the reocurrence rate a few precentage points.  That is what tipped the scales for me.  My husband and I talked it through of course, we have been married 22 years and we talk about everything, but the decision was mine.  I called 2 days later to let my doctor know my decision, I knew that I had made the right choice for me.  All we can go with is the current research available to us at the time.  

Hope this helps.