Lumpectomy or Mastectomy

Pita119

I always felt that the waiting on results was the hardest part of my journey. Hang in there farmerma...once you have a plan in place, things will move quickly.

ruthbru

I had a re-excision too. I think that happens a lot. Hang in there. This first part is the worst; once you get a plan it place, then you just do it and get it over with.

ktab96

I had a lumpectomy with targeted radiation (SAVI). My decision was based largely on my radiation treatment. If targeted radiation was not an option for me and I had to go for the 6 week full blown radiation, I would have chosen a mastectomy. I healed very well from my lumpectomy. My scar is barely visible and to look at me you would never know I had breast cancer. So I guess I am happy with my choice. I just wish I could get away from the 5 -10 year meds.

Mamamule

I have a 4cm lump on my right breast, and I'm very small-breasted. My surgeon wanted me to have chemo first because she was concerned about waiting till after surgery and recovery. She said if the tumor shrank significantly during chemo I could consider lumpectomy, but otherwise it would be too large a percentage of overall breast size.

However, in during the routine MRI of both breasts ordered after my diagnosis, something abnormal showed up on the left breast. A follow-up biopsy showed that despite the clear mammogram, I had IDC on the whole underside of left breast. 1/3 lymph nodes tested positive.

So now I pretty much have no choice except for BMX. I'd constantly be afraid of recurrence since I've already had it on both breasts, and it was able to get to stage 3 and still isn't detectable by mammogram. Plus I don't think a lumpectomy would be possible on left breast, as there's no actual lump. The cancer cells are spread in a thin film that covers the whole underside of breast. Weird, right?

In some ways having my hand forced like this seems easier since I don't have to anguish over which decision to make. It's so hard to know which way to go without the magical crystal ball that shows how things will turn out. And I'm learning that the odds mean nothing -- I'm statistically at very low risk for breast cancer, yet I have it on both sides.

I'm hoping a benefit of having BMX will be avoiding radiation. I meet with the radiologist next week to get more information. I only have 1 positive node, so hoping chemo, BMX, and long-term meds will be enough. I'd like to avoid something in this awful process!

equinimity

Thank you so much, Ruthbru. I am in the final stages of this decision - for the second time. I am also BRCA2 positive, Did lumpectomy last time, no rads, recurrence within 2 years so the odds lean heavily in a direction I hate having to think about. Thank you for taking the issues one by one, and giving thoughtful information, guidance and structure for working through the process. I am so grateful to the women of this board for the generosity they have shown in helping others.

ruthbru

This is definitely tough stuff.....no matter what choices one makes (or is forced to make ) But I think it helps some to know that you can get through whatever you have to, come out on the other side, and be really, truly okay. Best of luck to all!