Looking for women who chose Lumpectomy over Mastectomy

Lisey

UPDATE: (Thank you to all who PMd me. I believe the writer has enough women now.

A writer is looking for women's stories on why they chose the surgery they did for BC. He's found several women who chose Mastectomies, but hasn't had much luck finding a woman with IDC / ILC that chose LX. If you are interested in telling your story to a major publication, please PM me and I'll forward you his information.

illimae

Initially I thought double mastectomy and reconstruction was what everyone did when diagnosed with BC, I had even planned on letting my husband pick the new ones out, lol. However, learning I was stage IV from the get go, I thought surgery would be considered a waste and not approved by insurance. My team (MO, BS & RO) met after neoadjuvant chemo and discussed my good response and oligometastic status with a single bone met, they were confident that I should be treated with local control for curative intent. My BS specifically recommended a lumpectomy with a reduction and lift, stating that I had plenty to work with (DD's), knowing that I didn't want to have multiple surgeries and believing that a mastectomy was not a benefit over lumpectomy in my case and when followed by radiation

Lisey

I believe the writer has enough women now. Thank you all.

Mucki1991

I chose a lumpectomy initially, however cancer made the ultimate choice as there was too much and no possible way to save my breast

Jcolby

After my mammogram, they called me back for further testing with a digital mammogram and ultrasound. They immediately did the biopsy, and it was IDC with DCIS. Met with the surgeon, and he laid out the options -- mastectomy or lumpectomy. I surprisingly was given the choice. He explained that statistics have shown lumpectomy with radiation and hormone therapy have equal results to mastectomy and chemo. So obviously I chose lumpectomy, and had 19 radiation treatments. The surgery went well. The nodes were clear, and the margin was clear by only 0.5 mm, but clear nonetheless. There was an upstaging of the mass. It was now stage 2, grade 3, but tiny at only 20 mm (3/4"). I'm now on Letrozole. I was one of the lucky ones as my tiny cancer was caught early and I am now NED. So grateful for the fabulous care I received. An added bonus was that my breasts are now the same size. The one with cancer has always been a bit bigger. So now I have DDDs that are both the same size. In hindsight, I really wish I'd had bilateral reduction at the same time, but I just wanted the beastie out of there!