Keep nipple or not?

flag6818

Hello all! I was diagnosed in early June and am looking at my surgery options now. I’m hoping to be able to have a lumpectomy on my right breast. My tumor is 2.4cm x 2.1cm x 1.8cm and sits at 7:00 area slightly behindthe areola. Anyone have a similar situation and able to keep their nipple? If not, what reconstruction options are available and how do you feel about your results?

pupmom

That's a decision your surgeon needs to make. My tumor was close enough that the nipple had to go. There was too much risk that isolated cancer cells could have infiltrated the nipple area. I did have breast and nipple reconstruction.

beach2beach

Mine was at the 6 position at underneath but surgeon told me it was far enough away that I could have nipple sparing. She did tell me that even though she felt she could do it by looking at sono, from biopsy etc, that when she actually did surgery they would know for sure.

Justkeepmoving

yes - my doctors tried to save the nipple of the breast that had the carcinoma. My PS cut around the areola of both nipples and took biopsied of both areas to make sure no cancer was hiding behind the nipple.

The non cancer breast was free of cancer but the left one was covered with DCIS so I could not save the left nipple.

Good luck. Ask this nipple sparing to your docs.

Xoxoxox

Mucki1991

Nipple can be reconstructed out your tissue and they can do some pretty amazing things now. I hear they are always erect though I have no fisrt hand experoence. I'm doing the nipple tattoos as I enjoy never having to worry about erect nipples and no bras.

flag6818

Thanks for all of the responses! I am meeting with the bs and ps this week, so I’ll keep everyone posted on what the plan is. I’m very anxious to get the plan in place and start moving forward.

Bostoniangal25

Oh, my God! I have the same dilemma- but my surgery went on July 3. Pathology report showed I have some spreading near nipple, so I have to take it out and probably tattoo it. There are YouTube videos of tattooing nipple - looks impressive!!!