Was my lumpectomy a mistake?

Cherryi3

Hi Everyone,

I'm two weeks out from my lumpectomy/sentinel node dissection and recovering well. Waiting for my oncotype and meeting with oncologist. One more agonizing week to go.. My imaging showed dense fibrous tissue. I am thankful for a very favorable prognosis at this time but I'm second guessing my lumpectomy over mastectomy. My IDC was only seen on the diagnostic mammogram and I was sent for MRI prior to my surgery. BS noted a trail of calcification leading from the IDC to a benign cyst. She was concerned that it might be the start of DCIS in several areas. The only positive malignancy was my small IDC tumor. I was so thankful that I could keep my breast that I didn't even consider mastectomy. Now I'm freaking myself out thinking this was a mistake. I feel like I can't do this again. I assume the onc will set up radiation at my upcoming appointment. Will the rads prevent those calcifications from becoming DCIS?

Thank you

PawPatrolMom

Hi,

I hope you continue to recover well. If your doctor believes you need radiation, then the goal would be that it reduces the chance of recurrence. Talk to your doctor about your concerns and see what he/she says. I will say this about your second guessing....it's easier to second guess yourself about not doing the mastectomy than doing it and regretting it because once it's gone, it's gone. I know having multiple procedures isn't ideal but you can always consider still doing a mastectomy. Sometimes with getting diagnosed, things happen so fast that we don't get a chance to process all of the information or we just decide to change our minds. The main thing is that YOU have peace of mind. In meeting with different plastic surgeons, I realized that most of them wanted me to keep my nipples. The one I decided to go with for other reason just so happens to be the one that said , “I don't think you need to get rid of them, but if that's what makes you happy, we will do it. I know I'm treating you physically and mentally as well". I know for a fact I wouldn't be able sleep at night (will always be hard of course course after the diagnosis) if I kept them. I think what is most important is that you feel you did everything in your power to prevent recurrence. God Bless

AliceBastable

The standard choices seem to be mastectomy OR lumpectomy + radiation, with comparable results long-term.

Elise19

What AliceBastable wrote is what I was told as well. My surgeon said the survival rate was actually slightly better with lump plus rad, at least in cases like mine, which sounds similar to yours.