Radiation vs Mastectomy

Chick-a-dee

Hello - I have triple negative cancer and I’m almost done with chemo in advance of surgery. I have a choice either to have a lumpectomy and radiation, or mastectomy and an implant. My surgeon does not anticipate removal of the nipple or muscle tissue with either surgery. Chemotherapy has been rough and I truly dread the idea of radiation. I have an appointment with an RO but am Hoping for input about experiences with radiation.

Thank you!!

buttonsmachine

For me, a lumpectomy with radiation was much better than a mastectomy. I've done both. Chemo is quite different from radiation, so don't let that be a deciding factor.

In my opinion a lumpectomy is preferable if it's an option. The mastectomy was harder and was a much bigger impact on my body. For me, it was hard enough losing a breast from a body image standpoint, but my range of motion, shoulder movement, and function have not been the same after a mastectomy. Also ordinary things like sleeping and doing dishes are provoke pain sometimes.

Just my opinion and experience, it's a very personal decision. Best wishes whatever you decide.

MountainMia

A mastectomy has exactly the same recurrence risk as a lumpectomy with radiation. I chose lumpectomy and radiation (also triple negative, but with surgery before chemo, tumor was 1.5 cm, no nodes involved.) My breast size barely changed with surgery; recovery was incredibly easy; and radiation was also simple. I had 20 sessions of radiation (16 whole breast and 4 boosts.) My skin was barely disrupted, a little pink and tender. I had some fatigue at the end, but nothing extraordinary. So my sequence was lumpectomy, chemo, radiation. Lumpectomy was easy and radiation was easy. The chemo was the harder part for me.

Sorry I didn't give you any specific information. Please ask if you have questions.

Ingerp

Honestly I didn't think radiation (either time) was that big a deal. It can be tough on your schedule having to go five days a week but I scheduled my appointments at lunchtime and didn't even take any sick leave. I experienced real fatigue maybe 2-3 times. That was it. My skin did what you'd expect but was never terrible. I also didn't bother with any kind of reconstruction, even with the really large chunk in 2016. Breasts are lopsided anyway, right? I really don't think about it any more.