Stage IIa: lumpectomy or mastectomy

Medinorth:  Like you I had a lumpectomy, after I did alot of research I had found that there really was no difference in the survival rates between a mastectomy and a lumpectomy.  Sometimes when I read the posts that others have written and see that stage IIa had mastectomies I also worry a little but then I remember the research.  But like lago stated if you are having concerns bring them up to your doctor I am sure that he/she gave you their recommendations when you were deciding on what to do.

hugs

Both surgeons I saw said lumpectomy and rads, so that's what I went with.

Edited to add: plus chemo and Herceptin

I had both my breasts removed. jhen I had an MRI it picked up another 2.5 cm mass. I didn't bother having it biopsied I just said take them both off. The second mass was calcificatios. However, my other breast was full of atypical cells and calcifications so I am sure I made the right choice for me.

medinorth -  I chose lumpectomy/rads after the MRI showed a single tumor and the size ratio of the tumor to breast was favorable for lumpectomy/rads.  My doctors left the decision to me except for my rad onc who really through the lump/rads would work well.  Both my surgeon and med onc seemed very comfortable with lump/rads. More worry its true though, perhaps that is why some women choose mast.

On the breast cancer watch website it says: Fear of breast cancer recurrence and the understandable impulse to avoid associated pre-event anxieties continues to be a powerful motivator behind the continued election of mastectomy and the underutilization of BCS (breast conseving surgery) to this day.

Lumpectomy, chemo, rads. I am very, very happy with my decision. So much less invasive and quicker to get back to my life. I don't know if I could stand to do all the additional sugeries, recoveries, time, pain and hassle that the recon ladies go through, but I also don't know if I could be OK with no boobs. Alot of people don't have the option, but I'm glad I did!

Medinorth..... Actually most women with early stage breast cancer have a lumpectomy.  I have seen the statistics and don't quite remember, but in the 70% range.  And for the reasons everyone mentions.  My own feeling was you can always remove more later, but I also believe less is more.

So focus on healing and doing what is needed to extirpate the beast from the rest of your body.  At 7 months post radiation, I am doing 12 mile treks of arduous x-country skiing.  I am not sure I would be able to if I had both breasts removed.

Understanding the rigors of surgery and recovery, my first words to my surgeon were "can I have a lumpectomy".  I was beyond thrilled when she said "yes". - Claire

hi medinorth - Glad you got clean margins and are done with surgery. When do you begin chemo? I did TCH x 6 and H for a year, and although I don't want to downplay the side effects, it was easier than I ever feared before I started. I worked throughout (took 4 days off during chemo week), took some road trips, and kept up with cardio workouts. There's a great TCH thread here that was my hangout during chemo - still keep in touch with some of the women I did chemo with. You're going to do fine.

Sue

I am only Stage I but I decided on BLMX.  For me the information that made me turn this direction was:

1. I was twice as likely to get BC in my good breast now that I had it in the other side

2.  Though 10 year survival rates were the same for mastectomy vs. lumpectomy and rads, the recurrence rates were different.

I am a mom of a 4 year old son and I don't ever want to hear "I am sorry, there are cancer cells" again.  I know I don't have that guarantee, but if I had done lumpectomy and rads and got the cancer back again, I would not be able to live with myself that I didn't do everything possible the first time around.  I know it can still come back after BLMX, but I guess if it does, I will know that I did everything I could and God must have a greater plan for me.  The other thing is that if it did come back again, I would get a MX anyway.  I just want the best chance of never having to deal with this again plain and simple. 

It is very much a personal choice. I don't mean to push you my way at all by what I wrote.  I just wanted to explain what things really impacted my decision to be more aggressive.  In the end, the decision has to be YOURS and YOU have to be OK with it. 

Just raising a hand for another with dense breasts. Oh and my mom (and sister) has them too. She's 73 and her doctor tell her she has the breasts of a 20 YO… she also had 3 kids so some women don't un-dense after menopause.

HI There, I am stage 2, no lymph node involvement , onco score 11, grade 3, and I chose a lumpectomy.  I am very happy with my choice and my surgeon shared that lumpectomy with radiation and hormone drugs is as effective as a masectomy.  For me, I have some other medical issues, am young (45) and didnt want extensive surgery.  It was the right choice for me and given I was treated at a major cancer center I feel confident with my choice .  I know how scary it is to feel comfortable with your selections for treatment.  I chose to skip chemo and have been uncomortable with that for a bit now.  My final treatment was lumpectomy, radiation (38 rounds) and hormone treatment. Good luck, I hope you come to peace with your decision.

Bevin

Yeah, doctors will say how breasts get less dense with age, but mine are as dense now as they were 5 years ago at 40 and now I am 45 and in chemopause.   

I am new here, diagnosed 12/1/10 and have yet to have my surgery so don't have full pathology. My surgeon is now considering lumpectomy vs. mastectomy, and I have a question, and I hope you all can provide input.  I will surely have chemo, radiation, and hormone treatment. If I have immediate reconstruction after mastectomy, does this impact the treatment? Also, are later mammograms/MRIs sensitive enough to 'read' the tissue remaining after a mastectomy?

I know I am stage II with at least one node (where they originally found the bc).  Also, I have very dense breast tissue...they didn't see the breast lump on the original mammogram and had to do an MRI.

Thanks all!

M

diagnosed 12/1/10, age 38, stage II, grade 1, ER+/PR+, HER2-, in at least one lymph node