After 2 lumpectomies a mastectomy is recommended

I would definitely get other opinions just for peace of mind.  I had a similar situation.  I had a lumpectomy and re-excision.  They were not 100% that they got it all, and any imaging done would not have shown anything that small.  I eventually went back for a BMX and have no regrets.  I am 38 with a 3 year old and 1 year old so the recovery for me was a bit different - I had to have someone at home with me the first 3 weeks as I had lifting restrictions.  How old is your child?  I had immediate reconstruction.  I spent 2 nights in the hospital and when I got home, I had to sleep upright for a few days.  A week out, I had more range of motion in my arms.  It's been 4 months now, and I feel back to normal, my new normal. 

My choices that were presented to me after the re-excision were a mastectomy, or third re-excision, or just leave as is and monitor.  I chose a BMX.  It is a very personal decision.   I did get a few different opinions, but in the end, it is your own decision.  Good luck!

I had a lumpectomy with poor margins.  I decided to have a bilat mastectomy (2 separate surgeries, no reconstruction) because they found 8 cm of DCIS during the lumpectomy about which they were unaware, along with the .9 cm IDC.  The DCIS was not seen on mammogram, US, MRI.  I realized that there would be no way to follow things in the future, as no test would find anything until it was invasive.  I decided to be aggressive and had chemo as well as the MXs.  I was back at work (mostly a desk job) 2 weeks after each mx.  I have 2 teenagers (single mother) so didn't have to do lifting for a while.  Recovery was smooth.  No significant pain (only needed Tylenol) and no significant interference with lifestyle (but, again, I had the surgeries a few months apart).

Good lluck!

Hi I too have just had second lumpectomy.I am 41 and a mother of two 14 and 8. I just had my second one on friday and am so scared that the margins will not be clean again. I am struggling with what to do if that is the case also. I was diagnosed jan 10 the tumor was 1.8 but they found more DCIS as well when they went in which did not show up on the mamogram and ultrasound. I go for an MRI on March 14 they couldnt get me in any sooner and I have to travel to another city to get this.I get a bone scan next week and apparently there are some abnormal finding in my cervix too which I now have to get tested. I was told there was no node involvment but there were traces (microscopic) in one node which to me would mean there is involvment but i guess it wasnt enough to classify as that so chemo is in my future starting in the next few weeks. I am so freaked out and overwhelmed right now. I dont know my stage or if I am positive or negative yet as those tests have not come back so I feel like I am just sitting in limbo. If I have to have a masectomy i will do both and want reconstruction for sure am hoping if that is the case I can have a nipple,skin sparing masectomy as I dont want to have barbie boobs this is all so frustrating. Well hope you are all having a better sunday than me i feel a pity party coming along better go have some coffee and try to lock the doors so they cant get in.

Love and strength to you all

Kymn

Mom2one I sure hope I am done with surgeries I guess after my MRI i will know more waiting waiting waiting sigh

JBinOK,

Gosh - you've lived what I most feared.  Recurrence 1 year after lumpectomy.  So despite my lumpectomy in Oct. I'm going to have BLMX/no reconstruction in March.  That's so GOOD to hear that 4 week out you feel 100% back-to-normal.  How much pain did you have?  How many drains?  Were they painful?  Hard to care for?  How much weight can you lift now?  When could you drive?  Run on a treadmill?  Sorry for so many questions, but you are SO where I want to be at some point after, say, April Fools Day !  Thanks for any info..

Janice, thank you for that post, I needed that today {{{{{hugs to you}}}}}}