small breast - lumpectomy or mastectomy?

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Just_V
Just_V Member Posts: 841
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

I am stage 1/grade 2 with the tumor and splattering at the 12noon position... the tumor is 1.4cm, but the 'splattering' extends that to 3.0cm, then with the 1cm margin, the surgeon is looking at taking 5cm diameter -- and then if the margins are not clear - I will likely need a mastectomy.  I am small chested - need to inhale to fill an A cup -- any other small chested women that had a lumpectomy that can tell me your experience????

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited May 2011

    We sound to be about the same size, very small.  I had my first lumpectomy (B9-ADH) 14 years ago and they took 5.5cm out.  That breast was a tad larger than my other so with this out and once my fat tissue shifted I was about the same size as the other breast.  Fast forward and I had another lumpectomy on the same breast for IDC (another 5.5cm) removed and radiation.  I am still swollen from radiation but I know that this time it will be smaller.  Was not crazy about that but figured I could have it fixed if need be.  But know I have nerve damage from surgery and rads so I will be having a BMX once I am healed from rads.  This way I can have my nerves severed and be numb instead of pain.  This does not happen to everyone so I do not want to scare you.  But I have a question are you happy with your size or have you wanted to have any breast augmentation?  If so and there is a possibility for you to have radiation speak to a PS first so that you will have all your options covered and can make the best decision for you.

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  • Just_V
    Just_V Member Posts: 841
    edited May 2011

    BXM is a bi-lateral mastectomy?   I would have loved to actually fill out an A bra cup so the fact that this will make my already smaller boob smaller is not great.. I do have an appt with a plastic surgeon, but was trying to figure out if I should go ahead and get the lumpectomy then worry about the cosmetic issues later -- but I am not sure that i will get away without a mast if the margins are not clear.. thanks for your post - think I will definitely wait the week and a half to see the PS before having surgery...

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  • cc4npg
    cc4npg Member Posts: 764
    edited May 2011

    Your PS and BS will give you good advice.  My personal opinion would be to have the mx and immediate reconstruction, but that's "ME", not you.  It's a hard call.  Oh, btw, I'm now a 34D... and I was a tiny 34A to begin with... very tiny.  See if you can get on the picture forum.  Not sure if you can yet, but pm Timtam.  Many of us post our before, during and after pics... I did... it might help you to see other people's pics.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited May 2011

    vhshea yes BMX is bi-lateral mastectomy.  I would wait until you see the PS.  Then you will def know what your options are.  I did not do that and really regret not doing so.  I might would have made different decisions had I waited and seen a PS first.

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited May 2011

    I had a lumpectomy for a 1.4cm tumor.  I had already planned a BLMX and was having a SNB and my surg onc saw the tumor and decided to just take it out. I was an A+ or barely a B before surgery.  It healed up and was not really a different size than my other breast after the lumpectomy.  I don't know how much he had to take out though....?  I did have a BLMX anyway and am now waiting my exchange surgery for my size C breasts! 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011

    I could have had a lumpectomy, but chose a BMX (I was a small B, or A when thinner).....I had many reasons opting for the BMX, and one of them was the fact that I was a candidate for a Nipple/Skin sparing mastectomy (NSM) ~ being small breasted usually gives better results with an NSM too.  I only have scars on the side of my breasts almost to my nipple.  I just had my final implants put in a couple weeks ago and they look amazingly natural.  Since you are DCIS, you probably would be a good candidate for the Nipple Sparing surgery that makes the incision underneath, like they do for breast augmentations.  If you would like this option, and your breast surgeon and/or plastic surgeon do not offer it (because they aren't trained) ~ find one who will! :)

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  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 2,631
    edited May 2011

    I was a small B when I was DX'd.  Then I went through chemo and gained 30 lbs which increased my boobs to a size C - drooping boobs at that.

    I had a 4 CM tumor so the surgeon took a lot of breast tissue out of me in order to get clear margins.  I fully expected to have a "dimple" where the tissue was removed, smaller breast, etc. as a lady in our BC support group had a lumpectomy and that breast was considerably smaller than the other breast.

    My breast surgeon was wonderful.  My breasts are the same size and I have no dimpling.  I asked him how I could look that good with such a large amount of tissue removed and his answer was "I sewed it from the inside out and if you sew the tissue together properly then you won't get a bad result"  My surgeon was a general surgeon that specializes in breast surgery for BC patients.  I have seen other surgery results of lumpectomies and I have to say - I have the best looking results of the other women I have seen other than those that also went to this same surgeon.

    I believe that with a great breast surgeon you should also get great results even though you have small breasts.

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