Decisions, Decisions

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Galsal
Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

How did you all go about making the tough decisions?  Lumpectomy vs Mastectomy is the biggest one I have right now.

I have ILC, Stage 1, Grade 2, 1cm, ER+/PR+/Her2-.  Unfortunately, I have very dense breasts enough that I'm only to have digital mammo and mri for my regular checks after all this is over.  Surgeon said it's such an obvious case that insurance would agree and cover it.  Son was with me (a Nurse) and agreed when we saw the digital mammo films.  I was lucky that the tumor is at the outter edge of the dense area or it likley wouldn't have yet been found.

An option of Lumpectomy is still on the table, although it's tricker with the density to get a clear margin.  The Surgeon felt he could still do it although more surgery would be needed if it's not clear.  Lumpectomy, Rads, Hormone.

Mastectomy is the other option since ILC has a decent risk of occurring in the other breast or even again as we were told.  Reconstruction at the time of surgery as well as SNB would occur.  Mastectomy, Chemo, Hormone.

My Son feels to go the lesser route and deal with the bigger surgery if it occurs again.  He's working very hard to looking at this in a clinical aspect instead of a Son's emotions.  Then again, it's me that will have to deal with the emotions in the future to deal with about always being concerned, checked, etc.  Not sure I can or even want to be always worried about it.  Seems to that a 3% risk if SO much better than the 15-30% risk of keeping both.  Yet a radical step is a difficult step to take as well. 

Fwiw, I'm dealing with a VA hospital breast clinic with this.  They've been quite good and astonishingly swift, considering the VA.  The majority of my appts have been about a week apart as we've gone through the process and different tests, appts, etc.

Thanks for your insight.

Sally

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Comments

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    I also have/had ILC (it is wrong in my profile, and I should fix it). Mine was, however, far more advanced, so I had to have an MX on the affected breast. I also opted to have the non-affected breast removed, because I knew that I would be worrying endlessly and would not enjoy the checks etc. Like you, I had dense breasts.

    Further, I chose not to reconstruct, and I was in any event not a candidate for immediate recon. So far, I have no regrets. I do not miss the boobs and just feel relieved to be rid of them. It also turned out that there was DCIS in the other one and micro-invasions all over the sick one, so I am especially happy to have them be history. But that is me, and you are you, so I most definitely can't tell you what to do.  

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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited January 2012

    I appreciate the comments regardless Momine.

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    You are most welcome. You are in the thick of the worst of it. Once you get treatment sorted out and start doing something, you will begin to feel a little better, I promise.

    I would also urge you to get a second opinion, just to be on the safe side. 

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited January 2012

    I too had ILC. From the start my surgeon recommended a lumpectomy and said mastectomy was not warranted as the survival rate with lumpectomy is the same. I did not want a mastectomy so was happy to accept the surgeon's recommendation. I did need a re-excision but from what I have heard that's not uncommon. Personally, I wanted to keep my breast and take my chances, with future screening. I also had chemo, rads and take Femara and am trying to live more healthily to prevent recurrence. I am grateful that I could have the lumpectomy.

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  • Eileenohio
    Eileenohio Member Posts: 460
    edited January 2012

    I have not started treatment yet. I see my surgeon this afternoon for my final post op visit and to set up an appointment with a medical oncologist for a treatment plan. I know this is crazy but I am more afraid of the treatment than I am of the cancer coming back. Chemo,hormone therapy,radiation all sound so horrible. Does anyone else live alone facing treatment side effects? I am really scared.. I have read so many horror stories..  Praying that I make the right decision.

    Hugs  Eileen 

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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited January 2012

    Surgery is scheduled for 2/10.  My decision was to go with mastectomy and I'm doing both.  As soon as I made that decision, my stress GREATLY reduced!

    Eileen, I live alone so things are going to be difficult but not impossible.  Let your friends and family help in many ways...what ever it takes to make life easier on you as you go through those side effects.

    Thank you for the comments ladies.

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