Regrets?

Hi longislandmom -- I'm in a similar situation, although I've already had a lumpectomy and re-excision (see my posts under Successful Reconstruction after Lumpectomy?) in the Breast Reconstruction thread. There is some additional information in there that might help you. And, like you, I go back and forth with my decision. 

One thing my surgeon said in the very beginning that helped me at that stage was, "You can always have a lumpectomy now and then a mastectomy later, but you can't go back the other way!" 

You don't mention how much DCIS you are dealing with. Mine turned out to be larger than they initially thought, and I had a burst seroma that complicated things, but I'm still not sorry that I started out with a lumpectomy. 

Everyone's situation is different, however, and I know how hard the choice can be. Best of luck to you!

I had a BMX 4 years ago (March 26). No regrets at all. I had seen 3 of my dad's sisters have breast cancer. Two died from the BC or chemo. I made my decision many years before I was diagnosed. When diagnosis came, deciding what to do was the easy part. Dying with my original boobs was not an option I wanted to consider. I had to change surgeons to get a BMX. I decided to do chemo (4 tx taxotere/cytoxan) based on my oncotype score. My oncologist told me I was very lucky that I chose to have a BMX, because when the final pathology report came, my "good breast" was 90% full of DCIS. My first "all normal" lab results came about 2 months ago. Now, I am starting to consider reconstruction at last. Think it all out and make the decision that is right for you.        

Not for a second do I regret my BMX. Mine was grade 3 and also showed LCIS. After going throughh a lumpectomy, and so many biopsies and tests, i knew it was the right decision. I do not have to do chemo or rads, and I also get new 18 year old boobs! My surgery was Jan 23rd and am anxiously awaiting my exchange surgery hopefully in a month or so!



I'm also a Long Island mom. Very possibly we can have the same BS. If you are considering reconstruction, I have an excellent PS. I love him and probably made it through that day because of him.



PM me if you want to chat

-Lauren

I had a unilateral mastectomy with reconstruction on my left breast and a lift and implant on the other breast.  I had the choice of a lumpectomy with radiation and tamoxifen or a mastectomy.  I chose the mastectomy with reconstruction.  

Because I chose the mastectomy, I did not have to undergo radiation. And for that, I have no regrets.  But I have to admit that after nearly 16 months, I do have some regrets with my mastectomy-- although I don't think I would have made a different decision.

Even though I have had what is considered to be a good outcome, there are still issues, some likely permanent. I just wish I knew more of what I know now. For example:

My chest feels this weird kind of heavy even though it is numb.   

My breasts itch inside much of the time and it drives me crazy. 

My pec muscle in my left breast looks weird when it flexes and people can see it it move like that when I am braless under my shirt.

I have weird chest pain that is not attributable to any health condition other than I have implants, one numb breast and one mostly numb breast.  

I have had four surgeries and my breasts are hardly even.  I had hoped that one of the benefits of reconstruction would be to be able to go braless with my new breasts as much as possible but they are too uneven right now.  

Tissue expanders were difficult and painful for me.  

On my right breast, the nipple, which is suppose to have feeling and look normal, is mostly numb and just doesn't "look right."

I don't say these things lightly but I think it is important detail to know.  

My feelings now may be all part of the grieving process about losing a breast and in time I will come to acceptance. But I have found myself wondering "maybe I should have had the lumpectomy"

While I have asked myself this question, I do not think I would have made a different decision given the benefits of not having to do radiation or tamoxifen.

But I find myself sad about losing me breasts.   

 T.

Longisland mom, I'm a mother of three whose DCIS, Grade 3, 1 cm was discovered during my routine mammogram.   Given the grade and nature of the DCIS, I chose to have a bilateral mastectomy with delayed reconstruction.     My oncologist, surgeon, and additional research showed that because I was in my early 40s, I had a 20% chance of a recurrence in the other breast.    Given the location of the DCIS tumor - near my nipple-- it was too difficult to surgically remove without seriously impacting the shape/size of my small bustline.   I chose to have the mastectomy initially on one side, but after much thought and prayer made the decision for the bilateral mastectomy surgery.

 It is now 6 months later and I'm quite pleased with the DIEP reconstruction results.   I delayed reconstruction by three months in case the DCIS had become IDC and there could possibly be a need for radiation therapy.     That said, my experience with cancer and mastectomy has been an emotional, physical, and psychological one.   The DIEP surgery is very hard at first but gets so much better.   I chose that type of surgery because I didn't want to have to periodically upgrade the silicone or saline implants.

 I wish you all the best and hope all goes well with your treatment!    Make sure you have a positive relationship with your surgeon.

I recently had bmx on 3-7-12. I currently have TES and eventually implants. I haven't had any regrets. I was diagnosed with dcis grade 0 low to intermediate. I chose the bmx for my own piece of mind. I didn't want the radiation and the tamoxifen. 1 month out from surgery and I am feeling back to normal. Good luck with your surgery.

Hope it's ok to post, even though I had IDC and a lumpectomy, I had second thoughts too. Right before I started rads I was kind of freaking out, did I make the right choice? (rads have their own risks too) I was able to speak to counselor for about an hour and half. She said, yes, no one knows what will happen and the ideal goal is to get to the point where, regardless of the outcome, we feel we made the right choice. i.e. if I choose lumpectomy and have a recurrence, how will I feel? If I choose MX and later find out it wasn't needed, how would I feel? (she had several spots of DCIS and chose a MX). My guess is that you made your decision for specific reasons, but these comments might be playing on lingering concerns or fears, which, in retrospect, seems normal. I rarely go to counselors but found this to be super helpful (I talked to her just twice during my Tx). Maybe talking to someone would help you work through this too?