Big decision to make...

Hey Bel. I think your course of action is totally reasonable. I did lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. From what I've experienced with lumpectomy recovery and what I've read about mast. recovery, I would go that way again, if I had the choice. Get the tumor gone, get your nodes sorted, and get started on treatment asap.  It also gives you more time to *really* consider your further options re: mastectomy. If you have the mast. now, when you're making decisions in a rush, there's no way to go back and change your mind, you know? Doing the lumpectomy gives you more breathing space, more time to do your research and talk to people and make the final decision that is best for you.

Hugs to you as you decide on the next steps. You know where to find me if you want to chat.

belleb - It might even be possible for them to do neoadjuvant surgery - which would possibly shrink the tumor down to an even smaller size for the lumpectomy. 

Why yes, Kicks. You have come to my pea-brain rescue once again. 

belleb, I did not agonize over the decision, I just wanted it done now. My surgeon told me if it were his wife, he would want her to have the lumpectomy. I was nervous when some women looked at me like  I was insane for not doing the mastectomy, but that would not of  changed my lymph node status. That is where I had the most cancer...5 months have passed, I am comfortable with my choice...

Belleb,

I am triple negative and I had chemo before surgery. They told me to start chemo right away. That way you can shrink tumor and also monitor to see whether it is indeed shrinking.  If it's not, then they can change the chemo to one that might work better. ( If you have surgery first, you don't know whether chemo works.) I would at least ask your docs about it. Another advantage is that you can start treating any cells that may be circulating in your body right away.  That is the most dangerous part.  You don't want them to take hold.  The thinking is that the surgery can wait.  I am not a doctor and of course consult with your team and make your own decision. 

Feel free to private message me anytime. Also check out the triple negative threads.

bevin - posting a site for someone to go to that states your thoughts  is fine  BUT to post from it stating that  "In fact for any age or cancer type, lumpectomy plus radiation was linked to a better survival rate than mastectomy" is not correct for all types of BC or all ages.   IT might be true for some but not for all - for IBC, a simple 'lumpectomy' is not an option - there is no 'lump'.  As I said - it's great to post site that support you but to then post from it without it being done as a quotation and  write "In fact - - - " when it isn't FACT for all.

Belleb,  that is huge to have it OVER ! The drains seemed liked the worst part. I hope that your nodes continue to be clean, you are right to be cautious on waiting for the whole report. My surgeon did have the correct info right after surgery, as he told hubby & daughter.   Take care, rest & lots of water...

dear bevin, I would have to disagree as I had a L mast, during planning my wedding and am now 20yr this yr SURVIVOR, so it depends, msphil( idc, stage2,0/3 nodes, L mast, chemo before, surgery and after surgery). Praise GOD

PaulandSandy, thank you for being here to share your story. I'm not sure I understand: a cancer in the other breast is a new cancer, not a recurrence, right? So a new, contralateral cancer has "nothing" to do with the first cancer and has more to do with predisposition; whereas recurrences are necessarily in the same breast. Am I correct? 

belleb, it sounds like you have had genetic counselling and you are waiting for the results. I would advise you to wait until that moment to decide for/against a mastectomy: that will leave you time to think it through, but also it will give you an opportunity to decide based on a tangible risk-assessment, depending what the genetic result is. Whatever you will decide, you will decide with all the information in your hand.