Hoping I didn't decide too quickly

Purple, I have a very similar situation. My understanding is that current research has demonstrated that a lumpectomy with radiation has the same result as a mastectomy, if you are Stage 1. I'm sure someone will post a link to that research. I elected to have just the lumpectomy and radiation. I ended up having a couple of positive lymph nodes, which made me Stage 2, but I have not for a minute regretted my decision to only have a lumpectomy.

Hi, purple and so sorry that you have breast cancer.   Whether you spend a lot of time or little time, the choices we have to make are still so very hard.   I assume you are second guessing your decision about doing the lumpie instead of mastectomy, right?  Your pathology should tell you and your doctor a lot before you move forward with radiation.  For me, mastectomy was drastic.  I was happy that I had the choice and that my surgeon was confident doing a lumpie.  There are a lot of surgeons...mostly old school, who will tell those of us with ILC that we should have mastectomy.  That is just not true anymore.  

Good luck with your appointment and I hope you get comforting news!

Love, MsP

Hi Ladies,

I have not been on these boards in a verrrry long time.  I was dx at the end of 2005 and I was 45 then, pre-menopause.  I didn't have clear margins the first time, so had to go in again.  So many things in life between then and now, but I do remember being completely overwhelmed by the amount of information and decisions I had to make.  I opted out of chemo even though it was suggested.  I did do 7 weeks of radiation.  I opted out of the tamoxifen even though that was suggested.  I did have my ovaries removed.  In hindsight, I would have left my ovaries in.  But I do not regret any choices I made.  I think the important thing is to know as much as you can, but realize it is going to be overload at times.  The decisions you make, if you feel comfortable with them, and can sleep at night knowing you did what was best for you, I think that's as good as it gets.  Just my humble opinion, and I am by no means an expert at any of this.  Even after all these years, I honestly believe I have some sort of strange PTSD from the experience.  I wish you all the very best!

g

Hello purpleiris57, I am sorry that you are going through this. I was diagnosed in November and also have ILC. It is so overwhelming, but as others have posted you just have to do what you feel is right at the time. I chose a DMX and that was the right choice for me. I do understand why some people would not make that choice. I will hope and pray for clear margins. It is hard to be positive when you are so scared, but just know that you are strong and will make it through this. 

purple, Welcome to BCO. All these choices can be very overwhelming. I've learned the hard way there's no point in second guessing yourself. You'll just drive yourself crazy. Having the lumpectomy right away gives you some time to research your options while waiting for your results. Best wishes to you as you go forward. Sending good thoughts your way!

Hi Purple. I was also diagnosed in April and had my lumpectomy and SNB in May (1.5 cm stage I).  

Everyone needs to do what they feel comfortable with but for me I am just following the plan given to me by the doctors who are treating me at Dana Farber in Boston. They are also very progressive and they never even mentioned an MX. Of course if things were to change it would still be an option but for now I am sticking with the lumpectomy. 

Sending good thoughts your way too!

Purple-----my mom had ILC many years ago, had a lumpectomy, radiation and took tamoxifen for 5 years; she is a survivor of over 27 years and has never had a recurrence.  It sounds like you are still in the midst of everything, you will know more tomorrow when the doctor has more information for you. You will hear many different perspectives, but it remains a very personal decision; one which we each have to make for ourselves with the information and guidance from our medical team. I have LCIS and do high risk surveillance and preventative meds. 

anne

purple iris, so glad to hear you had clean margins and nodes. I think your feelings of being overwhelmed are natural -- for most of us, our diagnoses happened pretty quickly and unexpectedly. Allow yourself the time and space to be in shock ... It's definitely a big deal (though hopefully a blip on the radar in the scheme of a long and healthy life). Maybe go for some talk therapy to help navigate your way through these murky waters. 

Like you, I opted for LX (I had to have a reexcision to get larger margins) and rads.  My surgeon offered (as a matter of course, is how she put it) the option of a MX, but when pressed, she said she didn't feel it was necessary. I decided that MX was too much for me to handle at the time, and we left it that the option will always be there if it seems necessary at any point in the future. Unfortunately, no surgery can guarantee a 0% chance of recurrence.  It would have been an easier decision if MX could do that. My entire team made it clear that LX + rads was a fine choice for me. They all were very anxious to get me on tamoxifen ... The message I got from them is that hormone therapy is my best defense. 

I hope that with time you'll feel more at peace, but it's totally ok if it's a slow process. You have indeed been through a lot!  All the best to you.