Jenga60,

I am very sorry about your recent diagnosis. The first weeks are the hardest but it will get better as you start your treatment plan. I saw someone else debate over the same decision a few days ago so I am going to refer you to that link since a long list of pros and cons is discussed in that forum. Please refer to this link:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/5/topic/8...

under the title:

Lumpectomy or Mastectomy Decision Time

Please come back if you have any more questions or concerns.

Welcome to BCO Jenga60, we're sorry you have this problem but glad you found this forum.

By either detailing your actual diagnosis or filling in details of Diagnosis (Dx) in you profile, you will enable people to assist better in making your decisions, as to which path you should follow. We can't just assume from your limited info what your Dx is and are therefore limited as to where to best to direct you. Your biopsy results should give other details that are pertinent to advice too, so if you are willing to release that info too, that would be of help.

For any assistance, please feel free to contact us.

We wish you the best for surgery on 24 March.

The Mods

ok sweetie, ill just tell u my story, was preparing for our 2nd marriage, making wedding plans when i found the lump,worked at city clinic here in Philly at the time, went to work next day  doctor friend of mine did needle biosy and he and my nurse friend looked at each other, and i knew, that was September, got biopsy October, then started chemo three months before surgery, L mastectomy is what i chose, didnt want to always worry bout coming back, thats my decision and my Faincee, hubby now agreed, he said he rather i have one breast then to have Anxiety for yrs. I am now a 21 yr Survivor(Praise GOD) and wear prothesis also, so weigh Your options. msphil(idc, stage2, 0/3 nodes, L mast, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen)

Jenga 60

I am sorry you have to endure this diagnosis.

First advice is....breathe.

I listened to the local MO recommendation, then I got a second opinion from a big wig institution. . I did not want mastectomy if not needed, I didnt want to risk reinsurance. either.

In my case, I was told that lumpectomy,rads and hormone therapy would have the same survival rate as mastectomy. I recovered from the surgery easily ( a week off work) . I have some interesting scars,

Rads were not difficult for me. I got a bit pink skin and tender and fatigued but that was all. Hormone therapy has been harder. In the beginning I had nuclear, turbo charged night sweats and flushes. MO resolved that with Megace 40mg a day. , I am dealing only with severe fatigue. Oh well, it could be worse.

I was told that chemo would change my survival rate by only 4% .I had an Oncotype DX test that indicated this. Considering the negative effects chemo was not recommended unless those 4% were important to me. I passed.

I don't know what country you live in but in the USA insurance MUST pay for reconstruction of either lumpectomy or mastectomy. They also must pay for any cosmetic surgery on the opposite breast to maintain symmetry

Insurance must also pay for prosthetic although policies limit how many per year. .

Insurance must also pay for a second opinion Its law. So listen to your local MO and then go to the biggest , best oncology center and check if his recommendation is right. Mine was point on with the big cancer center.

As for mastectomy (MX) ending the cancer...not true. Cancer can return on any skin or muscle anywhere on your body. You would be spared regular mammograms. A close friend of mine had a recurrence on the muscle behind the cosmetic implant. Surgery all over again.

Mastectomy is a must if tumor margins cant be clear, or simply there is too much to remove by lumpectomy and other reasons too.

I personally am extremely grateful that MX was not recommended. I just couldn't wrap my mind around that severe an alternation to my body. I do know that if this cancer recurs, I will have to have MX because I have had the maximum radiation allowed in a lifetime on that breast.

So my friend, you really can't make any decisions until you know more.

I wish you all the best that can be.

Quote from above: 

"I don't know what country you live in but in the USA insurance MUST pay for reconstruction of either lumpectomy or mastectomy. They also must pay for any cosmetic surgery on the opposite breast to maintain symmetry"

I don't believe this is true--I don't think the law requires insurance companies to pay for reconstruction for a lumpectomy.  Most insurance companies will cover it, but not all do.

Just wanted you to have all of the info.