Deciding on treatment

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JACTsMom
JACTsMom Member Posts: 55
edited April 2016 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I'm having a difficult time deciding on treatment. Left breast lumpectomy done just over 2 months ago and I need to decide very soon. Any/all advice or comments would be greatly appreciated. My options are Tamoxifen plus radiation, Tamoxifen only, or bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. I'm leaning towards the surgery - does that seem drastic?

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  • Sarasmiles
    Sarasmiles Member Posts: 22
    edited April 2016

    I think if you are comfortable with that decision then that is the best thing for you.

    I am in the midst of radiation now and will have to take Tamoxifen for 10 years. The stage 0 diagnosis for me meant there was no decision the dr just said this is what we do. When it came back invasive after the lumpectomy the margins were clear and when asked about mastectomy was told the surgery part of my care is over. So it is what is.

    But if I ever hear the words " You have cancer." Out of her mouth again believe me when I tell you I am getting a double mastectomy and being done. ( well that's the plan in my head anyway)

    Sending you prayers to help you ma K e the best decision for you,

    Smiles,

    Sara


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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited April 2016

    All of the options you are considering have their benefits and risks. You just need to decide what you are willing to live with. For me, removing my entire breast (facing possible pain, multiple surgeries for reconstruction, and complete loss of sensation) for a cancer the size of a grain of rice just wasn’t worth it. I'm not one who has excessive anxiety about the prospect of recurrence though.

    I had some fatigue, breast swelling from radiation but no skin problems, and what effects existed were short term for me, so I have no regrets about that. Had I been one of the rare people who ended up with raw peeling skin, I might have, but I was willing to risk it.

    As for Tamoxifen, I have had some side effects that seem to cycle so they are not all the time or even all at once (hot flashes, leg cramps, mild hair thinning). BUT, I was having weird stuff going on from perimenopause (breast pain for 2 weeks a month, frequent heavy periods, etc) that went away with the Tamoxifen so in that sense it's been a wash for me.

    In another two years I'll have to decide whether I want to keep taking it or not and I'm honestly not sure how I feel about it. Being on it hasn't been bad at all, and the reduced risk of recurrence or new primary is an obvious benefit, but on the other hand it might be nice to be off meds, too.

    One thing to consider with your choices - if you choose a mastectomy (and it might be the right choice for you even if it wasn't for me) it is permanent. Once done, it cannot be undone. Taking Tamoxifen is different - you can choose to stop taking it if at any point the side effects get to be too much. Just some things to consider as you go forward ....

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