surgery concerns

dottyrobin · July 2016

I am going to see surgeon on 8/3/16. Afraid he will want to start with lumpectomy or maybe mastectomy of RB. As I am 71 and so afraid of this BC I would prefer to have bilat mast. Can I approach him about this ?

70charger · July 2016

Feel free to discuss anything u want to with your Dr. This is about you & your choices. Good Luck

dottyrobin · July 2016

TY for your response.

debiann · July 2016

A bilateral mx would not be at all unreasonable, especially if it allows you to skip radiation. Lumpectomy almost always means radiation too. If you are node negative and the tumor is not close to the chest wall, you can usually skip radiation with a mastectomy. It is your choice if you want one or both breasts removed. For symmetry, some say taking both is better, you don't feel lopsided. Unless you have a health concern in which they want you to have the shortest surgery possible, I'm sure your surgeon will be ok with the mx.

dottyrobin · July 2016

TY for reply. I do feel better. I will talk to S. I have large breasts and it would be awkward. Also at this point I want to NOT go through this again. Considering no reconstruction. I am good with this.

Obxflygirl1 · August 2016

Yes, you can go for a bi-mix. I decided on a bi also because I'm a worrier and I just wanted to never again have to go through a mammogram and the wait. I was 60 . It's been 4 years and I don't regret it at all. I understand that recurrence is still possible in another part of my body. I also wanted symmetry . It's a personal choice . The best advice I can give is to ask questions and read these boards for info. I didn't know I could have nipple surgery or tattoo until this site. When I saw the plastic surgeon, I knew exactly what I wanted and what I didn't want. Good luck and keep us post

tgtg · August 2016

Hi, Dottyrobin--just thought I'd add a different dimension to your thinking. I, too, was 71 at diagnosis, and was really relieved when my surgeon said that I only needed a lumpectomy, because at that age, "the less anesthesia the better" is a very good principle. Being out for only 30-40 miNute creates far fewer problems than being out for 4 hours for a mastectomy. Something for you to as k the surgeon about. As for size, I was a D beforre lx and still am on both sides

Moderators · August 2016

Hi Dotty! We just wanted to check in with you to see how your appointment went today. We're all thinking of you!

Let us know how you and your doctor decide to move forward. We're all here to support you!

--The Mods

dottyrobin · August 2016

TY. Appt went almost as I anticipated. He said the mass was almost too big to do lumpectomy and I should think about MX. If I had lumpectomy I may need another surgery. He will check lymph nodes for CA. We discussed having Bilat MX and he agreed to it. He said I probably won't need radiation but may need chemo. Surgery scheduled for Aug. 19th.

KQHill · September 2016

My breast surgeon is very conservative and on Monday, I'm going to tell him I want a BMX rather than the lumpectomy he's planning on. When I told my MO last Thursday that I was prepped for a fight, he reminded me "they're your breasts, not his." Hearing that from him made me feel much better.

ElaineTherese · September 2016

Ladies,

Just remember that BMX doesn't mean that you cannot suffer a local recurrence or metastases. I understand that people don't want to do BC more than once. But, BMX does not guarantee that you won't suffer recurrence. Some breast cells (and cancer) can survive BMX.

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