Lumpectomy now a mastectomy?

SaraInTheMountains · July 2018

I was just diagnosed on May 31st via mammogram guided biopsy (DCIS, grade3). A MRI determined the size to be almost 4cm. I opted for a lumpectomy which I received on the 16th (4 days ago). The pathology report came back and the margins are not clear. Additionally, the actual size of it was 7cm almost twice as big as they thought. Because of these factors and that my surgeon cannot recommend a good way to image my breasts in the future (perhaps due in part to very dense breast tissue), she recommends a mastectomy. Has anyone else had this issue/ problem before? (I can't be the first one) What did you do and what were your results? Thanks!

Dhanno · July 2018

Go for re excision if you have enough breast tissue If that also fails then go for mastectomy

Cjzach10 · July 2018

Speaking from a mammo techs point of view. I would take the advice of you're dr. First off you have a large cancer and 2nd your breast is likely to not have a smooth scar after a 2nd incision. Which makes it almost impossible in the future to get an accurate mammogram and ultrasound to a degree. The skin and tissue may wrinkle over the scar and in that case folds up on itself. You may be s candidate for MRI after.. but speaking for myself i would take the active of the dr on this one. And for reference i don't always! Sometimes i feel that drs try to talk patients out of the treatment they desire. After 16 years in this profession I've seen almost every situation and angle imaginable. My mom and sister have had breast cancer at 39 and now i'm facing a .9 cm spiculated mass with microcalcifications. I know the mass i have is small and i know what treatment will be advised if it's positive and early. But i slso know what i want and I'm ready to self advocate for what i want and deserve. I was gene tested 20 years ago and was negative. My brother has ignored his psa which is now over 6 and awaiting biopsy also. I have a consult with a surgeon on july 31st. Thats only my opinion! I still believe above all else ir should be your decision. Good luck to you. Do your resesrch and let your heart and brain guide you. Its gotta be both.

ReadyAbout · July 2018

Sorry to hear that the post-surgery report wasn't what you were expecting. From what you describe, mastectomy seems the best option. The size of the tumor, the high grade, and the poor margins are all indications of potential issues down the road and they are going to have to go back in anyway to get good margins. FWIW, I had a lumpectomy in February and a bilateral mastectomy in May. I had planned to do lumpectomy and radiation, but ended up not being able to do radiation due to a vascular condition I have. I did bilateral because the plastic surgeon said it would be too difficult to match the reconstructed breast with the real one and since I was 49, I might as well take the healthy breast off the "future cancer" market. Mastectomy is a very tough surgery and recovery, and it's a longer, tougher recovery if you're doing reconstruction, which I did. I had more complications than anyone I know post-surgery, and I still don't regret it.

Lula73 · July 2018

I'm so sorry your news wasn't good. I chose mastectomy right off the bat and did both. I opted for immediate DIEPflap recon and had very minor complications (if you can even call them complications - a couple small spots along the incision line took a little longer to heal). I went into surgery with breasts and came back out with breasts and a flat tummy. That was in Feb2017. I am thrilled with the way I look today. I stare at the reflection in my my mirror in awe. My breasts look and feel natural to me and to DH. And the scars faded nicely. I went to NOLA to have it done and would do it again with them in a heartbeat.

www.breastcenter.com

Cjzach10 · July 2018

Your post makes me feel so much better about my decision if mine is cancer. I want b/l masect wuth dflap. I actually work for a breast oncology surgeon. Due to living just across the state line and my husband works for the state we have to keep our insurance in the state we live for best payment so im not using him. As you csn imagine ive seen full range from the worst to the best outcomes. Most of the worst outcomes are patients i had when i worked in a different facility. Ive researched and have a few personal recommendations for tje surgeon I'm using but i'm so nervous..those worst outcomes keep popping in my head! And it's not like im blind about the procedure and recovery..im pretty scared about that! And with all best case scenarios you csn still end up with an outcome far less thsn you'd hoped for. All that matters is living though so I've just gotta get to the other side of this! My other concern is that ive had a small stroke..2 years ago..and on blood thinners. Almost as or maybe more concerned about having another stroke during the process!

Lula73 · July 2018

If you don’t my asking, what state are you in?

Cjzach10 · July 2018

Oklahoma

SaraInTheMountains · July 2018

Thank you ladies for your input. I greatly appreciate it. It seems I have a past history of things not going as they should with medical procedures. The idea of a mastectomy appealed to me originally and then I felt a lumpectomy was the way to the way to go because of that.

You all definitely have helped me with information!

Lumpectomy now a mastectomy?

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