Just diagnosed

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Buzzandmax
Buzzandmax Member Posts: 6
edited February 2019 in Just Diagnosed

Hi everyone,

Five weeks ago I found a tiny lump about the size of half my little finger nail in my right breast. Have since had biopsy and found it to be an invasive ductal carcinoma. In two and a half weeks I am scheduled to have lumpectomy surgery and sentinel node removal to see if any cells have travelled to the lymph nodes. My surgeon has recommended the lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy and hormone therapy as my cancer is E and P positive. I was all set to proceed with a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction as I am only 48 and do not want to live with a cloud over my head forever wondering if the cancer will return. There is no family history of any cancer at all in my family let alone breast cancer so I guess I have just drawn the unlucky card.

I'm feeling overwhelmed and unsure whether to take the advice of my surgeon or to ask to proceed with my gut instinct to ask for the double mastectomy. I would love to hear from anyone who has been through this. I just don't know what to do and am trying hard to remain confident in taking my surgeons advice.

Very scary 😵

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  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited February 2019

    Hi Buzzmax!

    I am so sorry that you find yourself here, but glad that you found us. I was also diagnosed at age 48, and I decided on a lumpectomy. There are no wrong choices here, but this is why I decided lumpectomy:

    1. Mastectomy does not guarantee that you won't have a recurrence. The cloud is still there. They can't get every single breast cell. Being fairly young, I didn't want to give my breasts up with no guarantees.

    2. Survival rate is same for both procedures.

    3. Location of tumor meant I'd have a good cosmetic result with lumpectomy.

    4. Lumpectomy is a miuch easier surgery with fast recovery. Mastectomy with recon meant possible multiple surgeries and possibly not a great cosmetic result.

    I'm sure some other ladies will be on line soon to give you their thoughts. Also there are many existing posts discussing this topic. Good luck with your decision

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  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited February 2019

    I'm younger than you and had what sounds like a larger tumor than you and I went for a lumpectomy.

    The oncologists strongly recommended it. Some of their points were: the survival/disease-free rates are just as good or better than mastectomy; more women report better quality of life after a lumpectomy; more surgical procedures (e.g. if you have reconstruction) each carry their own set of small and larger risks.

    Some other factors that pushed me in that direction was thinking that if I was going to have a recurrence, I'd much rather have it in my breast than in my chest wall. Which is more or less where you get recurrences with a mastectomy. Also, my surgeon was on board with doing more intense screening if I wanted it (and hopefully insurance covers it) - so every six months I'd have either an MRI or a mammogram. That would maximize the chance that a recurrence would be caught early enough that it would just be a hassle but not be life threatening. Finally, the MRI my surgeon had me do before the surgery did not show any other incipient areas of concern - sometimes they could reveal something in the other breast that could be DCIS, or more potential areas of concern within the affected breast - that often tips women towards MX/BMX. Also, I realized that I was feeling really sad about not having my breasts any more.

    I also think that a person's financial/insurance situation can play in. For example, if someone has good health insurance now but is concerned they won't have it down the line, I can see how a BMX could be a prudent move.

    That said, I think every woman has a different relationship with her health, her breasts, etc. There is no objectively right or wrong decision, only a well informed and thoughtful decision.

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  • GreenHarbor
    GreenHarbor Member Posts: 265
    edited February 2019

    I’m a little older than you (52), but have a similar diagnosis. I opted for lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy, radiation treatments and an AI (in my case, anastrazole). My surgeon said that in my case, a mastectomy wouldn’t improve my prognosis. I worried about the increased likelihood for side effects from a mastectomy, as well as from any reconstruction. I have honestly never looked back, and am at peace with my choices. Both previous commenters have made excellent points, but you have to decide what works for you. Good luck!

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  • Buzzandmax
    Buzzandmax Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2019

    Thank you for your replies, to be honest it is just good to talk and compare notes if that makes any sense. I'm going for a full bone scan on Monday followed by a complete CT scan of all my other body parts next week to look for any other traces of nasties, followed by the surgery on 27th Feb. I think it's the waiting for the surgery that is the frustrating thing, I feel like my cancer will be gigantuan by then 😲, although I know that is not in reality the case. I've always been the type of person who once they put their mind to something goes in full steam. It's the waiting that's the hard bit.

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited February 2019
    1. Beesie had the best list I ever saw for how to think through your decision...

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topics...


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  • Mncteach
    Mncteach Member Posts: 274
    edited February 2019

    You are absolutely correct! The waiting is the hard part! I have had issues with mammograms and my cancer is triple negative so I went with mastectomy. However, my surgeon said she would support lumpectomy as well. It is a very personal decision and I am glad I went with this although I know several women who went with lumpectomy and are healthy and happy as well. Survival rates and recurrence are the same based on the other treatments you will receive.

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