Lumpectomy vs mastectomy

Also I have to have the lymph nodes taken out when they doing surgery..

Oh no trust your surgeon. I had a lumpectomy and my boob is exactly the same except for the scar which is fading. I was very glad that it was a lumpectomy as mastectomy is very invasive physically and mentally . Of course if you had to have one you'd deal with it, like most things that are thrown at us and we'd get over it but if I didn't have to have my breast off I wouldn't opt for it as when I had my lumpectomy and clear margins I was cancer free. Nothing is guaranteed but I put all my faith in the doctors they know what they are doing, they won't take chances. Your boob will become your friend again when the cancer is taken out. I l

Such a difficult choice superwhy. I had a lumpectomy but surgeon did not get clear margins so recommended a mast. Lump was bigger then they thought from imaging, nearly 5cm versus 3cm. Cells were grade III (more aggressive than grade II!) and there was once positive sentinel node. I think my surgeon was more aggressive than others might have been. Plus I was 39 so technically not the age for BC. Once I knew it had to go I resigned myself to it. Don't get me wrong, I cried and cried the morning of my mast. I rationalised it with the thought that it tried to kill me so it could go!

Go with a combo of your gut instinct and your surgeon recommendation. Current thinking seems to be erring on the side of breast conservation rather than mast.

Good luck,

Lindylu

Thanks ladies. I am 37 so I don't know if that makes a difference.
Head hurts thinking about it..

As I say you've enough to be thinking about without worrying over whether to or whether not to. Your surgeon is the expert not us. Unlike Lindy lu I got the 10mm clear margin and she actually told me it was highly unlikely it would return and that's good enough for me they are the experienced ones. Don't hurt your head thinking about it what is to happen will happen

Hi Superwhy - I had to have a mastectomy as I had two large tumours in the same breast (and a third on one of my lymph nodes). I would definitely prefer to have had a lumpectomy if I had the choice -looking at myself after the mastectomy was definitely the most difficult part of my cancer journey - chemo and radio therapy included.
Having to make the choice about reconstruction was also very difficult at that early stage when you are still very emotional....
I chose the most straightforward option of a tissue expander - but at this stage 7 months after my surgery, I still have a very 'botched looking' half breast and need to wear a prosthesis and special bras. My plastic surgeon reassures me that my breast will look a lot better when my temporary tissue expander is replaced with a permanent implant - but that surgery will be at least another 3/4 months away and I will probably have to have some work on my other breast done as well as this looks very droopy compared to my new half breast....
If you dont have a choice in the matter then Ive no doubt you will deal with the mastectomy as many of us have - but I would definitely not choose this more radical surgery over a lumpectomy if I had a choice....
Liz

Hi Superwhy
I know how you are feeling as initially I was faced with the same choice. I had 2 tumours and they were planning on doing 2 lumpectomies. I was asked if I was ok with that and I remember saying that the most important thing to me was risk of recurrence. Like you I was worried about the safest option but they reassured me that as long as the margins were clear, there was no more risk with lumpectomy than mastectomy.
I was actually quite happy with that decision but unfortunately on the day of surgery there is a procedure that is done to mark out the area, sort of "X marks the spot", before actually going into theatre and by pure chance, they found a third tiny suspicious area. So I had to have another biopsy, cancel surgery and go home! That was probably the worst day of the whole cancer experience.
In the end the third area was also cancer so the lumpectomy plan had to be shelved. The surgeon said 3 areas were too many. So I had to have a mastectomy the following week. In my case, even if they hadn't found the third area then, the margins were not going to be clear because the final pathology report showed DCIS (early cancer) all over the place which hadn't shown up on the mammogram or other tests.
At the time (11 months ago) I remember looking at my breast the night before the op and just wanting it gone,good riddance. And I was so scared of chemo that I thought having a mastectomy was nothing in comparison. And I physically got over the op very well. But now nearly a year later when all the treatments are over and I'm physically feeling better, I'm actually quite upset about missing one breast, the hassle of a prosthesis and the difficulties finding clothes to wear especially as we are planning a holiday and all the summer clothes are so revealing.
I hope this is of some help. In summary, I think if I had the option of lumpectomy I'd be happier now. It also cuts out having to face reconstruction at some stage.
Best of luck.
Jo x

Hi Superwhy,

I had a lumpectomy too and I would definitely trust the doctors on this. Going for a more radical surgery gives you much more risk of complications. In general, survival rates are no better with mastectomy than with lumpectomy and radiotherapy, but I'd suggest that you discuss it with your doctors for your particular case so that you understand why lumpectomy is their recommendation.

So what do I look like now, 18 months later? The operated breast is slightly smaller and higher but really only the fact that the nipple is higher makes them look uneven. In a bra, I don't think anyone can tell. There is a long scar running across the top and up under my arm but it's fading and becoming more supple as time goes by.

Whatever you choose to do, good luck.

Hugs

Kath

Hello Superwhy. I had a lumpectomy three weeks ago and I agree with the other ladies, I would totally trust your surgeon. My first reaction was 'take what you need' but she was adamant that there was no need and I now feel I am lucky to have ended up with only needing with a wide area excision. That said if things changed tomorrow I would gladly do what ever it takes Try not give yourself a hard time about this, trust their judgement and instead use your energy to concentrate on what's important to you each day.. I'm taking it one day at a time and trying not to jump too far ahead

Thanks ladies.. I tend to over think things

Hi Super why
I to was told that a lumpectomy would be fine , followed by radiotherapy , which was fine by me and I totally trusted surgeon . Had my lumpectomy and only had small scar and healed very quickly , was back in work in 2 weeks , went back for a day and had a appointment for results the following day , did not get clear margins and he found areas going to my nipple that were suspicions , so said he would do full mastectomy and check lymph nodes , did not give me any choices that's what he was going to do , had me back in within 2 weeks , so really choice was taken out of my hands and I just had to put my trust in him, they really know best . Probably glad that I went along with him because when he done mastectomy found two tumors ,(small ) but far apart and extensive dcis in between , and no clear margins . He also told me that I probably would not need chemo but referred me to oncologist and let her make the decision , she gave me all the reasons why it would be best to do , her+ , no clear margins , age ,family history , so I was back in 5weeks post surgery for first chemo . The only thing I can say is that I put my trust in them and don't look back only forward.Masectomy healed very well and have so many other things to worry about I don't even think about breast gone .Did not go with reconstruction either as I have to do radiotherapy, but can go back further down the road if I want .Lots of decisions for you but hopefully you won't have to make anyone of them . Good luck xx

Thanks ladies for tellin me ur stories. Going to trust the doctor know best and go into the meetin with an open mind.

HI. My story is that I had 3 lumps in one breast with 2 malignant. I also had to have my lymph nodes removed. I was offered a lumpectomy first but I asked for a double mastectomy as I felt it was right for me. My surgeon agreed with my thinking and I had it done. My reasons for this was like was said earlier my breast was not my friend. I wanted them gone and to never have to come back with a suspicious lump in my breast again. It was a radical decision and its not for everyone. Think it through, get advice from the surgeon and nurses. Its your decision for you and its you that lives wtih the decision you make.