I’m trying to decide whether to have the WLE lumpectomy recently offered to me. Anyone had experience of breast surgery despite diagnosis / treatment for secondaries?
So far I’ve had chemo + herceptin + tamoxifen, after dx with agressive grade 3 primary + secondary mets in liver and lungs end Nov.
Treatment reduced the mets to virtually nothing by May, but I still have the primary, stable at about 1/4 of it’s original size. So, apparently unusually, the oncology / surgery team have agreed its “reasonable” to offer me surgery, but there’s no science based benefit, given the proverbial horse has already bolted.
I’m told it’s more about the intuitive logic of ‘de-bulking’ the primary tumour, although they won’t seek clear boundaries or go into the armpit lymph nodes, so won’t get it all.
Ironically, back in Nov, I’d have gone for the mastectomy option before the secondaries were diagnosed. Amazing how chemo wears you down…
I had a R Mx with expander and left reduction in Nov 2012. After the surgery they found cancer in my left breast (despite the MRI scan showing clear) After Ct they found mets in bones & peritoneal area. I asked them to remove expander and L breast. Initially they said no because they said it was futile since cancer had spread. Have not had chemo or rads. (Save it for down the line should it become necessary they say). Was put on LETROZOLE and my tumour markers fell dramatically so they then agreed to the surgery. apparantly they don’t like cutting through cancer cells…my cancer is lobular and no lump…just tiny tumours spread thru breast …largest being 2mm… I just wanted as much of the primary cancers taken away as possible…which they said that both breasts were. Also had/have some spread into skin around breast area. Onc was supportive of surgery saying that any eruptions coud be treated with rads…and he felt that the psychological benefits were worth it. Eventually had bilateral mx 7 weeks ago…and am much happier…going for bra and prosthetics fitting next week and am happy with that. might feel different if I was younger…
Hi Sarah,
It is an interesting one. I have bone mets and was told Ive had a good response to EC chemo. The onc did say I maybe offered a lumpectomy once I have been stablised on my hormonal therapy. Like you I am not convinced of the reasoning behind this as the ‘horse has already bolted’ I know there is a thread on here somewhere about this, I was one of a few who had not had surgery. I think it depends on the onc/surgeon. A friend of mine had an mx because another tumour started to grow and they removed the breast before it grew too large, she has bone mets too. She then had rads.
I may ask my onc next clinic although like you am not convinced about the benefits. If there was an obvious benefit I would have it no prob. I think alsi they can test the cancer more and tailor treatments accordingly.
Mel xxx
I had mx after chemo with secondaries and then a second mx to balance me up about 4 yrs later. My surgeon agreed to do the ops as he believed they were in my best interest. Best decision ever. I haven’t had reconstruction by the way and don’t want it. Just glad to be rid of the main tumour site and then second breast just in case! Just to add to surgery, I’ve just had my appendix out too as I had acute appendicitis. The recovery has been much longer for this than the mx ironically but I suppose that could be due to infection.
I have had my secondaries since day 1 and that was almost 6 yrs ago.
I’m in the middle of this at the moment. Was diagnosed Jan 2013 with aggressive large tumour and now had lung mets confirmed. Have had 6 FEC T plus herceptin. Am due mastectomy with reconstruction in next 2 weeks which isn’t a problem, but I want a diep flap and the plastic surgeon I was referred to has refused to do it because of the mets. I’m hoping to see the original surgeon and oncologist ths week as I don’t know whether this is due to operation risk or life expectancy which no one wants to discuss with me.
Hi , I had bc in 2008 had well and chemo and rads, recurrance in oct 2012 With secondary in lung small tumour, had taxol x 6 cycles which has worked well on lung but breast lump not shrunk as much as onc hoped. Now waiting to see if surgeon will operate on breast , would like this to get this lump out of me , am thinking of asking for a double mastectomy as I am a 40 e bust and do not want to be llopsided. I don’t feel I want a reconstruction as I am fed p with treatments and ops , just want to get on with things.
Hopefully surgeon will agree as I don’t want to hang on risk it start growing again and have to go down the chemo route again yet, onc told name I will need chemo again at some point, hopefully not yet.
pregards to all
Sarah x
I had to push for auxillary clearance, in fact had to change hospitals and team to get the decision. I had had chemo, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and the lump still remained ( although it had shrunk by half). I just wanted that lump out of me, I could feel it under my arm constantly and it was a reminder. My surgeon felt it was good to remove it because although I had secs it was one less place it could spread from. There is also evidence that removing the primary can prove beneficial. For me it was more phycological than any other reason but it is the best decision I ever made. I felt so much better following surgery but I think it is a personal thing and you have to do what is right for you xx