Decide to remove more cancer cells or have mascetomy??

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Dear All

I have had a lumpectomy to remove tumor in my right breast, second operation to remove more cancer cells found and thought the next stage would be to have therapy. Unfortunately on Monday the consultant asked me to come to discuss results. Not good news. Another operation required… Either to remove more cancer cells, to have a clear margin or complete removal of right breast and discussed reconstuctive surgery. The consultant said he had worked with women on both and it was a very difficult decision.
I keep changing my mind which procedure to go for? I have spoken to family and of course my husband. I’m a scared 56year old, I have had a hysterectomy 16 years ago and I think this decision is more difficult for me because I was in two minds whether I wanted children anyway. It very emotional for me. I am seeing the Macmillan support group on Monday8 August, so hopefully she will be understanding. Of course I want a better lifestyle as within a few days of having the tumour out,my husband was rushed into hospital to have a pacemaker fitted! Obviously He was worried and vice versa - Life’s not easy.

Are there any ladies out there that have any views to make my decision easier, I will probably inform them next week as I do not want to prolong the waiting of anything… I just want to get back to how I was living with my husband. I am 56 husband 62.

Hope to hear from anyone.
Kind regards

Hamlet

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hi, I am not in all qualified to comment on this, there is another thread going on at the moment about people who have had two or three operations to try and clear their breasts.

I dont think i am emotionally attached to my breasts, but i am quite vain and evan though my husband is the only person that will see what i look like I would like to look good for him and for myself.

I thought i was pleased with the result of my lumpectomy. but as it heals its it not as good as i thought, but its not bad enough for me to consider surgery to tidy it up.

I think if there were going to be any worse cosmetic effect from them trying to get more cells out I would bite the bullets and have a mastectomy, hopefully get some of the fat off my belly too in the process. (I have a slight overhang from the ceaserian) But i would only do it if they made the other one match. At the moment I have one friendly old puppy dog ear breast and the other one is slightly perkier because of the op.

I know it is tempting to go for the quicker option because it makes it easier to see the end of this road coming. But once you are better and cleared of the disease you might wish you had thought more about the end result.

PS i am 65 and my husband is 70

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Hi I had my original diagnosis 11 years ago left breast, lumpectomy, chemo and rads,

given all clear after 10 years,

last November another primary, right breast, mx my choice, chemo and rads.

It was such an easy decision for me, I was offered another lumectomy, I immediately said no, and asked for a bi-lateral mx,

my surgeon perfomed the mx on my right breast but thought it would be too much for me to do a bi-lateral,

I am insisting on further mx,

I carnt live with the worry of it coming back again, everyone is different, but you say you just want to get back to living normally with your husband,

at least if you opt for a mx, it will be more or less over and done with wont it, once you have recovered from the surgery (i didnt have reconstruction) and dont want it i am 45 years old had my children and it isnt too much of a problem for me.

I hope you can decide what to do, for me I just wanted to do as much as I possibly could to get rid and stay rid of the disease,

sending you best wishes love Liz xx

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Dear Oldandlumpy & Elizabeth T.

Thanks for your kind words. It’s nice to know I’m not alone with all these thoughts in my head. All most people want to do is get on leading a healthy, happy life don’t they. There is always " What if I’d had this or that done…?" But I can’t think that otherwise I will never progress in my mind and outlook. It’s a difficult decision for me to make but once I’ve made it I hope I can just get through the next stage whatever that is.

Thanks again, think I’ll take my mind off things and go and see the new Harry Potter film!

Bye
Hamlet
XX

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Hi Hamlet, it is such a difficult decision for u. I was given the choice at my first op of a lumpectomy or mx. After it going round my head for days i spoke to my surgeon who said she wouldn’t advise lumpectomy if she didn’t think it would be right for me. I had it done & have to go in again monday to get clear margins, i would have still had to have another op anyway as it’s in my nodes so got to have them removed as well. I asked her if i needed a mx this time & she quite emphatically said no.I’m happy with the shape, it doesnt really look any different to before. There’s never any guarantee it won’t come back with a mx is there, think i read that somewhere. I don’t really know if i would want a third one or just tell them to do a mx.
I think having a choice is so much harder than them just telling you what u need, i would have had a mx straight away if thats what they advised.
They can do marvellous things with reconstuctions now,i think it’s a personal choice but good luck with ever u decide to do xx

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Hi Hamlet

I can only say what felt right for me, I had a lumpectomy, folowed by WLE and full nodes clearance and they didnt get the margins. Like you I was then in the position of do we try for more or go for mx. When we (my partner and me) spoke to my consultant we said what would you recommend if it was your wife, daughter, mother etc that was in this position and he said he was happy to try and get the clearance and it wouldnt be detrimental doing it if it didnt work. Personally I had to try and unfortunately I did have to have the mx, but for me I think I would have always wondered whether it could have worked if I hadnt tried.

Good luck what ever you decide, there’s no right or wrong’s with this just what is best for you

A xx

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Hi Hamlet

I asked a very similar question to this two months ago on here. I was given the choice at the start, and after lots of consideration opted for the lump and nodes (although was never confident this would work). This didn’t give clear margins and I was offered the choice again. Having to decide a second time felt worse. I eventually opted for a mx. I knew I couldnt face a third op and was worried about the chemo being delayed again.
I know I made the right decision for me and have no regrets. I feel much happier knowing it is all gone. This is a very personal decision though. I have two young children I want to see grow up and Ive never been a tight top sort of girl! It is very hard to know how you will feel afterwards- I think it is easier when you are not given a choice! Good luck x

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I had lumps in both breasts and had lumpectomies which did not give clear margins. Maybe it was because I had both breast affected with a different type of cancer in each but I had no hesitation in going for a double mastectomy. I would obviously prefer to have breasts (healthy ones) but I am quite happy with my prostheses and have even enjoyed going about without them during the warm weather.

It is your decision but I just wanted to let you know that there is life after breasts.

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Hello Ladies

Well, after 2 weeks going backwards and forward which operation to go for ( I don’t want to dwell on this for too long) and after speaking to the Macmillan Support Group - I know in the back of my mind I’m going to try for more cancer cells to be removed and then hope for the best. At least I will know that I’ve tried this operation before going for the full mascetomy. Thinking and talking over the mascetomy and possible full reconstuction of the breast, not sure I want to go for this option. Been told it’s a long operation, not sure at 56 I want to go for reconstruction either, although if this is the only option I may do and rethink again!?

I think these trials are meant to be, and I will try and make the most of my life afterwards in health that’s the main thing. Everyones different I know and everyone has different ideas what to do, so I hope I will make the right decision for me. Has anyone any thoughts on my decision? I’m going to speak to my breast care nurse next week. I’ve been speaking to other nurses but I found the best nurse to speak to me is the nurse who was with me with the Consultant.

Thanks

HamletXXXXX

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There is no right or wrong decision here … you know deep down which way you want to go … and once you’ve made that decision it will be a huge weight off your mind.

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Dear Angielav

Thanks for the response. I must say this is definely harder to make a decision on than me having a hysterectomy. Maybe because as the nurse says, breast are a visual thing, having a hysterectomy is huge also but in my case the decision was made for me as I lost a lot of blood and was fainting. I’m slowly trying to get used to the idea, that I will view things I do in life differently, and appreciate them more as well as achieve more things I ( I don’t know what Yet exactly?!) Making a decision over breast cancer or any cancer is huge, you begin to realise what’s really important in your own life.

Love

HamletXX

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Hi,
fortunately I wasn’t made to choose but just told that a lumpectomy and rads offered the same stats as a mx. Making a medical decision when you are not a doctor is tough for most people. I think if they are offering to do a further lumpectomy then this is a smaller op and will probably use the same scar line whereas a mx would be a bigger op. From your post this seems to be your main concern at the moment. If you have an implant it is not a one off op as they have to be changed in the future when you will be quite a bit older. So you would need to know what type of recon. Most of them are big operations. My friend has struggled and had over 7 hours in surgery because she was so fed up with the softies moving, falling out, showing over her clothes, having to think what neckline she could wear for every outfit, not being able to find bras easily because her small size and not being able to find swimwear. Other friends with larger chests did not seem to find it so hard to cope with it. it is a very personal decision and it sounds like it is the right one for you, which is all that matters. I wish you luck for a successful outcome this time.
Lily

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I was given the choice of chemo first to reduce the lump and then hopefully WLE or MX depending on if it had shrunk enough … or MX then chemo. I opted for MX first cos I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle the ‘is it shrinking debate’ in my mind. As it was, I made a good decision, cos the lump with margins was 6 cm and consultant didn’t think this would have shrunk enough in my small breasts to remove just lump. I also had to have node clearance. But it was all one op over and done with. And the cancer is gone. I can get a new breast. Its a really tough call but whatever decision you make, you must stand by and have no regrets. x

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Hello Everyone!

Since I finally made my choice after a few weeks of mind rollacoaster whether to go for another lumpectomy to remove cells to get clear margins instead of going for the mascetomy at this stage… I spoke to the Breast Care Nurse on Monday. Still waiting to hear back from the hospital, said they would get back to me after speaking to the consultant, still waiting. It’s always seems to be a waiting game, no wonder your mind goes crackers, even though you’ve made your decision. Oh well, I’ll ring again Friday to see if I’m given a date for the next operation.

Has anyone else had this waiting game experience? It would be interesting to hear from you.

Bye

Hamlet
XXX

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Hello Ladies

Having my 3rd operation to remove more cancer cells to give clear margins. Given this much thought as you ladies must have done to come to a decision but now prepared for any other operation I may have to have. However feeling very positive all will be better OK this time. What an emotional and testing time we all have. Family and friends have wished me luck and I know their kind thoughts are with me.

Love

Hamlet
XXX

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Hello Everyone

Not been on line for sometime, waiting and waiting and deciding what to do next. Well, now I’ve got to have a mastectomy and am due to see the consultant on 12 Oct at Charing Cross Hospital. Also to discuss immediate reconstrution surgery. Has anyone had experience of the " all in one" operation? What am I to expect, even though I know everyone is completely different and what are the pain thresholds? Let alone the treatment and recovery period, it’s going to be a long journey as you ladies have said to me.

Difficult for work people to comprehend I think as none of them have experience cancer I don’t think. However, they are thinking of me but it’s a very small company in centre of London, so I am having thoughts about whether to return the journey alone is tiring. Still sending in medical certificates from doctor, that reminds me I’ve to ask for another one for my satuory pay. Has anyone been unsure to return to their job? I think it depends on savings you have whether you can actually claim anything. Anyway, in my case I want a rest after the operation and treatment, so probably go back to a nearer local job part-time if there are any jobs around.

Any replies gratefully appreciated.
love
HamletXXXX

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Hi hamlet,

When I was told I had to have a mastectomy I said I wanted reconstruction as soon as possible. Because I was going to have to have radiotherapy as well, I was told I couldn’t have immediate recon with my own tissue, so I had a tIssue expander put in which is a temporary measure to maintain some stretch in teh skin and a pocket for the eventual recon. However mine went wrong and I had to have it removed.

But for lots of women these are very successful, however even before mine went wring I thought I would have had the immediate recon with my own tissue if I could have…the all in one op as you call it , I’ve met other women who’ve had it done at the time and really envied them.

The recovery time depends in what sort of recon you go for, and there is a booklet available which can tell you more about the various options, or your surgeon ahold be able to discuss it with you.

Best of luck

Alison

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I had the ‘all in one’ after a local recurrence 2.5 years after diagnosis.
I chose to have both breasts removed and restored with DIEP procedure. I am now 7 weeks out.

Please PM me if you would like to ask any questions. Im happy to share pictures too of my results with those that are considering this recon - which I am very pleased with so far. x

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Hello Ladies

Thanks for the replies, it gives me reassurance when I have my appointment with the consultant 0n 12 Oct. I only hope I don’t have to wait long till the actual operation. It’s always waiting and hoping going on in my head, it’s a long journey.

Let you know what happens when I can.

Hamlet

XXX