I’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer & have been given the option of either a mastectomy or a lumpectomy, my choice. I’m thinking of going for the lumpectomy, being young & how I look is very important to me, but worried if I have to go back & have further surgery due to finding more cells. Part of me wants to ‘be sure’ & a masectomy may be able to put my mind at rest.
Has/is anyone experienced/ing the same choice? I’m interested in other peoples experiences.
Hi Iants
When I was diagnosed, I had a grade 3 aggressive tumour that had grown in about 6 weeks from me knowing nothing to 5cm.
My consultant decided to give me chemo ahead of surgery in the hope that the tumour would shrink so that I might have a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy. After 2 FEC, my cancer had shrunk from 5cm and hard to less than 3cm and soft on manual examination. I have an ultrasound next week, 2 weeks after my 3rd FEC that will give me more certain news.
Why not ask about neo-adjuvant treatment (i.e. have chemo before surgery). I am told it has no impact on cure rate so you may be better off
Good luck
Sharon x
Hi everybody
Like you Sharon I had grade 3 aggressive 5cm tumor and also ER positive. Surgeon decided to put me through Chemo 1st to see if he could save me having Mastectomy. I am pleased to say that after 6 x fec and 20 x rads the tumor had completly gone. No one was more surprised than me to be told that as there was nothing left there was no need for any kind of surgery. Took Tamoxifen for 9 months and after blood tests proved I was post menopausal was moved on to exemestane. Nearly a year later am still cancer free.
Its hard to try and make up your mind as to what to do for the best but I agree with Sharon, lants why dont you ask if this is an option for you.
Best of luck what ever you decide.
Han1989
Hi Lants
Lumpectomy + radiotherapy is the equivalent to having a mastectomy, so if your surgeon feels that he can do just a lumpectomy then you can feel reassured that he thinks that is an appopriate operation for you. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Fuschia
xxxx
Hiya,
I had the same choice as you and was very worried about making the wrong choice. My surgeon gave me the same advice as Fuschia and in the end I followed this and had a lumpectomy on June 12th. I am extremely pleased with the results and my test results for lymph nodes and the 1cm margin form around the lump were all clear despite it being grade 3. I am now waiting for my oncologist appointment. Whatever choice you make will be the right one for you.
Good luck with your decision and the surgery.
Diane xx
Hi lants,
sorry you’ve had to join us here. I was diagnosed in March, age 34. Immediately upon diagnosis I was told that I would need a mastectomy and total axillary clearance asap and I had this a week after diagnosis. I wasn’t given a choice as I was told my lump was too large for their to be any clear margins. The tumour turned out to be 4cm, which judging by some peoples posts is actually not THAT enormous. To be honest though, the only thing that worried me about a lumpectomy was the thought that I may have to back for further surgery as me and general anaesthetics just don’t get on!
I think that sometimes, treatment ‘choices’ seem to depend on the individual Dr’s caring for you. Some women are given a choice whilst others (like me) aren’t. I know of lots of women who have had chemo before their ops to try and shrink the lump. This is not something that is offered at my hosp as a rule.
I wish you well with whatever you decide. I’m rubbish at making decisions so its prob good that I wasn’t given the opportunity!
Take care and let us know how you get on,
Kelly
-x-
thank you everyone sooooo much. I have now made my decision & have decided to go for the lumpectomy. I thought when I made my decision this would make me feel better, but today emotionally, I think has been the worst so far!!! I feel such a mess, normally i’m a very together fiercly independent woman. it gives me strength being able to read all your posts, sharing experiences and knowing i’m not alone.
THANK YOU
J’ulanta xxx
I had a partial mastectomy as I definitely didn’t want to have my breast removed. However, I do have a big dent in my bosom now. If you can work out a way to look at my profile I have a pic on there. I am 34 B - smaller breasts end up looking more dented, and also the look is dependent on where the tumour is and how good the surgeon is at moving the remaining breast tissue around to disguise the effects.
I’ve kept my nipple though
Good luck
Hiha Lants,
I’m in a similar position to you but i’m going for a lumpectomy on Thursday with a centinal node biopsy. I’m a nurse which helps a bit. It’s really scary this whole thing isn’t it. Good luck to you and know you are not alone.
I was given informed choice. Basically I was told the pros and cons for both and left to decide. My lump was 36mm, near the surface and partiially behind the nipple which I would have lost anyway with a wle. So I chose a mastectomy. I was told my hosp won’t do reconstructions on wle but do for mastectomies. Also, I was told that if I had a wle I would need chemo plus rads, if I had a mastectomy, I may get away without either. I wasn’t so lucky and needed these anyway.
If you do go for a mastectomy, ask the surgeon where the scar will be as mine is very high. This will be visable on my cleavege if I go for a recon later and I wish I’d thought to ask before hand.
Good luck
Irene
I was given the choice but asked the consultant what he thought and he said lumpectomy. I followed his advice - lymph nodes clear but not quite clear margins so I went back 3 weeks later as a day patient to have a bit more scraped away. You can hardly tell where I had the op on my breast as he gave me a lovely shape back. No chemo but 5 weeks rads and tamoxifen for 5 years needed. For the moment things are ok and if anything changes in the future and I need a mastectomy then I shall face that then. All I can say is that I know a lady who lives near me and had a lumpectomy 8 years ago, no chemo, but rads 5 weeks and triple negative and is positive strong and (touch wood) no problems. Wishing you the best whatever you choose.
Shorty