Hello,
I am seeking some advice from others who have had to make a decision to have a mastectomy or not.
My history is -
2012- d/g with BC right breast-ER/He2 positive- had WLE/radiotherapy/chemo/he reception.
2015- d/g BC left breast- mix of lubular/ductal cancer - 3.9mm. Low ER score /hr2 negative.
I’m coming to the end of chemo and need to have radiotherapy and make a decision re a mastectomy.
I met with my surgeon yesterday who advised against but said he would complete the op if I wanted it. He discussed the difficulties of reconstruction after having radiotherapy and that I might need multiple surgeries. His view was there was no benefit of a Mastectomy over a WLE and radiotherapy.
I feel totally confused- before I spoke with him I was clear I wanted a mastectomy- but now I’m not sure. I need to make my decision within the next 2 weeks.
Any advice/experiences would be gratefully received.
Many thanks
Hi, sorry to hear of your second diagnosis of BC , I know that is what we all dread, I am currently waiting for the results of my first annual mammogram on the"good" breast!
As far as advice goes I think you have to go with your gut instinct, whatever that may be. I had the decision taken for me because I had two patches of DCIS which were too far apart to do a lumpectomy so I had mx and immediate recon but I didn’t need radiotherapy. I think radiotherapy can affect the implant badly . I know I initially was thinking mx when I thought I had to decide but as it got closer I began to think wouldn’t it be better to save most of the natural breast if possible so I honestly don’t know what I would have decided.
All I can say is the surgeon made an excellent job of the recon and apart from a little stiffness I am pretty much back to normal fitness .(Op was in Feb)
Good luck with your decision and I hope all your treatment goes well. Nic xx
Thanks for replying Nic. I think the main fear I have is what the radiotherapy will do to the implant. My surgeon said 50% of implants have to be changed after 5 years when a patient has had radiotherapy- and then you get into scar tissue etc. I don’t want my fear of further ops to impact on my decision but I can’t help it. He seemed assured there would be no difference in terms of a local recurrence - but I’m just terrified of it coming back .
I had left breast mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (silicone implant) my diagnosis was stage 2 invasive and DCIS with 2 lymph nodes affected. To begin with I thought that if I needed chemotherapy or radiotherapy then I wouldn’t be able to have immediate reconstruction but I have and I’m going to be having both!! My oncologist doesn’t seem at all concerned that I’ve had implants. My surgeon was a specialist in this area (still NHS) whether that made a difference I really don’t know.
The reason I had a mastectomy was because I’m only an A cup and a lumpectomy wouldn’t have left me with much. I also feel more confident that if there’s no boob left it can’t come back there!!
I hope this has helped rather than confused you further! Good luck xxx