Hi all,
I hope everyone is doing as ok as can be.
I was initially diagnosed with a “subtle” tumour and was offered a lumpectomy. I fully understood that there was a risk of second surgery should the margins not be clear. But given the apparently small size of the tumour, I was OK to take that risk and felt that a lumpectomy would mean a quicker recovery.
However a couple of weeks later, I was told my subsequent MRI scan had revealed a much larger tumour of up to 4 cm. Given my small breasts, I started to think that there would be no breast left at all and started thinking about a mastectomy.
I also suffer from a chronic autoimmune condition which means that one of my priorities must be to avoid repeat surgery where possible.
A 4 cm tumour would increase that risk significantly with a lumpectomy. So I gradually got my head around a mastectomy.
Fast forward to this week and another MDT has kindly reviewed my imaging and concluded that the tumour is likely to be 2.7 cm although it could be up to 4cm.
I was offered a lumpectomy with a flap from my side (LICAP) or a mastectomy.
LICAP seems more involved and was told there is also a risk of breast lymphoedema.
I am not concerned about my looks. My main motive is purely medical and recovery is my main focus given that I am likely to heal slowly due to my other condition.
So I don’t want to add another layer of complexity with reconstruction or repeat surgery.
I also have a young child so I need to be back on my feet as quickly as can realistically be expected.
Am I mad to “warm up” to a mastectomy?
Has anyone had LICAP without complications and made a swift recovery?
I’m of course grateful to have options offered to me, not everyone is given a choice, but equally making a final decision is difficult, there are risks and benefits with both. Today I feel my head is going to explode.
Take care everyone.
xxx