Thanks for reading! I am booked for lumpectomy then radiotherapy. But I am in dilemma if a mastectomy would be better, to save radiotherapy and risks. I have a 1cm ER positive cancer. I am 64 with large breasts. Have no visual concerns about losing one, though heard I could get backache/fall over. Would appreciate reading how others may have decided.
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Dear @gilly2, Sorry to hear you have a difficult decision to make and are unsure which way to go. As you have asked how others decided I elected for mastectomy, flat closure to avoid the need for radiotherapy and also to reduce the risk of further surgery should clear margins not be obtained. I was 66 years old at the time. I did however just have average sized breasts. I now wear a prosthesis in a pocketed bra. This weighs the same as the breast tissue that was removed. I found speaking to others before my op who had had a mastectomy was helpful. One of those people was a lady I was matched with via the Breast Cancer now Someone Like Me service which I would highly recommend. Do talk this through with as many people as you can. The nurses on the Breast Cancer Now and Macmillan helplines are also good. You will know when you have made the right decision for you as you will be at peace in your heart. I wish you well. Love Tulip x
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That is such a kind, heartfelt reply. Thank you! I will follow up those options today x
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Hi Gilly,
The outcomes from mastectomy and lumpectomy plus radiotherapy are the same from a cancer recurrence point of view. Mastectomy is a much bigger surgery than lumpectomy and may involve more surgery in the future if you go for reconstruction etc. I went for the lumpectomy option as my team explained that I did not need a mastectomy at that moment and in their experience, some women may come to regret rushing into a mastectomy if itās not clinically required. I found the radiotherapy to be very straightforward- 5 sessions over 5 days. No side effects and in and out in 20 minutes. No skin issues other than a slightly pink boob for a couple of weeks. You do need to start moisturising 3 times a day at least a week before the treatment starts.
All the very best!
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Hello Annie, thank you for being generous in this reply and sharing how it has been for you. This sounds really upbeat. Shall re re-read it a few times! An off to see my GP this afternoon too, so I can get a view from someone who knows me well and I trust
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@gilly2 Thinking of you, so much to take in and at the end of day I feel sure that your decision will be the right one.
I have had a mastectomy (right breast) unfortunately came with lots of issues, infection and the implant had to be removed.
(Left breast) a lumpectomy with 15 rounds of radiotherapy without any problems.
Hopefully a good chat with your GP this afternoon will help you.
Wishing you health, happiness and lots of luck going forward.
Love Tili 
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There are a lot of things to consider. I insisted on a mastectomy rather than the breast conserving surgery as I have a big family history. As it turns out there was one additional sneaky tumour that wasnāt visible on the mri and would have been left behind. Reconstruction was also something I didnāt entertain. No regrets.
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I was going through the same deliberations. My tumor is bigger and my boobs are very large so they are taking out the tumor and reducing the breast at the same time. Then Iāll have another op to ālevel them upā, so to speak. A silver lining of this is that I should have c cups instead of f cups, and having had back ache for years I am welcoming that. They didnāt offer me a masectomy but that would be have been fine also. Good to have options. Xx
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Thanks so much for sharing - really appreciate this. When I was talking to a lovely nurse here, she mentioned about how reductions can be done too. I had no idea! I have an arthritic shoulder on the same side as the cancer.
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Yes. There are any ways to do it. I thought practically, what can I manage and then have gone for one at a time. Apparently asymmetry is very important and they want you have asymmetry to help with confidence, posture etc. They will put something in my boob with the cancer which will lift it up, like a silicon, this wonāt droop like breast tissue, so if I left Iād have a very pert c cup and a very droopy f cup. So, it has to be levelled up for my posture and also how I would feel with my life. This is a good page. They explained the surgeon is a Oncoplastic breast surgeon meaning he combines breast cancer surgery with plastic surgery techniques to achieve a good cosmetic finish.
I opted for a lumpectomy and will be starting Radiotherapy soon Iām also on Letrazole for 5yrs . I am 65 and I wasnāt prepared to go through a mastectomy as my lymph nodes were clear . They got the tumour out and clear margins . You wouldnāt even notice Iād had it done ..
Good luck with whatever you decide
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Thanks for the reply Trisha. I love how positive your reply is. Wishing you well too x
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Every person going through this has a different journey and the options and decisions can be dizzying as you are making them quickly. I am someone that can agonize over decision so found it very difficult at times. As I had a larger tumour the decision was largely taken out of my hands as Mastectomy was the option they all advised. I was offered a Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (diep) which went well and I had no infections post surgery. Beforehand I did a lot of research on all options. I got information from the Surgeons, I read and watched things online and I rang and talked to others who had been through the same surgery to understand pitfalls, etc. Being happy with your decision is key as you are the one living with it afterwards. There are no guarantees of course but follow your intuition and do your research and you will know which way to go.
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thanks for the reply and wise words too. I think you have it spot on with ābeing happy with your decisionā. I would say I now am 80 per cent. So that may be as good as it is going to get. Trying to distract myself through what I feel is going to be a very long monthā¦
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