Just a brief intro so you know where I’m coming from:
I’m 34, dx June 07 lobular invasive, had lumpectomy & 17 lymph node removes 3 weeks after dx. Clear margins but surgeon found another smaller tumour which he also removed with clear margins, no nodes involved.
Because of this 2nd tumour & the fact that my cancer is lobular, which apparently is prone to having multi focal sites, I have been advised to have a mastecomy to prevent local recurrence. It is up to me though if I chose the surgery or whether I go for radiotherapy instead.
I appear to have been given confusing info, stats etc relating the recurrence rates of both of these options & was wondering if anyone who has been in a similar situation can help either with information or advice which may help me with this decision.
Your shared experiences would be very helpful.
I am about to have my 3rd chemo cycle and am terrified at the sound of a recon - although that’s what I’d want ideally being relatively(!) young. I just find it a bit hard to hear male consultants (2 in my case) say mastectomy like I were cutting my toenails!!
Hi Mammabee,
can’t you find a lady doc, who may listen to your questions with a more sympathetic ear?
Also, you may want to discuss right away when you would/could do the recon. I would think you could plan it at the same time of the mastectomy, so that you would have right away balance… So yes, you would have scars, but it may be not worse than rads… radiations are easy to take, but scar deeply the tissues.
I had a mastectomy last month. While not delighted, lets say that my breasts are sagging (sic, the one left), and the only perk here is to get a new pair of twins *high up*… I really try to find the positive side.
Hi Mammabee,
Like yourself i had lobular invasive i am just 37! Still young in my mind but i was advised to have a double mastectomy that was last sept and i am now going to see my surgeon in oct hopefully to discuss recon .So many people have told me i am being silly putting myself through another big op which really gets to me as they arent walking about with no boobs ! But i do what i want now and what makes me feel better sometimes i think i am being selfish then i think back to the chemo ,and well why not . I think like Lilith that you should maybe see if you can speak to a lady doc .I hope everything goes ok for you babe and just think if/when you do have surgery you will have a new set of boobies .Roll on oct get back on my low cut tops yee ha (god i hope so ).
Take care babe
luv julie .
Actually, last time I was in the chemo ward, I overheard a conversation between a special research nurse dealing with genetic bc and a woman from a family that suffers from genetic bc.
The research nurse said that while prophylactic mastectomy sounded a good idea, it might make things worse. The bc would still appear but on the chest wall instead of in a breast, making it harder to spot and surgically remove.
It certainly sounded plausible.
I don’t envy anyone having to make such decisions.