Hi! I’ve been recently diagnosed with IDC grade 2. Scheduled for a lumpectomy. My doc suggested a double mastectomy after the lumpectomy- due to my strong family history (Mom, Aunt,) I’m trying to wrap my head around this. Is it common to have a lumpectomy and then a mastectomy? What happens after lumpectomy? Radiation? I am estrogen/progesterone+, Her2 negative Thanks.
Hi tinkwoods,
Im sorry you have found yourself in this situation, can i suggest for clarification you ring and speak to your assigned breast cancer nurse and ask more questions, so that you can understand what and why? These changes to your first plan is being changed, seems unusual to me to have a lumpectomy then a mastectomy.
I hope the nurse will be able to answer your questions.
Take care, sending hugs to you
Hi tinkwoods
Thanks for posting on our forum
We hope to be able to respond to you this week.
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With best wishes.
Lisa
Ask Our Nurses service co-ordinator
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Hi tinkwoods,
Thank you for your post.
You may find it helpful to give us a call on our helpline to talk this through with one of our nurses. We have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information if necessary.
It is understandable you ask if it is common to have a mastectomy after a lumpectomy. This can sometimes be recommended and will depend on individual circumstances. For example, because of your histology results or due to an increased risk of cancer because of your family history, as in your case. As @purplerose mentioned, you may find it helpful to contact your breast care nurse or treatment team to talk this through in more detail with you. They can explain in more detail why a mastectomy has been suggested.
If you decide not to have a mastectomy, after having a lumpectomy you’ll usually have radiotherapy to the breast tissue on the remaining side. Your treatment team will however talk through your next treatment with you.
Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can often be helpful. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. You can be in touch with your volunteer by phone or email and they can share their personal experiences to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen to how you are feeling.
You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0800 138 6551 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org, so they can then match you to your volunteer.
We offer a range of other free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.
As mentioned do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions… Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000, If you have hearing or speech difficulties prefix our number with 18001 and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Our usual opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday.
Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.
Best wishes
Sonia
Breast Care Nurse
Please read the disclaimer Full details on how we collect and use your data can be found in our Privacy Policy
As we are unable to monitor for further replies, this thread will now be closed. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread, call our helpline, email us or request a call back.