What a choice! Any info please?
What a choice! Any info please? Hi all,
Well Mum had her appointment yesterday to see results of bioposy and it is defintely cancer. Surgeon said it looks like a small lump on mammogram, but feels larger.
The choice of mastectomy or lumpectomy with radiation therapy was offered - but because she has heart disease, osteoprosis and rhemotoid arthritis it was decided that surgeon was to speak with oncologist (?) and heart consultant to see if she was viable for surgery and radiation. If no, then apparently all they can offer is tablets which sounds hopeless to me???
If she can have both, then she has to make a choice between the mastectomy or lumpectomy and Ive read differing opinions on this. At 84 years old with other health issues we are struggling to come to a decision and we have to make it before Friday 19th Jan as she is scheduled for surgery on 22nd Jan.
It seems risky having a lumpectomy with glands removed, as results of that may mean you need further surgery and may even have to have a mastectomy in the end. Obviously if you are younger and in a relationship your choice maybe this. Although Mum is 84 she takes pride in her appearance.
But a mastectomy is this a much bigger operation? Does it mean the need for further surgery is greatly reduced? Also she wont have to undergo radiation therapy.
I know you cant make this decision for Mum, but your experiences would be valuble please.
Thanks and sorry for the long post.
Gill
Dear Gill You may find it helpful to discuss your concerns with the nurses and helpliners on our helpline, they are able to support you and provide you with information relating to your queries. The helpline number is freephone 0808 800 6000 and is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
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BCC Host
Gill opinion seems to be that there’s nothing outcomewise to choose between lump and mast ectomies.
I’ve had both- lumpectomy is very easy , mastectomy nothing huge - expect the longer time anaesthetised would be something for your Mum to consider.
The falsies are really good so no need to worry about appearance! Best wishes, dilly
what a choice. Thanks BCC Host & Dilly.
Ive have emailed the “ask a nurse” as it is too late to ring now, thanks.
Mum was preffering lumpectomy, but does not want to find later she has to then go through a mastectomy as well - so in which case think she is now preffering mastectomy as:
- Chances of more surgery are slimmer
- No need for radiation therapy as well.
have we got that correct please?
Thanks
Gill
Gill it depends on the surgeon- my super good chap NEVER needs to do further op because he’s old fashioned enough to take out enough lymph nodes - good idea to ask your Mum’s surgeon about this.
If you have confidence in him you could leave it to him to do whatever’s best when he can actually see what he’s dealing with.
My onc dept is RT crazy so everyone gets RT- whatever ectomy they’ve had. RT didn’t stop recurrence in my skin and ribs, and left a nasty legacy.
Having had time to reflect and remembering that in 1950 EVERYONE had surgery and RT - then died rapidly of br ca - it looks as if what has made the big diff in survival is hormonals and chemo. Refinements to surgery and RT can’t possibly claim a high proportion of the huge improvement.
So it maybe that your Mum could manage on hormonals- ca moves slower in the old. Chemo would probably be too tough on her- but always worth asking onc.
Hope this doesn’t make the decision harder, dilly
I took the decision to have no operation (lung and bone mets were also identified), have had chemo and AI treatment. The diagnosis was 4 years ago and I am currently stable and well.
On the other hand, I had three aunts, all of whom had major cancer operations (all uterine) in their 80s and who survived for some years beyond the operations.
A difficult decision to take. I think you need to ask the oncologist about the type of carcinoma, and whether it is hormone negative or positive.
Dilly Hi Dilly,
Thanks for replying to me. Forgive me, Im trying to learn as much as BC as possible having now realised it is far more complicated than I first thought. Im not a well person myself suffering diabetes and fibromyalgia, so am finding this dificult to retain infomation.
Ive heard her surgeon is good, but I can I find out whether he takes enough lymph nodes or not? Ive already been laughed at after asking if it was big or small cell, as a friend is a nurse and she said small cell is bad find out. They told me not to listen to her, you dont get big and small cell in bc.
What is br ca? Is this Carcinoma and how does one know if they have that as well? If having a mastectomy doesn’t it get removed without the need for RT?
Sorry if I seem ignorant, think Im still in shock from all this.
Gill
Hi Phoebe,
We dont get to see a oncologist unless Mum has radiation therapy - so she would have either had the lumpectomy or mastectomy by then?
Surgeon did mention about hormone negative or positive - but nothing could be told to us from biopsy result, they said they had to remove it and send to path lab to get such results?
Chemo has never been mentioned.
Gill
Gill the answer is for your Mum to talk about her fear of needing second op to surgeon and check that he’ll remove enough lymph nodes 1st time.
Large and small cell is lung cancer- happily not your Mum’s prob.
Br ca is carcinoma. Surgery removes original growth plus lymph nodes which have collected escaping ca cells- but escaped ca cells remain in body.
RT kills nearby ca cells, chemo kills ca cells all over body and hormonals check ca cell growth IF THEY FIT patient 's biochemistry.
So it’s possible to use any/all of these for your Mum.
Cancer/carcinoma is something we do to ourselves. We make dud cell copies which are normally eliminated by biochemical failsafe body mechanisms. These weaken with age- hence ca being mainly something which the old suffer.
As your Mum is 85 her biochmistry has been functioning really well up till now and this may be what is in the consultant’s thoughts when he/she says no RT. Best thing is to ask him/her WHY no RT and what other treatment should be given.
It’s a steep learning curve and we all start at the bottom. ALWAYS ask questions.
Best wishes in this journey without maps, dilly
Hello Gill, They identified my hormone positive from the original biopsy of the tumour.
You could always ask to see an oncologist for a second opinion if you felt that might help. I’m not necessarily advocating chemo, but just thinking another view could be a good thing.