Recent ilc diagnosis 24mm in right breast and 12mm in left,have been given the option of a masectomy lumpectomy,or hormone tablets to shrink tumour to make disfigurement less likely,also have lung disease and in poor health,I’m leaning towards tablets but I’m not sure the implications of this,would it work? Is it risky? Anyone else had the same dilemma?
Hi Livvy really sorry to hear you have double trouble. It’s a very hard decision, but it may be that they can give you a clearer indication of which of the options they recommend (or would recommend to their wife or daughter). I wonder if you are borderline for lumpectomy & if they shrink it you won’t need a mastectomy. When I had just been diagnosed I just wanted it out of me, but I was terrified about needing a mastectomy. Later I wished I’d had a mastectomy, but now I am out the other side of chemo, I’m really pleased I have (a somewhat battered) boob left. Just telling you to illustrate how hard the decision is & how we can change our minds about it, therefore don’t make a decision until you are sure it’s the right one for you. The helpline nurses are pretty good in running you through the pros & cons. They were better than my official team actually. All the best. xx
Thanks for your reply its so hard I’ve changed my mind several times over which option I should choose,I’ve asked which they would recommend,and they just say either one, ones not better then the other! Which isn’t particular helpful,I would rather they said this is what you need to do! Thanks for the advice though and big hugs for all you’ve been through. Xx
I think it’s normal to dither because there are various pros & cons, as you may well know already. Mastectomy usually doesn’t need radiotherapy, whereas lumpectomy usually does. Recurrence rates are more favourable for mastectomy due to less breast tissue (but survival rates are the same). Then there’s the emotional side of how you feel about both & mastectomy being a bigger op, especially if you have simultaneous reconstruction. One thing about lumpectomies that they don’t always tell you, is that sometimes they find something else in the pathology, that wasn’t visible on mammo/ultrasound, requiring a second op. In my case it was DCIS in the margins, for others it can be another tumour. It’s heart breaking to be told you need a 2nd or, in some cases, 3rd op. Only you can know which of those things appeals to you least (appreciate it’s not a great list to choose from). If it’s any consolation, you are in the worst part mentally, before it all starts. You will get through it all. It’s a long road. xx
Hi Livvy
it’s such a difficult decision, I went round and round, always agreeing with the last person I’d spoken to, or last post/ article I’d read.
I had to ask myself why I was choosing or excluding each option, really search myself, and eventually the choice became more evident. So, talk it through and through and through, with your BCN, the helpliners, your GP can be a good sounding board, and you will come to the right decision for you. Look at protheses, look at the flat friends site, look at pictures of diifferent recons, talk to plastic surgeons and good luck this is not easy.
xx
Hi caroluna,thanks for your reply your right about asking yourself why you choose a certain option,I think I was going the tablet route to put off surgery which I would still need anyhow! I have decided to go for the lumpectomy and then if I need a masectomy after that,I feel id be more prepared to deal with that in the future,I took the diagnosis pretty well at first,but now I feel I’m losing control of the situation I need to move forward now and plan my treatment and hopefully once everything is in place I will feel at ease in the knowledge something is been done,its just been weeks of tests decisions and a whole load of stress! Thank you.
Livvy, hope this helps.
I was diagnosed April 14 with stage 2 invasive ductal. My options were the same as you except no tablet option offered. My oncologist was recommending mastectomy but my surgeon suggested a phased approach. Being
do lumpectomy and sentinel node removal to check if in nodes. Then have chemo after chemo I had the axial art node clearance and check for clear margins of original lumpectomy. He said if they come back clear then no need for mastectomy IF they come back not clear and more nodes involved than just the original one then he would suggest a mastectomy.
i know this sounds like two surgeries but as he said mastectomy is a one way street and the emotional and mental torment that goes with it.
for me it worked out ok, my second op showed clear margins and no more nodes imvovled. Mine was on the outer upper quadrant so my scar goes from inch from the nipple right into my arm pit. I am 2 years on and my scar is almost invisible, lucky,
oops forgot got to say when they did the original lumpectomy they found invasive lobular and another invasive ductal so I was worried I should have gone for mastectomy, but I trusted the surgeon and it worked out.
Hugs
Thanks Bond girl,for your reply a staged approach is definitely the way for me,but I’ve decided the tablets are out of the question now,I couldn’t go on for months knowing it was still there,you all seem experts at this I don’t have a clue! I don’t know what stage I am just that they’ve caught it early,I have asked for all my notes so I can study them and get an idea of what’s going on,I’ve asked for them twice now and still not received them! I need to be a bit firmer id say! I’m so grateful for coming across this forum and all the comments, it really does help to talk to people who are going or been through it all ready! Xx
Well done Livvy. It’s important you are happy with the decision. Frankly I think getting it out ASAP really helps you mentally. I calmed down completely as soon as mine had gone. Also there may be no need to proceed to mastectomy, as Bond girl says. Why lose your boob unless it’s totally necessary? Good luck with it all. Hope you don’t have yo wait too long for surgery. xx
Thank you I feel so much better now I’ve decided! Onwards and upwards from now on! Xx