Did anyone choose a mastectomy over radiation?

aysemari
aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi,

I am weighing out the pro's and con's for both. I don't like that radiation can potentially
give you a cancer. And for me it would be on my left side, too close to my heart for
comfort.

What are your thoughts on this?

Ayse
«1

Comments

  • Mama G
    Mama G Member Posts: 762
    #2
    I thought I would not have to have radiation, but
    now I find out that I will have to have it anyways. So I should have just gone for the lumpectomy. I'm realizing that more and more each day.
  • Dawne.Hope
    Dawne.Hope Member Posts: 823
    #3
    I did
    Hi Aysemari,

    I had the same reservations. It was on my left side too. After I consulted with a radiation onocologist (He was great BTW, spent over an hour talking with me) and thinking it over, praying, reading, consulting others, I decided to go ahead and have a masectomy; a double one (prophylatic on the RT side).

    There are no guarantees. The radiation onocologist told me I had a 14% chance of it coming back and that wasn't good enough. I don't want to take Tamoxifen, my mother died of BC, my grandmother has had it, and for me, I just felt a double masectomy was the thing I needed to do.

    Again, there are no right or wrong answers, you must do what is best for you and what your gut tells you to do. For me, it was masectomy.

    Praying you'll have wisdom for what is right for you,
    dh
  • Mama G
    Mama G Member Posts: 762
    #4
    Dawne.Hope said:

    I did
    Hi Aysemari,

    I had the same reservations. It was on my left side too. After I consulted with a radiation onocologist (He was great BTW, spent over an hour talking with me) and thinking it over, praying, reading, consulting others, I decided to go ahead and have a masectomy; a double one (prophylatic on the RT side).

    There are no guarantees. The radiation onocologist told me I had a 14% chance of it coming back and that wasn't good enough. I don't want to take Tamoxifen, my mother died of BC, my grandmother has had it, and for me, I just felt a double masectomy was the thing I needed to do.

    Again, there are no right or wrong answers, you must do what is best for you and what your gut tells you to do. For me, it was masectomy.

    Praying you'll have wisdom for what is right for you,
    dh

    What do they radiate if the boob is gone?
    just wondering...they found 0 NO cancer left in my boob when they removed it. Where will they send the rads??? and why???
  • sparky72156
    sparky72156 Member Posts: 61
    #5
    My biopsy showed DCIS on my
    My biopsy showed DCIS on my right side only. After much research, I opted for a bilateral mastectomy. MANY things factored into the decision. Another lumpectomy would have left me very disfigured. I had none of the risk factors for breast cancer and yet, I got it anyway, so I wasn't feeling very lucky that it wouldn't come back as something worse than DCIS. As it turned out, the mastectomy was the right choice because they found a .5cm focus of Grade 2 invasive cancer in the final pathology. A lot of people (including my parents) thought I was crazy to be so aggressive but, like you, I really didn't like the idea of radiation. And they didn't see the look on my kids' faces when I told them about the DCIS. My boys had lost their dad to brain cancer 4 1/2 years before, and I had to know that I was doing everything I could to keep their mom with them. And my unscientific polling on this site and to women that I know showed that 100% of the women who had a bilateral mastectomy were glad they had done it. 65% of those who had chosen to just have the affected side taken off wished they had both taken off for the peace of mind that it would have given them.
    But we are all different. We all have different factors that make us who we are. So weigh your options and go with what YOUR gut tells you. That little voice of our intuition is pretty strong, and often, absolutely right on target.
  • SherryAF
    SherryAF Member Posts: 31
    #6
    I had a bilateral mastectomy.
    Hi, Ayse. I was diagnosed in October with invasive lobular and invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 1b, in the left breast. I originally did a lumpectomy, but didn't get clear margins, so my breast surgeon suggested we do another lumpectomy. I wasn't so sure that that was what I wanted to do, but went ahead and scheduled that, knowing I could still decide to have mastectomy at another time. This lumpectomy was cancelled at the last minute because of an infection I had developed.

    At that point, I knew I needed to make a final decision regarding the mastectomy, and I decided to go ahead with a bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstruction (free TRAM).

    My final pathology also showed more cancer than they knew about; this new cancer was in the nipple, and if I had not had the mastectomy it would not have been found.

    So I am very thankful that I had it done; I always knew that if I was going to get a mastectomy that I wanted a bilateral; didn't want to go through breast cancer again in a few years. I'm very happy with my decision. My surgery was January 5, and I'm still recovering, but doing much better. I do not need radiation or chemotherapy, but I am on Tamoxifen for 5 years.

    I hope this helps.
  • Balentine
    Balentine Member Posts: 393
    #7
    radiation vs mastectomy
    I also had an option of doing a lumpectomy and radiation but I chose to have a mastectomy instead when I weighed everything. I did not like what I researched on radiation either. Also the other main factor was to make sure that got it all and had a clear margin so that it would not return or them tell me after surgery or later that they had to go back to take more out. I have invasive ductal carcinoma in my right breast...stage 1....a 2.2cm lump. I had a mastectomy on 1/19 and will begin 4 chemo treatments on 3/15...one every 3 weeks and then tamoxifen for 5 years. I think this is my best option. I hope this helps and keep trusting God to get you through this. Lorrie Balentine
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #8
    Balentine said:

    radiation vs mastectomy
    I also had an option of doing a lumpectomy and radiation but I chose to have a mastectomy instead when I weighed everything. I did not like what I researched on radiation either. Also the other main factor was to make sure that got it all and had a clear margin so that it would not return or them tell me after surgery or later that they had to go back to take more out. I have invasive ductal carcinoma in my right breast...stage 1....a 2.2cm lump. I had a mastectomy on 1/19 and will begin 4 chemo treatments on 3/15...one every 3 weeks and then tamoxifen for 5 years. I think this is my best option. I hope this helps and keep trusting God to get you through this. Lorrie Balentine

    Mama G they radiate the
    Mama G they radiate the chest sometimes the nodes in the arm near the sternum and clavicle. they also boost on the scar. i think it depends on the pathology. I am getting the works, partially because it was lobular.
  • chipoo
    chipoo Member Posts: 32
    #9
    I had a double mastectomy
    I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I am glad that I chose the mastectomy because the cancer I had was bigger than they thought and they would have had to go back and do one anyway. Unfortunately, I still have to have radiation because the cancer was close to the chest wall.
    I know it is a really difficult decision. What does your onc. recommend? I too do not like the fact that radiation has the potential to give you cancer. In my research, I have read that the new radiation machines do not pose a risk to your heart and lungs.
    Good luck on your decision
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #10
    For me there was no question
    For me there was no question - I had A/C, then mod.rad. mast., more chemo and now am on rads and Femara. IBC is VERY aggressive with not a very good survival stat. rate - so doing everything I can is the only option for me as I see it.

    We are each unique and what is 'right' for one is not necessarily 'right' for others. Good luck with your decision.
  • sparky72156
    sparky72156 Member Posts: 61
    #11
    Rague said:

    For me there was no question
    For me there was no question - I had A/C, then mod.rad. mast., more chemo and now am on rads and Femara. IBC is VERY aggressive with not a very good survival stat. rate - so doing everything I can is the only option for me as I see it.

    We are each unique and what is 'right' for one is not necessarily 'right' for others. Good luck with your decision.

    IBC
    What does IBC stand for? If you mean invasive breast cancer, why do you say that the survival rate is not good? Aren't there MANY factors that would go into determining the survivability of it?
  • Mama G
    Mama G Member Posts: 762
    #12
    sparky72156 said:

    IBC
    What does IBC stand for? If you mean invasive breast cancer, why do you say that the survival rate is not good? Aren't there MANY factors that would go into determining the survivability of it?

    Thanks Carkris
    I guess I'll find out exactly where and why when I meet with the radiologist. I just was hoping by removing the breast I wouldn't need this.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #13
    sparky72156 said:

    IBC
    What does IBC stand for? If you mean invasive breast cancer, why do you say that the survival rate is not good? Aren't there MANY factors that would go into determining the survivability of it?

    Inflamatory
    Inflamatory Breast Cancer. It is one of the more aggressive forms and comes on quite and grows rapidly. According to my medical and radiation oncologists (and my surgeon), the 5 year survival rate is 20% or less. Of course that are variables with people and I intend to do everything I can to make survival rate 100% for myself.
  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #14
    sparky72156 said:

    My biopsy showed DCIS on my
    My biopsy showed DCIS on my right side only. After much research, I opted for a bilateral mastectomy. MANY things factored into the decision. Another lumpectomy would have left me very disfigured. I had none of the risk factors for breast cancer and yet, I got it anyway, so I wasn't feeling very lucky that it wouldn't come back as something worse than DCIS. As it turned out, the mastectomy was the right choice because they found a .5cm focus of Grade 2 invasive cancer in the final pathology. A lot of people (including my parents) thought I was crazy to be so aggressive but, like you, I really didn't like the idea of radiation. And they didn't see the look on my kids' faces when I told them about the DCIS. My boys had lost their dad to brain cancer 4 1/2 years before, and I had to know that I was doing everything I could to keep their mom with them. And my unscientific polling on this site and to women that I know showed that 100% of the women who had a bilateral mastectomy were glad they had done it. 65% of those who had chosen to just have the affected side taken off wished they had both taken off for the peace of mind that it would have given them.
    But we are all different. We all have different factors that make us who we are. So weigh your options and go with what YOUR gut tells you. That little voice of our intuition is pretty strong, and often, absolutely right on target.

    My gut is confused..
    just like the rest of me. My surgeon suggested a lumpectomy but hearing all your stories,
    about how there was more cancer once the breast was removed makes me want to lean
    more towards the mastectomy.
    I will talk to my surgeon more on Tuesday and also I still have to take the genealogy test
    so that may decide for me.

    I get the same feeling of acceptance and true caring on this site as I do when I go to my
    support group meeting, which tells a lot about you wonderful women who take the time
    to calm my fears and share their insight with me.

    Thank you all for being there!

    Ayse
  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #15
    chipoo said:

    I had a double mastectomy
    I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I am glad that I chose the mastectomy because the cancer I had was bigger than they thought and they would have had to go back and do one anyway. Unfortunately, I still have to have radiation because the cancer was close to the chest wall.
    I know it is a really difficult decision. What does your onc. recommend? I too do not like the fact that radiation has the potential to give you cancer. In my research, I have read that the new radiation machines do not pose a risk to your heart and lungs.
    Good luck on your decision

    Did anyone choose a Lumpectomy?
    My cancer was very close to the chest wall as well. I haven't heard from anyone
    who chose a lumpectomy and was ok with it. Anyone?

    Ayse
  • Dawne.Hope
    Dawne.Hope Member Posts: 823
    #16
    aysemari said:

    Did anyone choose a Lumpectomy?
    My cancer was very close to the chest wall as well. I haven't heard from anyone
    who chose a lumpectomy and was ok with it. Anyone?

    Ayse

    I think you'll find most
    I think you'll find most women when given the choice choose lumpectomy over masectomy. I believe we're the rare ones to go ahead and choose masectomy.
  • Dawne.Hope
    Dawne.Hope Member Posts: 823
    #17
    aysemari said:

    My gut is confused..
    just like the rest of me. My surgeon suggested a lumpectomy but hearing all your stories,
    about how there was more cancer once the breast was removed makes me want to lean
    more towards the mastectomy.
    I will talk to my surgeon more on Tuesday and also I still have to take the genealogy test
    so that may decide for me.

    I get the same feeling of acceptance and true caring on this site as I do when I go to my
    support group meeting, which tells a lot about you wonderful women who take the time
    to calm my fears and share their insight with me.

    Thank you all for being there!

    Ayse

    I was diagnosed in August,
    I was diagnosed in August, had a lumpectomy and was told by my surgeon I might want to consider masectomy because of my family history. When I talked to my onocologist, she said that she recommended radiation because the margins were clear and an MRI came back clear after surgery. Both told me that I needed to make a decision within six months. It is now six months and I'm going to have the surgery in a couple of weeks. It has taken me a LONG time to come to this point. I testesd negative for the BRAC1 and 2 gene but think there is some gene they haven't discovered yet that runs in my family because the link in my family is so strong.

    You're making a decision that will change your life forever. It takes TIME to come to that conclusion.

    Give yourself that time if your doctors give you that freedom.
  • banker1
    banker1 Member Posts: 1
    #18
    Mama G said:

    What do they radiate if the boob is gone?
    just wondering...they found 0 NO cancer left in my boob when they removed it. Where will they send the rads??? and why???

    What will the rad after a mastectomy
    Same issue here. Cancer came back 9 yrs after mastectomy. They're going to raditate whereever it's matastisized to after chemo. (If I agree, jury's still out. )
  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    #19
    Rague said:

    Inflamatory
    Inflamatory Breast Cancer. It is one of the more aggressive forms and comes on quite and grows rapidly. According to my medical and radiation oncologists (and my surgeon), the 5 year survival rate is 20% or less. Of course that are variables with people and I intend to do everything I can to make survival rate 100% for myself.

    lumpectomy
    i had a lumpectomy chemo radiation and now take tamoxifen. i am happy with what i decided was right for me! the radiation i had only sent radiation to my breast area not my heart or lungs. wishing you the best!


    teresa
  • Sunrae
    Sunrae Member Posts: 808
    #20
    teresa41 said:

    lumpectomy
    i had a lumpectomy chemo radiation and now take tamoxifen. i am happy with what i decided was right for me! the radiation i had only sent radiation to my breast area not my heart or lungs. wishing you the best!


    teresa

    I would have preferred
    I would have preferred lumpectomy with radiation but don't have that choice. Now I've been told that even when I have my masectomy and I will still have radiation. I remember when my mom had her masectomy they didn't do radiation and her cancer came back in the scar tissue. I'm convinced that if they had done radiation on her she would have survived longer. So I'm going along with my drs and will have radiation after my surgery. Good luck on whatever decision you make.
  • crselby
    crselby Member Posts: 441
    #21
    lumpectomy
    Hi Ayse, you asked if anyone had a lumpectomy. I did. I was dxed with DCIS in June 2009. Had lumpectomy surgery in July that took a LOT of tissue, which is good for DCIS. You need to have very wide, clear margins. There was a speck of DCIS in one of the pieces of margin tissue she took, but not near the edge. No other cancer was found anywhere. Everyone, all doctors I saw, said the lumpectomy with irradiation would be as effective as a mastectomy. Since I am big breasted, it was possible to lose a lot of tissue from one breast and still not be too lopsided! So I had a lumpectomy followed by internal, brachytherapy, radiation. That targeted the lumpectomy cavity more precisely than anything else would have. I feel confident that the cancer I had is gone. However, I live with the thought that I could develop cancer anywhere in either breast, as a new cancer. Breast cancer does not run in my family; I am the first. However, colon and bone marrow cancer have killed many of my older relatives on my mother's side. But it's Ok with me to live with the thought that cancer, in one form or another, may someday rear its ugly head again. I will be vigilant and proactive and hope for the best. In my case, I do not think that removing one or both of my breasts would have made the situation better. Wish I had a crystal ball and could look back on today from 5, 10 or 20 years from now!
    ~~Connie~~

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