Anxiety Level After Surgery: Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy

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LoveBabyJesus
LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
Good morning beautiful ladies!

I've been thinking and would like to learn more about this treatment option, mastectomy. I know the basics: it decreases chances of new cancers from happening by 95%, but not the one you already have as lumpectomy and radiation are the same as mastectomy, for the diagnosed cancer. It also decreases anxiety levels. I am 33 and my Onco suggested because of my age, I have a mastectomy, because the chances of new cancer from developing can go up to 25%. I don't want this beast to come back in a different form later. But I have no children, and it's difficult to make a call.

I just had a lumpectomy last Feb. and scheduled for radiation simulation for the 21st of this month. My surgeon said that reconstruction is harder on a skin that has been radiated. So this too makes it difficult to settle. I wonder if I can just have a mastectomy scheduled instead of the radiation. Hmmm....I have little time to make up my mind, so:

What has been your anxiety level after surgery? Please specify what surgery you had. I wonder if the anxiety level is lower with a mastectomy vs. a lumpectomy. Please let me know your thoughts.


Thank you.

Comments

  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #2
    Options
    Listen...
    To the advice of your physicians...and it is such a difficult, personal decision....I was told by my surgeon, oncologist, gynecologist, and rads oncologist that survival rates are no better with mastectomy than lumpectomy as it is impossible to remove all breast tissue...of course there are always exceptions....my bc has returned...but NOT in the breast....my recent mammo and ultrasound were clean...I had a lumpectomy...

    For some a mastectomy is not optional, for different reasons...I am certain that many will chime in with their own experiences...but in the end it is your's to make....I wish you well in what ever you decide...
    God Bless
    Hugs, Nancy
  • Dawne.Hope
    Dawne.Hope Member Posts: 823
    #3
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    tough call
    I agree with MAJW it is a totally personal decision and what works for you may not for another.

    But since you asked ... I really really struggled with this decision. I was 39 when diagnosed, DCIS in left breast. The protocol was lumpectomy, radiation and tamoxifen because I was er/pro +

    Everyone throws out the fact, "Lumpectomy plus radiation/masectomy is the same recurrence rate." I talked at length with a top radiation onocologist and he told me that this study was done on post-menopausal women. They're not sure if the same is true for pre-menopausal women. He was concerned with my family history and being on the younger side that it might come back. Often BC is a different beast in younger women than it is in older. Until they do a study on pre-menopausal women I'm not buying that the recurrence rates are the same. I hope they are ... but I'm not sold.

    I have a strong history of BC on my mom's side of the family but was BRAC1 and 2 negative. I had extremely dense breasts that made it difficult to see what was going on in there even with an MRI. My mother was one of the rare ones who got endometrial cancer from five years of Tamoxifen ... so I had a lot of strikes going against me. Maybe if I hadn't had such dense breasts ... maybe if I was a little older when diagnosed ... but I ultrimately decided to do a MX and have a prophylatic (preventative) MX on my right side too.

    I in no way regret my decision. I know that it doesn't guarantee that it won't come back. It still can. But I am a worrier and it has brought me peace of mind. I am still dealing with the aftermath of the surgery. I have bi-lateral lymphedema which is horrible ... but I still don't regret my decision. The errogenous zone of my breasts is gone and will never come back. I don't regret my decision. I have very little feeling in my reconstructed breasts but I still don't regret my decision.

    Is my decision right for everyone? No.
    Do I have regrets? No.

    I did what is right for me. I pray that you will do what is right for you.

    [[hugs]]
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #4
    Options
    Because of my dx (IBC)
    Because of my dx (IBC) mastectomy was the only option.

    It seems to me that regardless what you decide or how you attack this beast, there will always be anxiety. I've finished active treatments so I'm learning how to deal with that now...it just seems to be a part of what survivors go through.

    So I agree...listen to your docs, your family, and your heart. I'm sure you know that whatever you decide, we'll support you.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • poplolly
    poplolly Member Posts: 346
    #5
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    It may depend on the size of
    It may depend on the size of the cancer. My surgeon told me I had no choice because I'm small and the tumor was large so there wouldn't be enough of a breast left. My thought at the time, anyway, was "take it all off." But I'm 59 and I do think age plays into your decision. I have a lump in my left breast that they think is benign, but if it changes at all, I want the rigth breast totally removed. I don't have a scientific reason for this; it's just how I feel.

    Judy
  • helen e
    helen e Member Posts: 223
    #6
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    no radiation
    I had both a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. After my lumpectomy when my margins weren't clear dr's told me I needed to have a mastectomy. I also had a sentinal node biopsy which showed that the cancer didn't spread outside my breast. Because of this I didn't need radiation or chemo because they would take all of my breast tissue and all of the cancer with it and there would be nothing to radiate. I am 45 and it has been almost 2 years since my diagnosis. I didn't notice any difference in my anxiety between either operation if you don't count the fact that I was hyper sensitive with the lumpectomy because I had just been diagnosed and was dealing with all that entails at the time.
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #7
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    48 bilateral mastectomy
    I am 48 years old. My sister died at 43 of breast cancer. When I was diagnosed, I knew I would have them both taken. Mammogram could not see the three masses in my right breast because they are so dense. My breasts are really lumpy so I only felt the one.
    It is totally a personal decision. If you want to breast feed, whether or not you have a spouse, how you feel about your body. If you have a spouse, you should discuss all the options with them.
    I don't regret my decision but I have always been small anyway.

    Cindy
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #8
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    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    Because of my dx (IBC)
    Because of my dx (IBC) mastectomy was the only option.

    It seems to me that regardless what you decide or how you attack this beast, there will always be anxiety. I've finished active treatments so I'm learning how to deal with that now...it just seems to be a part of what survivors go through.

    So I agree...listen to your docs, your family, and your heart. I'm sure you know that whatever you decide, we'll support you.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    I had a lumpectomy followed
    I had a lumpectomy followed by rads, which I feel fortunate about. A lumpectomy with rads is equal to a mastectomy inre to survival rate and recurrence. I think some do not know or weren't told that there is no way any surgeon can get all of your breast tissue with a mastectomy, so everyone still has breast tissue left, even with a mastectomy.

    And many don't have a choice of having a lumpectomy. Either their tumor is too large or there are other circumstances.

    We all feel anxious about any surgery, and, this is no exception. Fighting bc is hard, let alone all of the decisions we must make.

    There are women on here that have had a recurrence that had a lumpectomy, and, also women that had a recurrence with a mastectomy.

    You have to do what is best for you! Your doctor will recommend what is best for you. But, you have the final say.

    I pray you will feel less anxious and be happy with whatever you choose! Good luck!


    Sue :)
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #9
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    Thank You!
    Thank you all for your responses. As always, you help me in so many ways. I appreciate it.

    I will have a talk with my surgeon when I go for my mammo next month (need pink bus then!). I'll keep you all posted on what we decide. Ovaries will be another issue too. I harvested my eggs. You don't need ovaries to have a child, right? :-/ Ok. Thanks again sisters.

    God bless you.
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #10
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    LoveBabyJesus said:

    Thank You!
    Thank you all for your responses. As always, you help me in so many ways. I appreciate it.

    I will have a talk with my surgeon when I go for my mammo next month (need pink bus then!). I'll keep you all posted on what we decide. Ovaries will be another issue too. I harvested my eggs. You don't need ovaries to have a child, right? :-/ Ok. Thanks again sisters.

    God bless you.

    The pink bus will be ready
    The pink bus will be ready for you when you need it! Good luck with your decision.


    Hugs, Debby

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