Lumpectomy vs Mastectomy

Faith1122

Hi!
I had 70% DCIS & 30% IDC. Minimal stage 1 estrogen positive. The actual cancer tumor was only 1-2 mm. Only the DCIS showed on my mammography & I went in to have it biopsied. They told me they were pre-cancer cells but when they biopsied them they found the cancer tumor. That was part of my decision to have a double mastectomy. The fact that the tumor didn't even show up on a mammo & my strong family history of BC. I was afraid of rads & chemo & was told I wouldn't need them if I had the mastectomy I just need to take tamoxifen for 5 years. I also thought about how the radiation can damage the skin & if God forbid the BC comes back & you have the mastectomy, the reconstruction may not come out as nice. As nice as it can anyway :0/ Good luck with whatever you decide. Your decision is the right decision for you.

lindan123

If you have early-stage breast cancer
If you have early-stage breast cancer and are not offered at least two options, go to a different doctor and get a second opinion. Ask about survival statistics based on your diagnosis, and about your surgeon's expertise in breast cancer surgery procedures. Sometimes your health insurance may limit your choices, but if you want more options, ask how you can work out a financial compromise. If you're favoring a mastectomy, you should also be discussing your choice of breast reconstruction methods. If breast reconstruction is not mentioned before you settle on a mastectomy, consult a plastic surgeon to see what your options may be. Make sure you feel as confident as possible when you choose your breast cancer surgery procedure.

Megan M

trsmith0104 said:

Path report
My path report says nodes are clear and margins are clear. My stage is IIA. Oncologist is on the fence about whether or not to do chemo. She is leaning towards chemo because I am 43, but we are going to wait for the oncotype test to come back. I am kind of leaning towards having chemo too, only because I want to lessen my chances of getting this back again.

Congrats on clear nodes and
Congrats on clear nodes and margins! That is great and what we all pray for! Good luck with the oncotype test! I hope you don't need chemo.


Hugs, Megan

Sunrae

lindan123 said:

If you have early-stage breast cancer
If you have early-stage breast cancer and are not offered at least two options, go to a different doctor and get a second opinion. Ask about survival statistics based on your diagnosis, and about your surgeon's expertise in breast cancer surgery procedures. Sometimes your health insurance may limit your choices, but if you want more options, ask how you can work out a financial compromise. If you're favoring a mastectomy, you should also be discussing your choice of breast reconstruction methods. If breast reconstruction is not mentioned before you settle on a mastectomy, consult a plastic surgeon to see what your options may be. Make sure you feel as confident as possible when you choose your breast cancer surgery procedure.

Sorry to hear about your
Sorry to hear about your situation and all the decision options that are swirling around in your head. I was dxed in 09 as stage 2A, ER positive. My onc at first said I would only need a lumpectomy with rads, but after several tests found that I needed a masectomy because I already had 3 tumors in my breast and bc was found in the lymph nodes. My onco type test showed low range so I might not need chemo. After path report came back I was Stage 3A and also had 11 positive lymph nodes out of 17 nodes removed. I chose to have chemo and rads after the masectomy and also was given Femara to take for the next 5 years. I have since switched to Arimidex because of side effects from Femara. We all have to make the best decision we can based on what we know and feel. You will make the right decision for yourself. Keep us posted and we wish you the best.

BethBV

lindan123 said:

If you have early-stage breast cancer
If you have early-stage breast cancer and are not offered at least two options, go to a different doctor and get a second opinion. Ask about survival statistics based on your diagnosis, and about your surgeon's expertise in breast cancer surgery procedures. Sometimes your health insurance may limit your choices, but if you want more options, ask how you can work out a financial compromise. If you're favoring a mastectomy, you should also be discussing your choice of breast reconstruction methods. If breast reconstruction is not mentioned before you settle on a mastectomy, consult a plastic surgeon to see what your options may be. Make sure you feel as confident as possible when you choose your breast cancer surgery procedure.

More Questions than Answers!
Saw the surgeon this morning. I went in with my mind fairly made up that the left breast has to go but was waffling on the bilateral. Now Lumpectomy is back on the table and awfully appealing.

What we know from needle biopsy and MRI:

Probable Infiltrative Ductal Carcionoma
2.5+ cm malignant mass in breast (at 12:00 near the nipple, not too deep)
3.5+ cm malignant mass in axial node (so at least one node very involved)
ER+, PR+, HER2- (this is basic, garden variety, IDC, very common)
MRI shows nothing on the right side
MRI shows no other nodes involved (but the doctor isn't convinced)

I had a Borderline Phyllodes Tumor on the left breast in 2009. Had lumpectomy and a second excission for wider margins. I have been repeatedly assured that this IDC is something totally unrelated to the Phyllodes but, truthfully, I'm kind of mad at my left breast right now. I want to banish it to the trash heap!

However, lumpectomy will be SO much easier that mastectomy. The surgeon says chemo, radiation and hormone blocking is not optional in my case, due to the lymph node involvement. So, should I just go for the bilateral and all the pain and recovery that involves? Should I just take the easy way out and gamble that it won't come back? 5-Year Survival rates for mastectomy vs. lumpectomy are identical (94%). Recurrance rates for mastectomy w/rads is 4% to 5%. Recurrance rates for lumpectomy w/rads is 12%.

I know no one can make this decision except my husband and I but we are stumped. What would you do? What should we consider?

Thanks for any input!

Noel

trsmith0104 said:

Path report
My path report says nodes are clear and margins are clear. My stage is IIA. Oncologist is on the fence about whether or not to do chemo. She is leaning towards chemo because I am 43, but we are going to wait for the oncotype test to come back. I am kind of leaning towards having chemo too, only because I want to lessen my chances of getting this back again.

Tonia

Congrats on your good path
Congrats on your good path report!

Kylez

disneyfan2008 said:

2008 I had lumpectomy and
2008 I had lumpectomy and radiation..so far all is well...

I was not even given an option I was just told "Lumpectomy"


on tamoxifen starting 5th year next week..

Denise

That's such great news about
That's such great news about your pathology report. Hoping that you will not need any chemo at all.


Hugs!

Alexis F

Faith1122 said:

Hi!
I had 70% DCIS & 30% IDC. Minimal stage 1 estrogen positive. The actual cancer tumor was only 1-2 mm. Only the DCIS showed on my mammography & I went in to have it biopsied. They told me they were pre-cancer cells but when they biopsied them they found the cancer tumor. That was part of my decision to have a double mastectomy. The fact that the tumor didn't even show up on a mammo & my strong family history of BC. I was afraid of rads & chemo & was told I wouldn't need them if I had the mastectomy I just need to take tamoxifen for 5 years. I also thought about how the radiation can damage the skin & if God forbid the BC comes back & you have the mastectomy, the reconstruction may not come out as nice. As nice as it can anyway :0/ Good luck with whatever you decide. Your decision is the right decision for you.

Thinking about you
Thinking about you Tonia!


Lex

wirak

BethBV said:

More Questions than Answers!
Saw the surgeon this morning. I went in with my mind fairly made up that the left breast has to go but was waffling on the bilateral. Now Lumpectomy is back on the table and awfully appealing.

What we know from needle biopsy and MRI:

Probable Infiltrative Ductal Carcionoma
2.5+ cm malignant mass in breast (at 12:00 near the nipple, not too deep)
3.5+ cm malignant mass in axial node (so at least one node very involved)
ER+, PR+, HER2- (this is basic, garden variety, IDC, very common)
MRI shows nothing on the right side
MRI shows no other nodes involved (but the doctor isn't convinced)

I had a Borderline Phyllodes Tumor on the left breast in 2009. Had lumpectomy and a second excission for wider margins. I have been repeatedly assured that this IDC is something totally unrelated to the Phyllodes but, truthfully, I'm kind of mad at my left breast right now. I want to banish it to the trash heap!

However, lumpectomy will be SO much easier that mastectomy. The surgeon says chemo, radiation and hormone blocking is not optional in my case, due to the lymph node involvement. So, should I just go for the bilateral and all the pain and recovery that involves? Should I just take the easy way out and gamble that it won't come back? 5-Year Survival rates for mastectomy vs. lumpectomy are identical (94%). Recurrance rates for mastectomy w/rads is 4% to 5%. Recurrance rates for lumpectomy w/rads is 12%.

I know no one can make this decision except my husband and I but we are stumped. What would you do? What should we consider?

Thanks for any input!

lumptectomy vs mastectomy
From my own personal experience, I would go with the mastectomy. My doctor told me I was a lumpectomy candidate, but I opted for a mastectomy just because I knew I would always be worried. Following the surgery, he told me had I had the lumpectomy, I would have been back in for a mastectomy because there was a second tumor they weren't aware of. I had had a mammogram, needle biopsy and MRI and all three missed the second tumor. This has made me so nervous, I am opting to have the other one removed this fall, even though it shows clear. Best of luck to you. I hate that you're having to make this decision.

trsmith0104

Alexis F said:

Thinking about you
Thinking about you Tonia!


Lex

Thank you - I am doing good.
Thank you - I am doing good. I did the lumpectomy because the girls were big enough to removed the 3.5 cm tumor without disfiguring me. I have clean margins and clean nodes, so I just need to wait for the oncotype test. That comes ba on the 12th. I am already looking on the web at wigs, went to the health food store to discuss how to boost my immunie system, etc. I am getting mentally ready for everything (getting ready for the other shoe to fall).

I'm sure it'll be fine, LOL.

DianeBC

trsmith0104 said:

Thank you - I am doing good.
Thank you - I am doing good. I did the lumpectomy because the girls were big enough to removed the 3.5 cm tumor without disfiguring me. I have clean margins and clean nodes, so I just need to wait for the oncotype test. That comes ba on the 12th. I am already looking on the web at wigs, went to the health food store to discuss how to boost my immunie system, etc. I am getting mentally ready for everything (getting ready for the other shoe to fall).

I'm sure it'll be fine, LOL.

Glad you could have the
Glad you could have the lumpectomy and great news about clean margins and nodes! If I may ask, why is your onco suggesting chemo for you since your nodes were clean? I thought usually you just have rads after a lumpectomy unless cancer shows up in your nodes.

Praying that you won't need chemo!


Hugs, Diane

trsmith0104

DianeBC said:

Glad you could have the
Glad you could have the lumpectomy and great news about clean margins and nodes! If I may ask, why is your onco suggesting chemo for you since your nodes were clean? I thought usually you just have rads after a lumpectomy unless cancer shows up in your nodes.

Praying that you won't need chemo!


Hugs, Diane

I am waiting on the
I am waiting on the Onccotype test first. The Oncologist at first said she was leaning towards chemo only because of my age, but wanted to see what the test numbers came back as before she made her final decision. I guess it is not normal to have someone at my age get Invasive Lobular Carcinoma because it is typically found in women over 50 (I am 43).

MAJW

wirak said:

lumptectomy vs mastectomy
From my own personal experience, I would go with the mastectomy. My doctor told me I was a lumpectomy candidate, but I opted for a mastectomy just because I knew I would always be worried. Following the surgery, he told me had I had the lumpectomy, I would have been back in for a mastectomy because there was a second tumor they weren't aware of. I had had a mammogram, needle biopsy and MRI and all three missed the second tumor. This has made me so nervous, I am opting to have the other one removed this fall, even though it shows clear. Best of luck to you. I hate that you're having to make this decision.

I had a lumpectomy...
I had a lumpectomy...surgeon said there is no greater survival rate z with a mastectomy vs lumpectomy as it's impossible to remove all breast tissue....
I had clean margins and no lymph node involvement....had chemo and radiation.....was in remission for 19 months....it came back in my lymph nodes...NOT in either breast...Been under treatment again,now for 14 months....it's been quite a journey being stage IV.... I am now in remission...words I never thought I'd hear again...

Wishing you all well in making your decision...everyone has to do what they feel is best for themselves....
Hugs Nancy

VickiSam

MAJW said:

I had a lumpectomy...
I had a lumpectomy...surgeon said there is no greater survival rate z with a mastectomy vs lumpectomy as it's impossible to remove all breast tissue....
I had clean margins and no lymph node involvement....had chemo and radiation.....was in remission for 19 months....it came back in my lymph nodes...NOT in either breast...Been under treatment again,now for 14 months....it's been quite a journey being stage IV.... I am now in remission...words I never thought I'd hear again...

Wishing you all well in making your decision...everyone has to do what they feel is best for themselves....
Hugs Nancy

bumping up ...
...

Megan M

trsmith0104 said:

I am waiting on the
I am waiting on the Onccotype test first. The Oncologist at first said she was leaning towards chemo only because of my age, but wanted to see what the test numbers came back as before she made her final decision. I guess it is not normal to have someone at my age get Invasive Lobular Carcinoma because it is typically found in women over 50 (I am 43).

Did you get your results
Did you get your results back yet?

trsmith0104

Megan M said:

Did you get your results
Did you get your results back yet?

No Oncotype results yet -
No Oncotype results yet - not until 9/12