decision time

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Comments

  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #22
    Good for you. Not an easy
    Good for you. Not an easy decision to make whether being advised just to have lumpectomy and still hard to accept when told to have mastectomy. I did because had to and glad went down that path.

    My story was bad luck and good luck.

    Yes had cancer in one side but another area looked suspicious so mastectomy. Then told didn't need mastectomy as the second area was a false positive. So one breast gone and the other reduced at the same time of breast removal to match up in size. Low and behold the material reduced was sent away just incase the good breast had hidden probs and it did.

    So didn't need first mastectomy but because I did other side was found and would not have been pfound for years because my type isn't picked up by mammo and was in early stages.

    Sorry to go. We are all with different stories. Good luck with your operation. Please ask for any advice needed.


    We are here for you.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #23
    RozHopkins said:

    Good for you. Not an easy
    Good for you. Not an easy decision to make whether being advised just to have lumpectomy and still hard to accept when told to have mastectomy. I did because had to and glad went down that path.

    My story was bad luck and good luck.

    Yes had cancer in one side but another area looked suspicious so mastectomy. Then told didn't need mastectomy as the second area was a false positive. So one breast gone and the other reduced at the same time of breast removal to match up in size. Low and behold the material reduced was sent away just incase the good breast had hidden probs and it did.

    So didn't need first mastectomy but because I did other side was found and would not have been pfound for years because my type isn't picked up by mammo and was in early stages.

    Sorry to go. We are all with different stories. Good luck with your operation. Please ask for any advice needed.


    We are here for you.

    I think you need to go with
    I think you need to go with your gut. Factors to take into consideration include, risk for recurrence, do you have a family history? dense breasts that make it difficult to detect breast cancer, large breasts that make it more difficult to predict breast cancer? positive gene? it would not be unreasoanble to have a lumpectomy, I am fair skinned and did fine with rads, but the time factor involved is a pain. you have Dcis? but you are in good shape with grade 1 teeny tumor. but it depends on how you feel about the chance of recurrence in your current affected breast or the other one, and how you deal with the uncertainty and having to deal with mammos, which are so anxiety provoking. So many things determine your decision, your temperment, how you feel about losing your breasts. To methere is no right or wrong in this case, its how you want to move forward.
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #24
    my two cents
    I am sorry you have to be faced with such decision. I pray you make the correct one for YOU. It is a very personal decision that only you can make and feel comfortable with.

    I too was faced with the same dilemma. I was dx at 32. However, I decided for a lumpectomy. Do I regret it? Sometimes. Why? Because I am very young. I find I have anxiety with my breasts, and always wonder what if. Some people are lucky and just go through their lives getting tests and never have to have biopsies again, which is a blessing. The problem with this type of cancer is that the chances of developing the same OR NEW cancers go up as you get older. So for me, my chances will increase because of my age. But also I may never get it. There are no guarantees. The good thing about mastectomy is that you cut down your chances of developing NEW cancers by at least 95%, and that is important for someone who is as young as me. Now, the good thing is that I can always have the mastectomy, perhaps in a few years. Once you get a mastectomy, you can't go back. But in general, everyone has been satisfied/happy about such decision, because at the end of the day, it is done to save your life, in the long-term. As others mentioned, you get the same results with either surgery for your CURRENT cancer. No difference there.

    I hope you are at peace with whatever decision you make. There's a tradeoff for each.

    Hugs
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #25
    kacee999 said:

    I was diagnosed with stage 1...
    and immediately opted for a bi-lateral. I have not regretted it. Didn't feel like walking around with a time bomb on my body!

    Wishing you lots of luck on
    Wishing you lots of luck on the 19th!


    Hugs, Debby
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #26
    Alalicia said:

    Thanks
    Thanks everyone for all of your comments and support. I have decided to go with the bilateral mastectomy. After a lot of studying and thinking and reading all your comments, I finally got out of my head and into my heart and the only thing that feels right to me is the bilateral. So, on the 19th of Nov. I go in.
    Thank again and bless you all for sharing.
    Alalicia

    I am glad you made your
    I am glad you made your decision. We will be with you on the 19th supporting you!


    Good luck,

    Leeza
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #27
    Tux said:

    choices
    I had lumpectomy & rads; am now 3 1/2 yrs out & am on tamoxifen.
    I missed no work for the rads (my schedule was rearranged).
    Had minimal side effects, most temporary. The doctor really
    gave me no choice, but I am glad I did this. I have a friend
    who had it at the same time, with high incidence of BC in
    her family, who opted for double mastectomy & no reconstruction.
    She is also comfortable with her decision.

    I think it is up to each person; we will support you no matter
    what you decide to do. Wishing you the best...

    Sending lots of good luck
    Sending lots of good luck and cyber hugs for your upcoming surgery.


    Hugs, Leeza
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #28
    RozHopkins said:

    Good for you. Not an easy
    Good for you. Not an easy decision to make whether being advised just to have lumpectomy and still hard to accept when told to have mastectomy. I did because had to and glad went down that path.

    My story was bad luck and good luck.

    Yes had cancer in one side but another area looked suspicious so mastectomy. Then told didn't need mastectomy as the second area was a false positive. So one breast gone and the other reduced at the same time of breast removal to match up in size. Low and behold the material reduced was sent away just incase the good breast had hidden probs and it did.

    So didn't need first mastectomy but because I did other side was found and would not have been pfound for years because my type isn't picked up by mammo and was in early stages.

    Sorry to go. We are all with different stories. Good luck with your operation. Please ask for any advice needed.


    We are here for you.

    Praying for a successful
    Praying for a successful surgery for you and a fast recovery!
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #29
    Alalicia said:

    Thanks
    Thanks everyone for all of your comments and support. I have decided to go with the bilateral mastectomy. After a lot of studying and thinking and reading all your comments, I finally got out of my head and into my heart and the only thing that feels right to me is the bilateral. So, on the 19th of Nov. I go in.
    Thank again and bless you all for sharing.
    Alalicia

    Good luck Alalicia! I am
    Good luck Alalicia! I am praying for you!
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #30
    RozHopkins said:

    Good for you. Not an easy
    Good for you. Not an easy decision to make whether being advised just to have lumpectomy and still hard to accept when told to have mastectomy. I did because had to and glad went down that path.

    My story was bad luck and good luck.

    Yes had cancer in one side but another area looked suspicious so mastectomy. Then told didn't need mastectomy as the second area was a false positive. So one breast gone and the other reduced at the same time of breast removal to match up in size. Low and behold the material reduced was sent away just incase the good breast had hidden probs and it did.

    So didn't need first mastectomy but because I did other side was found and would not have been pfound for years because my type isn't picked up by mammo and was in early stages.

    Sorry to go. We are all with different stories. Good luck with your operation. Please ask for any advice needed.


    We are here for you.

    I never struggled with my
    I never struggled with my treatment as a lumpectomy with rads was what my onco recommended for me. I don't think I could have faced losing my breasts. The rads weren't easy, but, I got thru them.

    Good luck and keep us updated as to how you are.


    Hugs, Lex

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