treatment

tiny one · March 2009

Has anyone refused to have a masectomy? What was the outcome?

EveningStar2 · March 2009

uh

I suspect it would depend on circumstances. No one can do surgery on you if you do not consent to it. But why refuse if it's your breast vs your life?

Maureen

Joycelouise · March 2009

Of course there is always a
Of course there is always a lumpectomy rather than a mas. But to refuse either just doesn't make sense. I do a lot of holistic stuff in addition to my conventional treatment. I think my body is grateful that I am helping it out, both with the holistic stuff and the surgery. It is a stressful time, give yourself some love and some room to think. love, Joyce

seof · March 2009

I expect so
I expect there are people who do not do what the Drs. recommend. The ultimate decision is yours. You have to do what you can live with. Just be sure you are well informed and are truly making the best decision you can. If you feel your Doctor is not giving you good advise, you should feel free to get a second, or third, or fourth opinion, but eventually you will have to decide and live with the consequences. There is always a risk in any surgery, but the majority of mastectomies proceed unevenfully and the body heals. And there are many options with regard to reconstruction and prostheses.

It would be great if breast cancer was like a mathematical equation...if you do a,b,c,d, you will get x,y, and z every time.

Good luck with your decisions. seof

swalters · March 2009

Treatment
Tiny,

I had DCIS and was told twice that I needed a mastectomy. When the first surgeon told me this, I asked for a 2nd opinion and was referred to a 2nd surgeon who said she thought she could do a lumpectomy.

After I had the lumpectomy, I was told I did not get clean margins and was again facing a mastectomy. I consulted with Dr. Lagios, a world renown patholgoist who has a web site and a breast consult service. He reviewed my pathology slides and said he disagreed with my home town patholgists and that I did have clean margins and not only did not need a mastectomy, but was a good candidate to skip radiation and tamoxifen as well.

Mastectomy is not the only way to go, especially if you have DCIS.

Hope this helps you with your decisions.

Best wishes,
Sandie

Derbygirl · March 2009

There is a choice and the
There is a choice and the final decision is yours, but you need to know all that you can about the options and place trust in the doctor. I agree with others that a second opinion would be a good option. Possibly a lumpectomy - or breast conserving surgery - would be an option. Please remember that whatever the risks of surgery or treatment, the potential benefit is greater.

CrystalW · March 2009

Choices
My suregon, who did nothing else but breast surgeries, told us that there really is no difference in the survival rate of someone who has a masectomy verses a lumpectomy. He was one that did not beleive in mutiating a womans body if it was not absolutly necessary. Seems to have worked for me since I am still here after 7 years. Ask your suregon for some statistics on that then you can make a better informed decision. Good Luck...(((((HUGS)))))
Crystal

mmontero38 · March 2009

Tiny one, many factors
Tiny one, many factors involve making such a decision. It would depend on what type of cancer you have, the stage, how far it has spread, the size of your breast, if the doctor thinks he can get clean margins. You really need to know all these factors to be able to make an informed decision about whether to go for a mastectomy or lumpectomy. In my case I had invasive ductal carcinoma with vascular invasion, so for me the mastectomy was the best option. You need to ask the surgeon all these questions and then get a second opinion. Best of luck and keep us posted. Hugs, Lili

Joycelouise · March 2009

Tiny one, I had a big one
Tiny one, I had a big one (tumor that is). I was DELIGHTED to have a mas. I wanted that crud the heck out of my body. And take the stuff around it that may be laying in wait to trouble me. But, I did have a big tumor, so your situation may be different. I am just writing from the other side...my peace of mind after the mas. was more important than the piece of flesh!
love and well wishes, Joyce

mimivac · March 2009

Options
Tiny one, without details it is difficult to know what you are exactly asking. Are you contemplating the choice between mastectomy and lumpectomy, or considering forgoing either option? Removing the cancer surgically is very important in most breast cancer cases. Invasive tumors have a nasty way of growing, invading surrounding breast tissue, and, eventually, invading the lymph nodes and other organs. You don't want it to get that far. If you can remove the cancer, whether by getting rid of an area of the breast or the entire thing, it is important to do so. Talk to your doctor and please give us more details about your situation.

Mimi

KathiM · March 2009

mimivac said:
Options
Tiny one, without details it is difficult to know what you are exactly asking. Are you contemplating the choice between mastectomy and lumpectomy, or considering forgoing either option? Removing the cancer surgically is very important in most breast cancer cases. Invasive tumors have a nasty way of growing, invading surrounding breast tissue, and, eventually, invading the lymph nodes and other organs. You don't want it to get that far. If you can remove the cancer, whether by getting rid of an area of the breast or the entire thing, it is important to do so. Talk to your doctor and please give us more details about your situation.

Mimi

Smart lady!
Treatment in the 'old times' was a mastectomy. Cut out the cancer, that's it. No chemo, no rads...and this from women that are 30-plus years post-cancer....

Surgery seems to be an integral part of fighting breast cancer. 3 years ago, I was given a choice between a lumpectomy and mastectomy. Even though my mom had BC also, I decided on a lumpectomy, chemo and rads...I'm coming up on 3 years post-treatment (4 years post-dx), and still don't regret the decision.

Kathi

mimivac · March 2009

KathiM said:
Smart lady!
Treatment in the 'old times' was a mastectomy. Cut out the cancer, that's it. No chemo, no rads...and this from women that are 30-plus years post-cancer....

Surgery seems to be an integral part of fighting breast cancer. 3 years ago, I was given a choice between a lumpectomy and mastectomy. Even though my mom had BC also, I decided on a lumpectomy, chemo and rads...I'm coming up on 3 years post-treatment (4 years post-dx), and still don't regret the decision.

Kathi

lumpectomy versus mastectomy
This is good to know, Kathi. Sometimes I wonder whether I will regret the decision not to have a mastectomy. It seems that most women (especially younger women) have bi-lateral mastectomies. I am on another board where I notice that even women who have DCIS in one breast go with bilateral mastectomy. It made me really insecure for a while...

Mimi

mmontero38 · March 2009

mimivac said:
lumpectomy versus mastectomy
This is good to know, Kathi. Sometimes I wonder whether I will regret the decision not to have a mastectomy. It seems that most women (especially younger women) have bi-lateral mastectomies. I am on another board where I notice that even women who have DCIS in one breast go with bilateral mastectomy. It made me really insecure for a while...

Mimi

Lumpectomy, Mastectomy & Bilateral
Mimi, alot of the women that choose this route of bilateral mastectomy is because they have a history of breast cancer in their family or are genetically disposed to it. I know many women that chose bilateral because of these reasons. I chose a mastectomy because mine was invasive ductal and not DCIS. When I went for my mammography in January everything was clear, and then I felt the lump not even 4 months later in May. We knew my cancer was very aggressive, so for my own peace of mind I opted for a mastectomy. As long as we are comfortable with our decision and this dreaded beast doesn't come back, we'll be ok. Hugs, Lili

tommaseena · March 2009

mmontero38 said:
Lumpectomy, Mastectomy & Bilateral
Mimi, alot of the women that choose this route of bilateral mastectomy is because they have a history of breast cancer in their family or are genetically disposed to it. I know many women that chose bilateral because of these reasons. I chose a mastectomy because mine was invasive ductal and not DCIS. When I went for my mammography in January everything was clear, and then I felt the lump not even 4 months later in May. We knew my cancer was very aggressive, so for my own peace of mind I opted for a mastectomy. As long as we are comfortable with our decision and this dreaded beast doesn't come back, we'll be ok. Hugs, Lili

Mastectomy was my choice
I had DCIS with invasion and opted to have bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction (tissue expanders)on 2/2/09. I had a strong family history of BC. I am glad I did what I did because mine turned out to be HER2+ which is a very aggressive cancer. I will be on chemo for over a year. Even with a horrible experience with the insertion of the port I know I made the right decision. Which each day the port site is better.

The first surgeon I saw told me lumpectomy with lymph node biopsy. Second opinion said with the strong family history and with it already invasive she recommended a mastectomy and the choice of having a bilateral was my decision.

You need to make that decision for yourself after you have all the facts from your surgeon and others on his multidisciplinary team. If a second opinion or more helps you make up your mind and trust the doctor then so be it.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Margo

treatment

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