masectomy vs chemotherapy and lumpectomy

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fidomusic
fidomusic Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Can anyone help me? I have having to choose between a mascetomy and chemotherapy with lumpectomy. Is there any difference in long term outcome?

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  • lindatn
    lindatn Member Posts: 229
    #2
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    Are you having chemo with either surgery your have? You will need radiation if you have a lumpectomy but there are times with a masectomy radiation is not done. Depends on the extent of the cancer. Long term out come is nearly the same but with a lumpectomy there is a 2 percent chance of reaccurane in the breast at which time a mascetomy is then performed. I chose a lumpectomy two years ago and would do so again. Do your research for what is right for you. Linda
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #3
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    lindatn said:

    Are you having chemo with either surgery your have? You will need radiation if you have a lumpectomy but there are times with a masectomy radiation is not done. Depends on the extent of the cancer. Long term out come is nearly the same but with a lumpectomy there is a 2 percent chance of reaccurane in the breast at which time a mascetomy is then performed. I chose a lumpectomy two years ago and would do so again. Do your research for what is right for you. Linda

    Studies over a 20 year period show there is an equal cure rate between mastectomy and lumpectomy. But...don't take my word for it, go to PubMed and do a search or type in the search engine "clinical trial results mastectomy vs. lumpectomy survival outcome". Chances are either way you go they will recommend chemotherapy.
    Best wishes in your decision.
    God bless.
    hummingbyrd
  • wildangel
    wildangel Member Posts: 81
    #4
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    Hi I was given the same information. In fact, I wanted a mastectomy and my breast surgeon told me there was no reason for me to go that far because of the location and size of my tumor and the size of my breast he felt a lumpectomy would be a better option. He said this because of the stated reasons above- the outcome of a mastectomy is equal to that of a lumpectomy followed by radiation.

    Now I will add my own crazy logic that makes no sense. I feel that if I still have the breast if the cancer returns it will come back to the breast first and then I can have the mastectomy. If I didn't have the breast where would the cancer go? Now PLEASE- this is my crazy brain- no doctor ever said it! I just look at things in an weird way sometimes!

    As far as having chemo or not with or without a mastectomy that is tricky and I can't answer that. It depends on your cancer, its stage, aggressiveness, whether it has gone to your lymph nodes or not. Maybe you should get a second opinion with another doc.
    Good luck!
    Angela
  • tlmac
    tlmac Member Posts: 272 Member
    #5
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    I'm assuming your cancer was caught at stage 1. Mine was stage 2 with lymph nodes all clear and I chose mastectomy but still had to do 4 cycles of AC chemo because of the stage. I made my decision for many personal reasons but one was to avoid radiation, which I didn't require with the mastectomy. Good luck with your surgery.
    terri
  • nganga4
    nganga4 Member Posts: 17
    #6
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    I chose mastectomy with reconstruction over lumpectomy and chemotherapy and I'm glad I did. I'm in Stage 1b, which is very early. My oncologist says I don't need chemo because I was aggressive with the surgery and she put me on Femara,which is an aromatase inhibitor said to be extremely effective in preventing recurrence. The reconstruction, when finished, will give me two beautiful breasts. I will be followed carefully by the oncologist (visits every three months for two years and then every six months thereafter. It worked for me. I'm not sure where you are in the process. I had no lymph node involvement so I had something of a choice here. Good luck with whatever you elect to do.

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