Lumpectomy or mastectomy?

Hi 

sorry you find yourself here x

i was diagnosed September 2018 and had lumpectomy and radiotherapy. I am also small and my lumpectomy scar is almost in my arm pit - that breast looks no different to the other. I was on the beach in the Canary Islands wearing a bikini a month later. 

I recovered very quickly from the op, the radiotherapy was time consuming rather than anything else in that its a daily thing although I believe a number of hospitals are now offering the intra-operarive radiothery so no daily appointments required!

feel free to ask me anything - I have 2 daughters 13 and 16 at the time of diagnosis.

xx

Thanks Helsjw. That's good to hear. How are you now?

Doing really well. Life has gone back to ‘normal’, I escaped chemo so thats a big thing I guess. Ive been on tamoxifen for 16 months with no real issues there either. 

Have you had the full biopsy results (do you know whether you are oestrogen positive? Her2?)  Its a real minefield of info. I had a couple of weeks off work after surgery but worked through radiotherapy. I struggled more mentally and often just couldn’t face people - on those days i decided not to face people!

Hi , I have also recently been diagnosed  at the age of 47 I really didnt want to have a mastectomy or be faced with the possibility of implants as these also carry risk. 

I was lucky to have a lumpectomy on the 10th dec , the size was 27 mm the scar is quite neat and will be hidden by my bra. 

I also had a sentinel node biopsy , 2 nodes removed.  Unfortunately I got the results of my op last week. The lump removal was successful and the margins clear however I had traces of cancer in both nodes. I was given the option of a full node clearance followed by chemo, radio and hormone therapy. The full works. I've opted to have the full node clearance so back in for another op on the 28th. Not looking forward to the chemo but if it keeps me alive then needs be !! 

I found the recovery from the lumpectomy and node biopsy ( 10th dec ) pretty straight forward, I did the recommended exercises 4 times a day and have really good movement. 

The only advice i could give you is to be guided by your breast cancer nurse , these are highly trained compassionate people and they will look after you all the way. 

I realise the need to explore all options , prepare for the worse and hope for the best. 

Everyone tells you to stay positive and all you want to do is go hide in a corner until this nightmare goes away. I think being prepared , realistic and positive all help your recovery. 

Good luck in whatever option is best for you , everyone's experience is different but at the same time we are all going through this. 

Hope I've helped a little x

I’m also recently diagnosed at 46, and due to start chemo soon due to lymph node involvement. My surgery (including lymph node clearance) is planned for after chemo, so that I can have genetic testing carried out while I wait for surgery; this will help them decide whether to just do a lumpectomy (14mm lump, so not large), or, if testing shows a genetic link, a mastectomy or even bilateral mastectomy. Like others, the waiting seems worse than the thought of treatment, I just want to get on with it so I can move past it.

Hey x 

I also was diagnosed in 2018. Lumpectomey nipple removal and radiotherapy. Back to work in within six weeks. My scar under my armpit gets tender I'd I wear a bra. Where do other women manage to find one with no pressure there xx?

Lovejo x