Choices

It's a very personal choice. I would have loved to have a lumpectomy, but the position of my tumour meant it had to be a mastectomy so I went with that and decided to leave reconstruction for later, if ever. 

A lumpectomy with clear margins will do the job, not sure why this was not recommended outright, so perhaps you could ask the surgeon a bit more about it. Best to get all the information, but if after that you feel you would have a better peace of mind with a mastectomy, go with what works for you. 

Hi, sorry to hear you have BC.  Whilst it was recommended that I had a mastectomy by my surgeon.  What I can say is that my cancer was large, but even though I had mammogram, 2 scans and MRI scan, none of these showed exactly how large and it was only by histology after op that it was confirmed as 12cm. It is a very difficult time but I am sure whatever you decide will be the correct decision for you.  All the best xx  

Hello Juned

The decision making is hard. I was back and forward for a few days. First I was told I only needed a lumpectomy, but in my head I felt a mastectomy would be better/safer. Anyway after an MRI showed a larger area of cancer than initially thought, my consultant changed his recommendation to mastectomy, although he still offered to try for lumpectomy if that was my preference. I had my op - a full mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction - on 20 Dec and currently recuperating at home. So far I feel happy with my decision, but it is like Greycats says, a very personal choice. 

Hi Pangles, hope you are recovering well from your surgery.  Your journey is similar to mine.  I was told lumpectomy and reductuon for a cancer that was approx 3.4cm but needed MRI to get exact size but then MRI showed enhancement around cancer which on histology after mastectomy, much larger than anyone thought x

Hi .mel28

Thank you, I am doing OK. Ups and downs but really trying to give my body the time it needs to heal and not push things. I was shocked how even with mammograms, ultrasounds and MRI they still aren't able to know the full picture. I await my histology report with trepidation, but trying not to worry too much. These are difficult and uncertain times for all of us here,  but sharing our stories really does help. Best wishes x

Thank you all for your replies.  I too had 2 ultrasounds, MRI and 4 biopsies that were negative, thankfully my consultant had a feeling that there was something wrong x

Hi Pangles and all the rest, 

My situation looks similar. MRI and ultrasound shown up a lump 2.2cm and after having a lumpectomy for DCIS, something that I thought is quite treatable, I ended up having invasive cancer plus no clear margin within the removed lump.  I'm currently waiting to see my Consultant the following Tuesday as my initial appointment for 4th Jan has been rescheduled.  I decided to go for mastectomy. 

Absolutely agree with you, hard decisions. It's been very difficult time for many of us and being told something different after mri's/ultrasounds is even harder to accept....

At least, there are places like that online community forum where we can share and exchange our experiences.  

I hope all goes well with your histology.  

Hugs 

K 

Hi

From the mammograms and scans I had a lesion around 3 to 4 cm in the upper inner quadrant of my right breast. 

I had a wide local excision, with a round block mammoplasty just over 3 weeks ago. Even though the lesion was large and not in the best place  my surgeon thought I should get a good result. She explained that there is a risk of further surgery if a clear margin surrounding the lesion wasn't achieved.

I'm  a 38c/d and as the lesion was quite large  I wasnt expecting great things. However I'm.really pleased with the result. My boob is slightly smaller and flattened a bit around my nipple where tissue has been rearranged. 

I have stitches around my areola and under my arm where I had 2 lymph nodes removed. My nipple area is still quite tender but it's healing well.

If this is an option for you, I'd certainly explore it with your surgeon. Just be aware that if the margins aren't clear and there isn't sufficient tissue for a second mammoplasty  it may require a mastectomy.

I hope to get my histology report this Tuesday where I will find out if more surgery is needed. 

Fingers crossed.

Thank you KatieJa. Best of luck with your next appointment too x

Hi Daiquiri

There seem to be so many options nowadays. I've never heard of round block mammoplasty. My tumour was estimated to be 39mm in the upper inner quadrant of my left breast, but ultrasounds also suggested other possible areas of concern. I have stitches starting somewhere underneath my boob, right round the outside towards my armpit, but no cuts under the arm even though I'd been expecting it. In some ways I wish I had more information about exactly what I've had done, but in other ways I think it's easier not to know and just trust that the surgeons are doing the best thing possible for each of us. 

Very best wishes to you too for a good result next week x