Do we get to choose mastectomy or lumpectomy?

It's difficult, isn't it? My daughter was initially told she would need a mastectomy and had mentally prepared for that. After 8 chemo cycles, oncologist said conservation surgery (lumpectomy) was recommended as tumour had reduced in size so much. Daughter said she thought she preferred mastectomy plan but medics explained that mastectomy is a much bigger surgery to recover from with the potential for more problems. I think they would've done it if she had insisted, but they were very sure that lumpectomy was the way to go. She hasn't regretted following their advice. I would say that's the way to go - your medical team will want the very best outcome for you, I would take their advice. Very best wishes xxx

I hope your daughter is doing well now! 
thank you - yes it’s a lot to consider. I just don’t want to have to have chemotherapy again….

Hi Golightly , I’d say definitely ask this question at your next appointment. In my own case, I only learned after my lumpectomy that the lumpectomy plus rads gave an ‘equal’ outcome to a mastectomy without rads, for my particular case. So turning that around, if I’d had a mastectomy in the first place, rads would not have been necessary. I can’t say for sure what I’d have chosen, but I’d like to have had the option. But apparently it would have been regarded as over treatment and I do appreciate that it’s a bigger operation. 
No harm in asking and having that discussion. Good luck with it all, love and hugs, HFxx

Understand where you're both coming from, it's a very personal choice. Daughter did have to have 15 sessions of radiotherapy and a further 14 chemo cycles after her lumpectomy. But she has no regrets about her choice.

Hope you both have the support you need to choose, wishing you all the very best. xxx