Mastectomy or lumpectomy

Hi Lucytv, 

Uffff, tough decision to make. I had a right side masectomy with silicone implant in February. I was diagnosed with HER2+ BC in the summer, caught it very early, stage 1A. I had 6 rounds of chemo which eradicated my tumour. I was delighted with the results and was hopeful of a having conservation surgery. To be honest this was probably more for vanity reasons / fear than anything else. They found microcalcifacations in my breast after chemo and recommended a masectomy. I was shocked but went ahead with it. I am very happy with my decision, the surgery went well and I'm now free of cancer. I am also very happy with the result. I can't offer you any advice, you'll need to decide for yourself but whatever decision you make will be the right one for you. I think being offered the choice makes it quite difficult. I'm based in Spain and I just went with what was recommended, it wasn't what I wanted but I have great faith in my team and I'm happy with what they did. I wish you the best of luck and always here if you have any questions re masectomy 

Hi Lucy, it’s a difficult one. When I was diagnosed after a routine mammogram, my first thought was to have a mastectomy. When I saw the breast surgeon to discuss options, he did not think that having a mastectomy was right for me. He suggested a lumpectomy and said that there was not much in it re reoccurrence whatever option I chose.

I went with the lumpectomy and I’m happy with the result, there is hardly any difference in size and nobody would be able to tell I have had surgery on one breast. But you need to do what is right for you and find out as much as you can about both options before you make your decision. Wishing you the best on your journey x 

1. Hi Hun. Great news that the cancer has been shrunk. They say that a WLE lumpectomy is just as good as a mastectomy. The results say that you have no better a chance of non reaccurance with mastectomy than lumpectomy. I had lumpectomy on Tuesday and although a little sore feel really good. Hope all goes well xx

Hi Lucytv 

Although the ball is in your court, the surgeon recommends lumpectomy now, rather than mastectomy.  This is fantastic news for you. I know we are all different, but when I was diagnosed I was horrified when the surgeon said "we should be able to avoid mastectomy" It hadn't even occurred to me that I'd lose my breast!  I had 80mm removed and have a large dent, but for me, losing my breast would have been the worst thing for me.  

What I do know, is that a lumpectomy (WLE - wide local excision), is a far less intrusive operation.  My operation was 4.30pm on the Wednesday, I was home by 7.30pm and back at my office based work on the Friday. 

In the 5 years - ish I have been on here, I've seen a lot of ladies wanting both breasts removed when they are diagnosed for the fear of it occurring in their other breast or wanting the whole breast off which has the cancer in, despite not being offered this option.  Often this is a reaction to the sudden shock of diagnosis and I've then seen later that they were glad it wasn't allowed. It's important to make up your mind, removing any 'shock factor' from your decision and perhaps start a list of questions for the surgeon to aid your thoughts / do a list of pros and cons for whether to have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy.

I hope you have a good recovery whichever operation you decide to go for.

Best wishes, Lesley

Hi Sunflame, 

Thanks so much for your advice and so such wonderful news that you're cancer free!

I'm based in Italy and it seems that if the treatment works, the surgeons prefer to do lumpectomies. I spoke to my surgeon, who has been fantastic and she understands why I want a mastectomy, but is against it from a scientific point of view. 

I go into hospital on the 12th April and have decided upon a Mastectomy, even though my surgeon says that she will perform a lumpectomy if I decided last minute! 

Have a lovely Easter

Hi Valleyside thank you so much for your advice. 

How big was your tumour? Did you have any fat transferred to where the lumpectomy was performed?

Even though the chemotherapy has reduced my tumour, the whole area has to be removed anyway, which is quite significant. 

I'm opting for a mastectomy on my right breast. Surgery is on the 13th April. The surgeon has been great and said that of I change my mind last minute, she'll do what I choose.

Have a lovely Easter 

Hi Travelling Lady,

Fantastic news about the lumpectomy and that you're feeling well! How much area di they remove? Are they reconstructing going to add some tissue to the removed mass? 

I'm due for a mastectomy on my right breast next Thursday. I still have time to think about changing what type of surgery I have. 

Have a lovely Easter 

Hi Lesley, 

Thanks so much for your advice. 

It's great to know that you're happy with your choice and have the clarity of thought that I'm quite envious about!

I've known that surgery was a must since last summer. After 6 months of chemo, the initial shock has calmed down and I've always thought that a mastectomy would be the best option. However, I still have major doubts. I'm having surgery on the 13th and will be in hospital for 7-9 days. From a psychological point of view, I'd have more peace of mind with the mastectomy, even though I know that of reoccurrence does happen, it doesn't necessarily mean that it will return to the infected breast.

Oh, my pros.and cons were quite balanced, which makes it just that more confusing.

Wishing you a lovely Easter 

Hi Lucy, I had DCIS that was 40mm and IDC which was 15mm. I didn’t have any fat transfer procedure and apart from scarring you cannot really notice the difference in my breasts.

I also had a second op some weeks after the lumpectomy as the surgeon didn’t get clear margins. Apart from a slightly dented scar there is no difference.

Hope all goes well for you and a Happy Easter xx 

Hi, I had 50mm removed from my right  breast and then a second op to remove another 10mm because there was still cancer in the margins.  I was told at first if I still had cancer in the margins I would need a mastectomy.  However because of the size of my breast the surgeon offered me another lumpectomy.  I asked if that would heighten the risk if the cancer returned opposed to a mastectomy and he said there would be no difference.  I opted for another lumpectomy and only for the two scars and slight indent you wouldn’t notice.