New diagnosis

Hi, 

I hope you find my message useful and my best wishes for your treatment and recovery. Just a bit of background to help you understand my diagnosis. I discovered a lump in my left breast had the biopsy discovered a stage 2 cancer. After lumpectomy and 4 lymphs removed 2 where positive so im having chemo and radiotherapy. On chemo 4 out 6 soon. Recovery is slow but im not giving up. 

Anyhow, I was told my the first surgeon she would remove my lump by basically doing a breast reduction and then do the same to my right breast (which was normal) so I went home very confused.

I would suggest you get a second opinion. I saw a different surgeon at my next appointment, she gave me the opposite advise of only removing my nipple area and lump not my breast and not my right breast and I went with that advice as im diabetic and recovery takes longer. 

Please take your time and do what you feel is best. However, this better surgeon did say that the difference between studies from mastectomies are not any better from lumpectomies so she suggested a lumpectomy. But as you have a family history I can understand your reasons for wanting a mastectomy. 

I hope your treatment goes well. And your genetics testing for your daughter's may have to be done privately. (Sorry not sure which country your from).

All the best xx

Hello 

Thank you for your message  and advice , I live in the uk .

wishing you all the best for your recovery ️‍ 

I do think they will all say similar as in some ways will say my Lupus and autoimmune diseases will complicated healing , I’m 52 and just feel I’d rather notes worry future wise as seem to read a lot about others who had lumpectomies and they’ve not seen other areas just outside of margins that have tiny cells left .Where do you live ? 
kindest regards

sam xx

I also live in the U.K. Kind regards.

Seema. Xx

Hi Sam Vb85e70 , sorry you find yourself in this situation. Re the genetics testing, I did get this eventually but was initially told that my cancer (hormone positive IDC grade 2) would not be hereditary so testing not even discussed, although I did ask and outlined my family history. My mum was diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer in her late 40s and died within 5 years from it. Her aunt had died from breast cancer but no details known other than she was possibly in her 40s. My dad died from hormone positive prostate cancer at 60. His dad died from cancer, I think mouth cancer but not sure. It was all of this that led to a lovely surgeon who did my later annual follow ups, to agree to refer me for testing. Turns out I do have a genetic mutation - ATM which is less well known. It carries a moderate rather than high risk, which is somewhat reassuring, but it was still a shock. Overall it wouldn’t have changed my treatment but it was a factor in me staying on hormone therapy (Anastrozole) for 7 years instead of 5. No preventative surgery would be advocated apparently for carriers of my particular gene, but screening would have started at 40 instead of 50. Love and hugs, HFxx