Newly diagnosed Ductal cancer

I would wait and see what your surgeon says as they will discuss your case at a multi discipline team meeting so will evaluate best option for you.  One of my mothers cousin at a similar age to you had mastectomy and radiotherapy but declined chemo and her consultation was happy eith her decision given side effects.  She's had no recurrence over 12 years later 

Click on link for more info: 2nd time I've posted this today, but it is helpful: Radiotherapy for breast cancer - Macmillan Cancer Support

Hi Callygran.

My treatment plan ( subject to full biopsy of lump when out) is likely radiotherapy and hormorne treatment. I'm kind of ok re hormorne therapy but anxious about radiotherapy as it's my left breast and I'm concerned about impact on heart / lungs in the future as 57 imminently and I hope to be around and active for a while yet ! 

I would actually prefer a mastectomy if it meant no radiotherapy but know that is not an option on offer so its a tough one. End of the day I want effective treatment and that's the priority but just wish there wasn't the endless balancing up of pros and cons ! 

Sorry no answers  but can empathise with you  and say you're not alone 

Much love xx

Hi @callygran and welcome to the forum, sounds like your diagnosis may be similar to mine unless the HER2 result turns out to be positive. Good to research pros and cons of mastectomy now as it’s better to have ‘ammunition’ if you want to argue for it rather than lumpectomy. I hadn’t even thought about it until after the op (lumpectomy), as I just went along with what was proposed. At my oncology appointment, 6 weeks after the op, I  was told that lumpectomy plus rads gave same outcome as mastectomy alone. If I’d had the choice pre op, I might have chosen mastectomy but too late by then! I think it’s regarded as over treatment in cases like mine but I think I’d like to have had the choice. So do your research now so you’re well informed in advance! 
Re hormone treatment, I’m not sure whether you’d still have it - I think I assumed I’d have had that with either op as it’s about longer term prevention of recurrence rather than mopping up any stray cells as in the radiotherapy? I don’t love the hormone zappers but accept the side effects as I’d probably take anything offered to help prevent recurrence. 
Hope you get the other results soon, it’s a tortuous limbo time waiting for these appointments when you really want to get treatment started! Keep posting and let us know how you get on, love and hugs, HFxx

Thank you for this Venicelagoon it was very informative 

Hello Cally gran, when I was diagnosed with grade 2, then upgraded to grade 3, I was of the opinion I wanted double mastectomy, or at the least the affected breast. However, my oncologist surgeon told me that there was just as much chance of the cancer returning after mastectomy as with lumpectomy and advised the latter, but was prepared to do a mastectomy if I insisted. Two operations later now with clear margins and awaiting radiography and anastrozole. So I'm glad I took her advice and although it's good to have a plan just in case, I would go with your team's advice, but ask all the questions you can about the consequences. We're all different and at the end of the day it's your choice based on your information and your quality of life. I'm a soon to be 66 year old.

Hi Jurassicgirl

To resolve the problem of heart/lung being affected during RT to left side, you are often asked to do special breathing which lifts the heart/lung right out of the way. I've done it, as have many ladies on this site. It's really easy. The radiographers won't let the rays affect vital organs.

hi

There is a test called Oncotype DX tha can help with the decision making. If you have oestrogen positive with 0-3 lymph nodes involved it can help predict the likelihood of the disease recurring. It also has to be HER2 negative. Not all hospitals offer it but before my consultant and I knew that I was being tested I was advised to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy following a lumpectomy and lymph node removal. My results have shown that chemo would do more harm than good. I’m now about to start radiotherapy and hormone therapy. 

Hi Calygran, if your HER2 result is negative then it sounds like your diagnosis is the same as mine for my right side. My ER was 8/8 so 5 years Hormone blockers considered very effective.  I had a lumpectomy and 5 x radiotherapy sessions which went ok. They didn’t wish to do the Oncotype test for me though but I think it is worth asking about. Unfortunately I had another lump on left side  and just had a 2nd lumpectomy, will know the next steps in a few weeks but didn’t really consider the effects of a 2nd lot of RT on the left side … so advice already given about arming yourself with all the information beforehand is good and good luck with everything!

Angus1 thanks for fhis info. Seeing consultant on Wed so will ask about this test xx