Lumpectomy or mastectomy-how to decide?!

I would ask the surgeon to help you decide by giving you a list of advantages and disadvantages of each. They have the knowledge and experience and we are all so different. 
I posed the question if I were a close friend or relative what would the surgeon advise. Very difficult I know as so much of this journey is chance. Good luck and best wishes 

I had a lumpectomy, because it was a less invasive surgery,  and quicker healing time. I asked my breast care nurses opinion,  and this is what they said. Hope all gies well x

I was diagnosed after routine mammogram.  Grade 2 invasive, separate grade 1 invasive and DCIS in both, in left breast with no clear margins.  (Lymph nodes clear, thank goodness for small mercies!)

Anyway, was offered re-excision lumpectomy, MRI (with mastectomy if MRI found more probs) or straight to  mastectomy (& reconstruction).  Gut instinct was to go straight to mastectomy (after reading all the bumph. with family and friends.  Got bewildered by all their contrasting opinions)  but totally the right decision for me but maybe not for everyone.  My BC surgeon said MDT were undecided, but they and BCN relieved this is what I've chosen.  Had CT scan last week and seeing Plastics surgeon this week and hoping for date soon. I will be on hormone therapy after surgery, but everything else, chemo / radio etc still on table.  Oh well, will cross that bridge when I come to it.  Let's get surgery out of the way, first.

Good luck making your decision - it is horrible! But I reckon best advice I got was "Whatever the decision is, it's the right decision for you"

All best and I hope it goes well

Hi, I had the same choice to make and I found it odd that the choice was down to me and not their medical advice. I asked both my surgeon and oncologist and finally I opted for lumpectomy as it was the least invasive surgery.

There is no right or wrong answer, somehow you need to feel comfortable with your choice and if you have one option in your mind and it is bothering you or feels wrong, then maybe it's the wrong option (if that makes sense). Good luck with the decision, I understand just how tough this is.

Thank you. Since Friday I have flitted from all options thinking each one would be best. I’ll speak to my oncologist & the nursing team & give it more time. I think you are right about what feels right too. Thank you 

I was advised that the outcomes (in terms of recurrence) are very similar for wide area excision plus radiotherapy and mastectomy. They told me it was largely a technical decision based on volume and site of tumour versus volume of breast. It may be difference if you have BRCA1 / 2. 

PS didn't make clear, had wire guided lumpectomy first, that's when they found the second tumour that they had hoped was nothing. But when it and the original tumour were def cancer and had no clear margins and DCIS, that is when I was offered the second lumpectomy etc, as outlined above. 

I maintain what I said above: "Whatever the decision is, it's the right decision for you".  @CJ35 , Good luck and I will be thinking of you!

I am making the same decision. My initial instinct was for mastectomy but the consultant was very clear that it makes no difference in regard to outcomes. I am now likely going for the lumpectomy given that it is an easier op to deal with and to recover from.  It avoids all the further issues re reconstruction etc.  As my consultant said, it isn't a one chance decision.  If I want, at a later stage, I can go for mastectomy.  

Hi that is what he said to me I was offered either and opted lumpectomy. I’m just wondering though why offer both if there is no difference in outcome. 
if is a much easier op and no difference in outcome x 

I was worried about radiotherapy potentially causing a secondary cancer but mine said the same in terms of no difference in survival. For me I have small breasts so even removing a small lump is likely to leave half my breast missing. Mastectomy and reconstruction might look better but that’s another question I need to ask. It does feel like such a weighted decision so the the point about future surgery if needed is helpful