Surgery Decision

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Hi everyone.

Apologies in advance if this turns into a long post!

I have just finished my chemo & now facing surgery. I was called into the hospital last week. My latest mammogram shows some calcification in addition to the cancer. The surgeon is pretty confident will be benign but they want another ultrasound & biopsy just to check. The next time I see the surgeon it will be decision time

The surgeon seems to think that lumpectomy followed by radiation will be an option. But I could have a mastectomy if I wanted.

if the calcification is not benign then it will be a mastectomy with a choice of either a implant or a tissue flap from my tummy.

I have always said that if a mastectomy gave me less chance of a reoccurring then that it what I would do. However the surgeon said that there have been 2 large studies done that show there is very little difference in the chance of reoccurrence.
I am leaning towards a lumpectomy if that is an option, although radiotherapy terrifies me for some reason, even after having been through chemo.

My real difficulty is if it is a mastectomy….implant or tissue flap?
I’ve got large boobs so the implant would be slightly smaller than my other breast. Also was told they have a shelf life of about 10 years.
if it is a tissue flap, the reconstruction would be done 4 or 6 weeks after the mastectomy due to the waiting list for the plastic surgeon. Don’t like the idea of 2 ops but think I would prefer a natural implant.

I think I’ve coped well with everything so far but im realy struggling with all this. I just wish I had been told what was happening and that was it !
My husband is being super supportive and just wants me safe and well. I’m trying to do as much research as possible and then will contact the hospital with any questions. . The chances are my next appointment with the surgeon will be in about 2 weeks . So I have a bit of time to think about everything.
Any advice would be welcome

Hmfm over 3 years ago

Hi I had lumpectomy with MICAP reconstruction at same time. It was tissue taken from underneath boob line and tucked into space where tumour was. All healed well then radiotherapy 5 weeks later with no issues to skin that was troublesome. A friend of mine also had lumpectomy on right boob and other boob was reduced in size to match the problem one. Everyone very different so all I can say is do your research and others on here will give their experience too. Good luck in your decision, you will reach it soon I’m sure x

Coddfish over 3 years ago

It’s also my understanding that the local recurrence rate from WLE + radiotherapy is similar to that from MX. The former is a much simpler operation with an easier recovery. Assuming there is no evidence of other problems in your breast from the biopsy, their recommendation will likely depend on tumour volume versus breast volume.

Hopeful Barb over 3 years ago

Hello, I read your post and can understand your dilemma as I was just there not many months ago. I was diagnosed with DCIS in right breast 9/21 and plan was for partial mastectomy ( medical term for lumpectomy). Radiation was to follow. I was ok with that but then things got crazy ( or maybe I just was too emotional). I had ultrasound and all was well but then the MRI which showed something in left breast. Surgeon wanted to do lumpectomy on both breasts at that time but I told him I wanted to see what was going on with left one first as I didn’t know if I would opt for DMX with implants. Had open biopsy and it was stage 1 invasive cancer . Surgeon was great as he got it all with 3 mm margins. Now came the big decision for me as I was not a fan of radiation especially to both breasts. I was such a wreck emotionally as I knew what the surgeon had told me about recurrence and survival. I didn’t know what to do so surgeon sent me to see radiation oncologist to learn more about radiation, see the machine and he reviewed my case. It was like a weight had been lifted off me and I was able to make a decision based on the facts and not on my emotions. Took me a while to make decision but I am happy with what I decided. It is not easy to decide what to do but was happy and feel blessed to have had the options as do many women don’t have a choice. You will do what feels right for you.

Barbara

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