Lumpectomy or mastectomy

So sorry that you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer and that you find yourself here, but welcome Trigsgirl. 

I was so surprised when I had the same choice. I thought surgeon would recommend one over the other! I honestly didn’t know what to choose. My cancer was 20mm and I opted for lumpectomy, my reasoning being if it didn’t work for margins or whatever it was a first step and it would then be easier for me to accept mastectomy,

All went well. But I am still haunted now and again by did I make the right decision. 

Sending best wishes to you xx

Hi Trigsgirl. , I had a very similar diagnosis. I wasn’t offered a choice though - I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node sampling, then referred to oncology to discuss radiotherapy and hormone therapy. He told me that having the radiotherapy (3 weeks then, 5 years ago, but now it’s often one week) gave the same outcomes as having a mastectomy with no radiotherapy. I asked if I had the option to have a mastectomy at that stage, to avoid rads, but was told that it would be judged as ‘over treatment’ in my case. I don’t know if I’d have chosen a mastectomy but I think I would have liked the choice, before I had any surgery. But I can see that it makes things trickier in many ways as you then have a dilemma! So my understanding is that in my particular case, either a lumpectomy plus rads or a mastectomy without, would give the same outcome. I feel certain that, if they’d said that a mastectomy was better for me, I’d have gone for it. Have they discussed post op treatments at all yet? It’s such a lot to take in, especially when you’re just reeling from the news that you have cancer (that’s how I felt anyway!). 
I wonder if it would be useful to phone the helpline here at MacMillan? They are bound to have experience of people going through these dilemmas. And maybe you could ask to speak again to your breast team, to ask which option they would recommend? It really sounds like you’ve been left without enough information or explanation to make an informed choice. Love and hugs, HFxx

Hi Trigsgirl

What a horrible dilemma to be in.  My cancer was 22mm and a lumpectomy was performed with sentinel lymph node biopsy.  I was told there may be a 1 in 10 chance that they would have to operate again if they didn't get clear enough margins.  I was lucky and they got it all. I'm now having preventative chemo followed by 5 weeks of radiotherapy.  You will make the right decision for you.

Kind regards

JPP60

Thanks, that helps me a lot,  I'm meeting my breast team soon, so I will ask about it, just need the pros and con's,  x

Only my opinion!! Same diagnosis as you. I've chosen mastectomy  because I want it all removed. It is a very personal choice . Good luck with whatever you think is best for you.

I am also 66 , diagnosed after a routine mammogram. Invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 2 . They found 2 tumours , one 11mm and another 5mm. My consultant said that he would recommend a lumpectomy but would perform a mastectomy if I felt overwhelmed by it all and wanted the breast off . He said the long term prognosis is no different between the two. I decided to go with his recommendation and I am booked in for a lumpectomy on the 6th February . I have had a few wobbles about my decision , mostly connected to the radiotherapy . I don’t think there are any easy answers,