Lumpectomy Vs mastectomy ?

Hi - I had to have a re-excision on my Stage1 cancer. It was a 2 month wait and wasn’t enough so 6-7 weeks later I had a mastectomy., In my case there had been a micro spread invisible to scans ( not made clear to me at the start) mastectomy was only just clear and I now await chaemo. It was grade 3 and I wish I’d been given the choice after the first lumpectomy. I’m an older woman and the mastectomy wouldn’t have/and hasnt bothered me. Everyone is different about that and of course their cancers and grades etc are all different. Give yourself a bit of space -,maybe talk to a nurse you find you get on with.

Theresa

Hi Amishee 

Have your team offered you a mastectomy?  The main thing for surgery is that they will conserve the breast as much as is possible.  It sounds as you have stage 1 that it's not a large tumour and that you have oestrogen positive cancer.  

I strongly suspect if I am right, that you would not be allowed to have a mastectomy - unless you have very small breasts and it is a large part of your breast / have the BRCA gene.

I had stage 1 breast cancer and had DCIS as well (my tumour was 1.5cm, but I also had 2 areas of DCIS.) Luckily, I had large enough breasts for a lumpectomy as I had 8cm removed.  I also had Anastrozole for 5 years.  At a similar time, a friend of mine's Mum had breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy.  Her operation was massive / post recovery a lot longer in comparison.

I was desperate to keep my breast and I am delighted to have kept it.  I was not tested for the BRCA gene because there was no family history of breast cancer.

How would you feel without a breast?  Mentally, a small dent  - you might not even have that, (I do because it was such a large amount they took out, but can wear normal bras so it looks fine)/ a small scar is nothing in comparion to losing your whole breast.

The radiotherapy was actually ok.  I went for 15 sessions and drove the 60 miles a day for them and was perfectly ok. I was left sided breast and couldn't do breathing technique (due to a fixed elbow from a road accident) and have had absolutely no side effects long term medically.  I had a small amount of radio. burns, but nothing to worry about and soon healed.  I drank loads and loads which makes a HUGE difference when having radiotherapy.

I took the Anastrozole for 5 years and it is now nearly 9 years ago when I was diagnosed.  Still going strong and will be having a mammogram after 3 years this coming June.

Don't just think about the now and the fear you are feeling at this moment - think about the future and your mental well being with how you will feel about your body.

I remember my oncologist saying "oh, it's stage 1 and you're young, so nothing to worry about " - I was 51, so I could have hugged him with the 'you're young' bit

Kindest wishes, Lesley

Thank you so much for sharing your detail ️, i am 53 with no BRCA but cells deep so not near but not far from chest wall and my life and health is more important for me than how my body will look. So gor peace of mind would like to go for mastectomy though surgen suggest lumpectomy ( re-excision).also do not want rediotherapy.

Thank you so much for sharing your detail ️, i am 53 with no BRCA but cells deep so not near but not far from chest wall and my life and health is more important for me than how my body will look. So gor peace of mind would like to go for mastectomy though surgen suggest lumpectomy ( re-excision).

 They will examine the boob post- mastectomy and may well recommend radiotherapy anyway, remember. But good luck with your treatment whatever  you choose.