Can I avoid a mastectomy?

I have been diagnosed with Stage 2 invasive lobular carcinoma in my right breast and an MRI scan revealed it to be about 5cm big.
Is there some way that I can avoid a mastectomy?
I am 50 years old and stopped having periods about 3.5 months ago although my  gynecologist said that she thinks I will have another period because of the mucus she saw when she did a smear test and examination about 2.5 weeks ago.

[SueYoung55]

I'm sorry you have ILC. I did too but mine had grown to 10cm or about 4 inches. I was pre-menopausal at 52 when I got mine and didn't achieve menopause until late last year and I'll be 55 shortly.

I don't blame you for not wanting a mastectomy. I didn't want one either but it was either a mastectomy or breast tissue that was trying to kill me. ILC is mostly estrogen driven. Though you may not get your period any longer, that doesn't mean you are menopausal or that you are not producing estrogen since body fat and the adrenals produce estrogen too. I also removed my other breast (because ILC tends to go bilateral) and had immediate DIEP reconstruction using my stomach tissue and it's blood supply but leaving the muscle intact. I love my breast-tissue-free breasts! If you go and have the mastectomies at a place that does immediate DIEP reconstruction you will have minimal scars on your chest and will wake up with breasts and your own skin and depending on where the cancer is in your breast, you could potentially even spare your nipples.

Anyways, once a cancer gets to a certain size or is located too close to an excisional margin they will do mastectomy. Consider that this cancer can come back again in the remaining breast tissue. It's not wise to leave it there. Take your time and research. Here is a link to a post I made about ILC for someone else and it gives you a lot of information to consider. Research, research and research some more!

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Breast-Cancer/ilc/show/1324025

Best wishes. Psssst... your profile says you're a male. FYI

[ncmichigan]

I'm really sorry to hear you have ILC.Having ILC is bad, but not treating it appropriately could be way worse. I think SueYoung55 gave you a wonderful answer. I only have LCIS, so I can't speak from the experience she has. If (and I'm hoping never!) I ever get any invasive cancer, I believe would opt for double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, too, and I'm 62. If I were 50, I would not hesitate. I lost my sister to breast cancer before her 51st birthday. Mastectomy is not something any of us wants, but we have to consider the risk to our lives. I would also recommend researching as much as you can, finding the best breast surgeon you can and then relying on their expertise.
I wish you all the best in the future and PLEASE take good care of yourself. Sending you a big hug (       ),
ncmichigan

[bluebutterfly2222]

Whether you can avoid mastectomy is something you would need to discuss with your breast surgeon.

In some cases, patients do have a choice between mastectomy and BCS (breast conserving surgery). Some of the factors taken into consideration include such things as whether the surgeon feels there is a good chance of getting clear margins, whether the breast is large enough that the lumpectomy would result in an acceptable cosmetic result, whether chemo before surgery to reduce the tumor to a size that would permit lumpectomy would be recommended in your specific circumstances, and so forth.

As you can see, the decision can only be made in consultation with a breast surgeon who knows every aspect of your case.

Best wishes...