So Undecided about treatment

[barbiedoll444]

I was diagnosed with breat cancer on my left breast  almost two years ago, had a masectomy , chemo, radiation, and an implant. Everything seemed to be fine and I decided to monitor my right breast. By recently having an MRI, it eventually led to a FNA(Fine Needle Aspirsation) and a biobsy. The biopsy came back as a .5cm of lobular carinoma and my surgeon told me that I have an option of a lumpectomy with radiation or a masectomy. She seemed to be recommending the masectomy so I wouldn't have to worry in the future. Having gone through three surgeries now, the thought of having to do the same again and have the expanders in before the implant, makes me sic. I also want to keep my breast but I worry if I will be doing the best for my health. I know it is a personal decision and I have read that the prognosis is the same with each treatment. Also, what I have is very small. The margins were clean but she still wants to take a little bit more out toand test the nodes. It is not a reoccurent cancer but a new one that would probably not been found through a mammogram.  Can anyone help me with a similar situation who decided to get a lumpectomy?


This discussion is related to Lumpectomy with three lumps.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

Could you update us on what your oncologist, breast specialist and breast surgeon are advising about the further management plan?

If they say low recurrence rates, small size and good prognosis  - then you can take your call on the treatment plan.

What is the diagnosis in your case? What is the type of cancer?

All this is important in deciding about what is the best next step, and hence your specialist and surgeon who know the entire case are the best to decide about the management plan in your case.

Let us know what your doctors tell you.

Regards.

[barbiedoll444]

Then why do so many women have  lumpectomies? I am still so confused. I wanted to keep my breast after losing my other one. Do you think that if I was diligent in my monitering which I intend to be,  I could take the less invasive choice? It's just so hard to go through everything again with the reconstruction and the expanders. I just finished the reconstruction on the other breast. This was a new small cancer ( .5cm) not a reoccurent one. I am taking tamoxifen. I was the one who found this because I decided to get the MRI.No doctors said to definitely get the MRI, I was just trying to be on top of it. My doctor said that this would not have been seen on a mammogram. It was estrogen positive, non agressive My surgeon said that it was an excellent prognosis.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

I would also vote for the mastectomy and i think you would be doing right in trusting the judgement of your specialist.

You could in addition talk to your breast specialist about getting a breast reconstruction done and talk to a plastic surgeon about this.

Let us know if you have any other doubts and post us about what your doctor advises.

Regards.

[japdip]

If you have been given the choice then I believe I would rely on the Physician'srecommendation. If there were any great danger by choosing the simpler method I   don't believe you would have been given the choice; like the first time. My surgeon told me that he could do the lumpectomy BUT he really didn't believe that he could get clear margins due to the size of the tumor. I guess you could call that a "sort of a choice". I chose the mastectomy hoping to avoid further treatment after surgery. I was fortunate in that respect as there was no node involvement. These decisions are certainly difficult but we are strong and  will make the right choice.

[barbiedoll444]

The Dr. is planning on testing the lymph nodes as well as doing the lumpectomy and I know I have to do this. It's just that I don't want to be doing anything to harm my health if I don't t do the mastectomy now. Since I already have had one masectomy on the left and really did not have the choice then, now that I have the choice, I am thinking that I want to save my breast and have the lumpectomy. Am I doing the wrong thing by not going further at this time?

[japdip]

I am not speaking from personal experience as I had a mastectomy BUT if you have only had a biopsy you can't be sure of clean margins .. that will be determined only after the lumpectomy. The lymph nodes MUST be sampled and this would have to be done even if you chose to have a mastectomy this time. I see no way to avoid some sort of further surgery at this point. No one can really advise you as to which way to go but if you do indeed want to save your breast then the lumpectomy seems a sensible option this time.