To Masectomy or not

Hi, My mother is76 and has atrial fibulation and hbp and is on medications Cartia XM and Coumadine and BP meds, she just completed a lumpection on 11/1, but we are meeting with the surgeon who is not suggesting a masectomy.  I don't think she can handle this mentally, I keep seeing all of this lingo which I am not familiar with HER2, Pos, etc grades....is that something I should get a copy from the surgeon.  My concern is that at 76 having a masectomy and all the info we know is that her margins were clear, her auxillary lymph node had a 2.2 cm which I guess is considered matastized, but now her surgeon has a feeling that she may have missed something.  But I guess my question is that what if she refuses mastectomy and takes her chances with 6 cycles of CMF, 6 weeks radiation, and hormal therapy...couldn't the masectomy cause more health issues instead of helping.  She has a slow growing breast cancer which I think is DCIS,  I don't have the report in front of me.  I have been reading this site and there are so many brave folk who should be so proud of everything they've been through....but what if you refuse to do another operation???What questions should I ask tomorrow to find out? I don't think a masectomy will prolong someone who's been through hell with biopsies and lumpectomies, she is 76...what about quality of life...I am not sure.

[riley180]

Hi.
Perhaps you are thinking too much on the age factor. The more important thing is how frail she is (could you give a life expectancy estimate based on other family members) and how controlled the atrial fibrillation is. Mastectomies have been done for women more than 75 years old.
If the surgeon says that she may have missed something, then it would mean that the surgery cannot promise cure. If the mastectomy is refused, then her outcome will be similar to advanced disease, which may translate to a survival of less than 2 years with treatment.
Try to find out as much as you can. There are so many factors to consider that some feel overwhelmed by the information, you need to discuss each of them thoroughly with your doctor and then make a decision and a plan.

[sonu78]

Hi,
Any patient to be considered for surgery depends on her general condition and fitness for surgery.
Your mother had lumpectomy with histopathology report stating clear margins. Immunochemistry / receptor analysis showed positivity for Her 2 neu.
With this kind of report it is certain that local tumour load has been removed. Hence we do have two options -
One is to have a completion mastectomy followed by chemotherapy/ radiotherapy
other would be to be on strict follow up with chemotherapy/radiotherapy. It requires you to sit across the table and discuss with the surgeon about both the options and merits and demerits of both plans.