Lumpectomy

[Sunnydays78]

Good evening,

I was recently diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. The cancer is contained in the lump and has not spread. I am to undergo chemotherapy to shrink the lump before surgery. I wanted to ask, in most cases, can the lump be removed without removal of the whole or both breasts?I am 31 years old and want to have kids in the future, is this still a viable option after chemo?

Also, I have heard that some people opt not to have radiation after surgery? Why is that?

I appreciate any and all responses! Thanks!

[Tina2678]

I am sorry about your diagnosis.  I know that you will beat this because you have a great attitude.  I am waiting on biopsy results, no diagnosis yet.  I wish you the very best!

[SueYoung55]

I'm sorry you got this diagnosis, it stinks.

I had chemo before mastectomy but my mass was 10 cm. During the chemo process to shrink the mass it spread to my lymph nodes. I didn't have the choice that you have to have surgery first or chemo first. Think long and hard about it and you decide what treatment YOU want to have and when. You are your own best advocate and you will live with the results of your decision.

If I had your diagnosis at stage 2 I'd go for mastectomy now with immediate reconstruction and then chemo & rads. That said, I personally do not believe in lumpectomies so that is my personal opinion only.

On a seperate note, you should really discuss having genetic testing done since you are so young to see if you have a BRCA mutation. Very important.

Best wishes with your choices & treatment. :)

[Sunnydays78]

Hi MO,

I have been doing nothing BUT research since this happened to me, and have been talking to other breast cancer survivors who thank God, has given me much insight into this whole thing. The doctor did say that she wanted to shrink it so as to make a smaller incision but admittedly, I didn't pose the question as to why not take it out now as opposed to wait three months through which I have to undergo chemo. Honestly, I would take a larger incision at this moment just to have this thing out of my body. I'm meeting with my doc on Tuesday so this, as well as other more pertinent questions that have come to mind will be asked. Thanks for the input!

In response to your comment Japdip, I was also told that I may not need radiation should the chemo do it's job on the lump and then it's removed. I'm praying and hopeful that all goes well. Thanks!

[japdip]

If Chemo is being done prior to surgery then I would think that only a lumpectomy will be done IF the tumor has responded to the Chemotherapy. Each case is different as well as the  Oncologist's approach when it comes to treatment. There are many factors taken into consideration when formulating a treatment plan and not all pt.s require both Chemo and Radiation. It is possible to become pregnant after treatment .... this may not be the case for everyone though.

[Myown]

How big is the lump that they want to do chemo first? I don't get it. Usually with a large mass they will try to shrink it first, but if they are going to cut it out, I think I would opt to just have them cut it out and then do the radiation?  I am trying to figure out why they would want you to do chemo because you said it didn't spread. Is it because they would have to cut less if they shrunk it? But then again you are asking if the lump can be removed without the breast or BOTH breasts. Why would they remove the entire breast and the other one if its only one lump in one breast. Please for your own sake, research, hopefully someone will have answers here on forum too because you don't want to go in blind.

I wish you the best,
MO