New here

Hi Happy

Welcome!

I too found this board quite recently. I was diagnosed about 10 days ago with breast cancer - have yet to have treatment as I was having an MRI as part of the final battery of diagnostic tests. I have two tumours right next door to one another!

Purpose of MRI was to see if it was possible for me to have a lumpectomy versus a mastectomy. The good news is that a lumpectomy is a possibility however I will be left with a deformed boobie (underneath side so would only see it if I looked in mirror!) but this could be corrected in about 12mths time with plastic surgery.

Issue is, medical practice would say that I might be better to have a mastectomy as I have two tumours to really reduce the possiblity of a reoccurance of BC.

Am SO CONFUSED as to what to do. Most of me would like to preserve breast and nipple etc but the other half is terrified that by not having a mastectomy I become a ticking time bomb...

Would love to hear your thoughts on this one. Did you ever have a choice of a lumpectomy?

By the way I am 39, married with two v small babies (22mths and 6 mths).

LindyLu

Hi LindyLu,

Sorry for the late reply and thank you for getting in touch. I am really sorry to hear of your diagnosis and the fact that you have two young children to think of on top of all this.

I, like you, had two tumours but I also had a large area of dcis (pre-cancerous tissue) meaning a lumpectomy wasn't possible so it was a mastectomy from the start. Even though, I lost my nipple, it wasn't too traumatic for me as I had an immediate reconstruction and this may have helped as I never had the experience of having nothing there.

Have you been offered a reconstruction if you went ahead with a mastectomy? I think, reading from your post, that it might be a few months down the line before you would have one. Usually, they do not do a reconstruction 'til after primary treatment is finished as the radiotherapy can interfere with the implant. Although, this wasn't the case for me.

When do you have surgery? Or will you have chemo first, sometimes they do this if you are having a lumpectomy to reduce the size of the tumour before surgery.

Perhaps, another chat with the surgeon would be good so that you can make a really informed opinion. Personally, I would choose the mastectomy as you don't have the possibility of more surgery in the future but this is only what I think. It is your choice at the end of the day and it is a very personal decision.

I hope this helped you out a bit and hope you are doing ok. Keep in touch.

Hi Happy

Thanks for your reply. Hubby is out at his xmas party and babies are asleep so I am happily surfing!

By the way I have been offered immediate reconstruction if I go matectomy route.

I dont have a definate date for surgery yet - the holidays are probably delaying things a bit. At my visit earlier this week he was talking about possibly performing the Sentinal Node Biopsy on 2nd and the lumpectomy on the same date if I decide on it.

I have an apt with Prof Hill in Beaumount on 23rd Dec so my guess is that he will want to know what I plan to do and will look to schedule surgery for v early Jan. There was no talk of pre op chemo.

Am still debating both options. Some days are mastectomy days while other days are lumpectomy. Hopefully all this deliberation will help me decide.

By the way have you come across this site http://www.youngsurvival.org/ It is North American based but really active. I put a post up about lumpectomy versus mastectomy and got some good responses and referrals to other posts / topics.

Will let you know what I decide!

All the best

LindyLu

Hey,

Only checked back now and saw that you had reply.

That is great about the immediate reconstruction if you have a mastectomy. Do you know what type it would be. I had a LD flap reconstruction where they take the latissimus dorsi muscle from your back and use it to construct the breast along with an implant. On account of you having a immediate reconstruction, I think a mastectomy would be the way to go. However, big decision for yourself and only you can make it. I would have to say, on account of you having two tumours, than I would be a bit worried that the chance of recurrence in that breast might be more likely.

You know, I don't look at the american breast cancer discussion forum much but I do sometimes post on the uk breast cancer care one. I swear I wouldn't know the half of what I know about breast cancer except for that. Do you ever post on that one? It is worth a look.Must have a look at the young survival one, thanks!Let's hope this site takes off in the same way!

Anyways, best say goodnight.

Hi Kasandra

My name is Linda, I had a lumpectomy in 06 and a recurrence in my lymph nodes a few weeks ago which resulted in a mastectomy and I have just started my chemo. I feel like an old hand!!

The mastectomy was a great success I have to say and while I don't want to frighten you at all if I was in your position I would go the whole hog for piece of mind sake. I know it is a totally personal decision though, if you'd like to chat offline my address is moorez@eircom.net, am happy to meet / talk on the phone whatever you like, I'm not up to much else for a while now!

Oh and Prof Hill looked after me for a week after my surgery while my consultant was on hols, he is lovely!

Take care and would love to hear from you

Linda

Hi Linda

Thanks for your post. I have just sent you an email

L