Forum Discussion
Lumpectomy vs mastectomy and lymph nodes surgery
I’m a stage 2 early breast cancer patient . Triple positive . Lump 4mm on detection now reduced down less than 2mm with 4 weeks of taxcel chemo to go ( previously completed r x fortnightly AC chemo). Herceptin Infusions has been weekly 8 weeks , another 4 to go then becomes 3 weekly in 2021 . I’m now at point of having to decide on surgery option. I’ll be clarifying these questions to my surgery team as well .
ive been told,I’m a candidate for lumpectomy , and this will require radiation treatment .the question of reconstruction I’ve decided can be left for later ( at present I don’t think I will bother but.....one doesn’t always know till you are really in that situation).
it was made clear to me that status of my lymph nodes is almost a separate issue . At present no sign of enlargement on physical,exam or scan or ultrasound .
Sentenial lymph nodes will be checked On day of surgery
has anyone been in same situation where lymph nodes were found to be cancerous- how many ? did you have wide clearance Of the breast lump with lumpectomy and radiation? ( with clear margins at lumpectomy).
What I suppose I’m trying to get my head around is a few issues
radiation therapy - it’s been a interesting time with chemo ( that I had to have ) and I’d somehow like to avoid radiation therapy . Q if I opt for
mastectomy -can I avoid radiation If lymph nodes clear ? Or if it’s in lymph nodes , they’ll do,a clearance/wide excision will I end up having to have radiation as well
Hope that makes sense . I do understand that radiation burns etc do not end up a major issue with everyone but I’m tending to think it’s one less,toxin to impose on my body .
Surgery isn’t easy either but......
ive been told,I’m a candidate for lumpectomy , and this will require radiation treatment .the question of reconstruction I’ve decided can be left for later ( at present I don’t think I will bother but.....one doesn’t always know till you are really in that situation).
it was made clear to me that status of my lymph nodes is almost a separate issue . At present no sign of enlargement on physical,exam or scan or ultrasound .
Sentenial lymph nodes will be checked On day of surgery
has anyone been in same situation where lymph nodes were found to be cancerous- how many ? did you have wide clearance Of the breast lump with lumpectomy and radiation? ( with clear margins at lumpectomy).
What I suppose I’m trying to get my head around is a few issues
radiation therapy - it’s been a interesting time with chemo ( that I had to have ) and I’d somehow like to avoid radiation therapy . Q if I opt for
mastectomy -can I avoid radiation If lymph nodes clear ? Or if it’s in lymph nodes , they’ll do,a clearance/wide excision will I end up having to have radiation as well
Hope that makes sense . I do understand that radiation burns etc do not end up a major issue with everyone but I’m tending to think it’s one less,toxin to impose on my body .
Surgery isn’t easy either but......
25 Replies
- Great result. Keep up those exercises and hope the clinic sorts the cording quickly (depending on the type of cording, it may take a few appointments).
- Update as of 26th jan . I ended up going with recommendations as per surgeon. Lumpectomy ,SLN and 6 lymph nodes removed . Best possible outcome ( thank god) in that no cancer in lymph nodes and clear margins around tumour which had shrunk considerably post chemo. I’m very happy with surgical result as very little left breast defect ( apart from the blue dye blobs which may fade over time) . Should be able to,wear normal non underwire bras in a few months. Am to see radiation specialist next week for planning appointment . I appear to,have some cording in armpit but will be seeing lymphodema clinic soon for treatment. Fingers crossed that this treatment pathway kicks the ca to the kerb . Still to,have hormone regime appointment and herceptin will continue until later in 2021
- First time I was diagnosed was in 2009, left breast stage 2 DCIS invasive. Had a lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy resulting in an ancillary clearance of a further 24 lymph nodes. This lead to 4 rounds of chemo, 6 weeks of radiation and 5 years of tamoxifen.Nov 2020 second diagnosis of DSIS in right breast. I have had a lumpectomy and no lymph node involvement this time 👏🏻👏🏻Therefore no chemo required and I can chose to have radiation only and risk a third time. Hell no!! I have decided to have a bilateral mastectomy on the 20th April to not live with the anxiety of a possible return.
Also, once you have had radiation you can’t have it again 🤔🤔 so if it returned, they would come off anyway. I am in control now 💪💪
I wish you well in your decision, to do what is right for you 😘 - Thank you Anne65 for your tips & advice. I hope to get home weekends too but am mindful that fatigue can be an issue so will see how I go driving the long distance near the end of my 4 weeks. Hope you are going well. xx
- @Siro I live 200kms from Adelaide where I had my surgery, radiation treatment etc. I was able to claim each trip through the PATS scheme. Not sure if the name differs from state to state, I stayed in Adelaide with family for the 3 weeks of my rad treatment & only came home on weekends. As you are so far away, there may be options available for you to stay in the city where you are having treatment. Often i see that Cancer Councils have accommodation available to those living remotely so might be worth checking out. It is hard not living nearby your treatment facility/surgeon but hopefully you can find some options to help out. Good luck with your treatment. xx
- Thank you. Yes I have started the process on the travel claims & what’s available since having my surgery. Thinking it will be something I can also get done whilst away & faster internet.
- @SIro because you travel a long way for treatment you will be able to claim some if ypur travel costs. Good luck with your radiation.
- Hi I’m a newby here but so good to read all the comments & get some real life understanding. I start Radiotherapy 27 Jan. but have to travel 500km from home (remote farm) so focus has been on those logistics. It’s good to learn all the tips here from all you lovely brave women. Thank you.
- I also used Mepitel during my Radiotherapy for 5 weeks and then until it peeled off afterwards.
I had no signs that I had had 25 doses of Radiotherapy.
The explanation that I had about how it works, was different than I had thought.
Apparently it allows the skin to maintain it's own moisture and not lose it. Also it decreases skin sensitivity and irritation, with it's protective barrier. For theses reasons it is important to have it on 24/7. Even on the weekend.
And have it replaced at next Radiotherapy appt.
Some times there will be daily patching. My main area lasted 2 1/2 weeks first time applied. - @noosa_blue150 @Locksley I totally agree with @Anne65 about the Mepitel. I used it too and my skin was excellent post treatment. No burns at all where the Mepitel was, just smooth skin 😊. The small areas where it came off had painful burns, so boy was I glad to have used it on most of my area!!! 👌🏻👌🏻♥️. Good luck girls, radiation breezes past 😘
