Seeking support and friendship

@Dani1981 the treatment is normally aligned with the category of breast cancer, that is invasive, non-invasive and also the various stages. I think first time treatment for non invasive is lumpectomy, followed by radiation...but this also depends on the area of affected breast tissue. Mastectomy does give a high chance of non-reccurence bit then again it all depends on factors as outlined above. Just ask questions on treatment options, risks involved, treatment success rates etc. At the end of the day, every person is an individual and statistics are there just as an indicator or guidance for the decisions you will make. Good luck to you and your mum.

The current thinking in breast cancer treatment is to be as minimally invasive as is deemed safe so where once a mastectomy would have been the only option, the surgeon is likely to go for lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy if it looks to be containable, then reassess the situation should things look different under surgery or following the pathology report.  I'm guessing that this is what is happening here but ask your Mum's surgeon to be sure.  It might be best to remind people that your Mum is acting on the best current medical advice and that much has changed about bc treatment in recent years.

@Dani1981 i totally agree with what @Sister has said above. We both attended a BCNA conference in Adelaide a few months ago & this was something we learnt from the medical professionals who spoke. Treatments are now changing & they are opting for the less invasive where possible. It makes sense really, why cut off your leg if youve only have a sore toe!!
Prior to my surgery, one of my local GP's spoke to me about getting a mastectomy over a lumpectomy to reduce the risk & it freaked me out as like your mum, mine was caught early but was aggressive. I was shi......ing myself on my way to my first appointment wondering what decision I would have to make. i was over the moon when my wonderful surgeon straight out said to have a lumpectomy without a doubt. She also took some tissue from below my breast to fill in the gap so you can hardly see anything.   
I would say your family are worrying & only want the best outcome to ensure the cancer is gone & doesnt come back, which is fair enough but it is your mum's decision. Write down all your questions for the surgeon to ensure you have all the facts. Your surgeon will have an opinion on their preferred course of action depending on the risk factors involved & the pathology report but your mum has to be comfortable with the surgery option. Good luck & sending you both lots of strength & positive thoughts. Let us know how you get on & what you have chosen to do. You are doing an amazing job for your mum. xx

Honestly for smaller lesions a lumpectomy  with radiotherapy the outcome is the same as mastectomy. And these days not all cancers are treated with radiotherapy either..and yes, the surgeon would have suggested if he thought it was the better option. 
People believe mastectomy elimates metasteses risk...but sadly the stats do not support that. ..the risk is the same for both.
I chose mastectomy because I wanted to avoid radiotherspy (i live 500k from where it could be done) and my tumour wasn't seen in the mammogram so I was concerned if another or local recurrence happened it would not be found. I knew the stats were pretty much equal.