breast conserving surgery or mastectomy

Hi Midget, your question and the responses have helped me also. I hope your appointment goes well on 20 January. I listened and researched  however went with my gut reaction which was to have a mastectomy. I'm booked for surgery 25 January. Take care Terrie 

Very best of luck with your surgery, we will be thinking of you through it all. That will be one step out of the way!

@midget this is the correct way :) If you need any help just let me know. We wish you all the best for Friday.

Not being a computer expert, I'm not sure if this is the correct way to respond to your replies re  my query "breast conserving surgery or mastectomy" but I would like to thank each and every one of you for your responses.I really do appreciate it and the info has been most  helpful.  I have surgery this Frfday 20th January 2016. Will let you know what happened.Midget.

Hi Midget, Wishing you all the best with your decision. Go with your gut instinct. Let us know what you decide and how you're going.  Xx Cath

Hi Midget, You have to go with your gut instinct and guidance from doctors, as the girls have stated that the decision is an individual one for you and you alone when given options!
I am close to your age and was diagnosed in 2015, I also had the option for lumpectomy or mastectomy (which I personally thought was a bit radical - ah ignorance is bliss!) I wanted to keep my breasts at all costs - there again just my view
Had lumpectomy with sentinel node removal followed by 32 bouts of radiation and hormone treatment
12 months down the track in 2016 having follow up mammogram and ultra sound another lump was found in the previously treated Breast ...... doctors were in disbelief ..... Me too!
In November 2016 underwent mastectomy and removal of 10 lymph nodes and have just recently started chemotherapy ....... Hindsight is a wonderful thing ...... You have to do what feels right for you, sorry I don't have the magic answer ....... All the best, whatever you decide to do ..... It will be right for you xx
 

I had both mine off because I knew I'd never be able to trust them again. Had a recurrence after ten years so don't know if I wasted my time or not, but I figured if they were going to kill me I'd get in first ;)

Hi Midget, sorry for your diagnosis but as you can see from all the replies there is fantastic support here.  My surgeon and I agreed on a nipple sparing mastectomy with immediate silicone implant to match the remaining healthy breast.  I'm 55, not big breasted and a lumpectomy would have given me concerns about clear margins and cosmetically there wouldn't have been much left!  I have never doubted my decision and after almost 6 months my implant is comfortable, soft and part of the new me. 
As the other ladies have said, ask lots of questions of your surgeon (my GP was also a huge help)  go with your gut feeling and what will give you peace of mind.
let us know how you go. We are all here for you.
Jane xx

I think depending on your diagnosis particularly has varying impacts on making these decisions. I see one of the Elite Surgeons in Melbourne and have done for over 5yrs. He was gobsmacked at my recurrence as I was so early, had really wide margins literally impossible and radiation. I was in such a minimal percentage for recurrence and that was based on taking Tamoxifen for 4yrs as well. Who knows! Its so incredibly hard when you rely on Specialist opinions and it doesnt pan out how you hoped. 

Im currently 48yo for me whilst Ive been happy with a slow approach, if I were alot older, I think my approach would certainly be different. Unfortunately my Mum had a Mastectomy at 40 and no treatment, she survived 26yrs and yes it was so different back then, but Ive lived with what was her regret and so thats been tough for me individualising this for me and my journey as to what is best for me. My BC isn't hereditary. Im BRCA Gene negative.

There are so many individual stories and all I can say is trust your gut instinct because THAT is the ONLY thing that matters and I think you know exactly what sits for you, which is great!. Good luck with it all. Melinda xo

Hi Midget, I am struggling with the exact same decision at the moment. My first instinct is to get rid of the breast completely, as though to me that gets rid of all risk of cancer, but I am learning that it isn't that easy.
 I have the option of lumpectomy as I am early stage and big breasted. I have discussed the options with my surgeon and studied the book Guide for women with Early Breast Cancer that she gave me to try and help make a decision. 
I think I am now happy with the slightly increased risk of recurrence with lumpectomy, and will combine it with a breast reduction at the same time on both sides. This will allow her to take a larger margin around the tumour and also balance me up at the same time as I already have problems with posture and a twisted spine..
I have told my husband though that if by chance I have a recurrence, or if the pathology comes back worse than we expect, they are both coming off.
I have learnt that I can have the cancer surgery reductions at the same time as long as we are in the private system, she couldn't have done it in the public system.
There is so much to consider and I feel there is so much at stake that I tend to panic about making the right decision. But as others have said, you have to decide what is right for you and your body. 
I have no attachment to my breasts and probably won't miss them, others value them much higher, I am 57.
Good luck with your decision, I wish you strength through it all, we are travelling beside you.