Early Breast Cancer

Hi @Agent14516,

Although I'm probably not the right person to give you any advice on what's best to do for your situation, I do want to reach out and say hi and welcome. I know how lonely and confusing those first few days can be and just having someone on the group here to talk to was a BIG help for my wife and I.

I can echo what a lot of other people will probably tell you that this first period of unknowns is the worst - once you've started talking to your team a lot of answers will come your way (maybe too many answers to begin with! Take lots of notes, or have someone go to your appointments with you) and things will start to fall into place for you. Something else that has given us a lot of encouragement is just how much treatment and statistics have improved in recent times. It's amazing how many options you have compared to just 5 - 10 years ago.

Anyway - I hope you're going OK, please reach out if you ever need to chat and don't be afraid to post here often. My experience is that this is a group of very caring and special people who will have your back 24/7.

All the best & take care!

George

Welcome @Agent14516.  Ditto the comments from @byo_boy above. 
We have all been diagnosed with BC but we are all so different in the actual diagnosis and treatments offered.  My story is quite old as I approach the 10 year mark and I often wonder how I would be treated now.
Have you had any discussions around what you would do if the mastectomy is the plan ?  Are you thinking of reconstruction ?
There are some private groups on here (i.e.  Choosing Breast Construction and Flat Chat - No Breast Reconstruction) which you should join to give you some information for discussion with your medical team.
I see you are in the eastern side of our lovely cold State so guess you have options for treatment ?
I will send you a private message so you know how that works if you want to chat more privately with someone.

Hi @Agent14516,

My situation is different to your, but sending you hugs for this scary time in your life.

I had a lumpectomy and my surgeon said she didn't want to do mastectomies when there was no need. I can see why you would think a mastectomy with your family history though. I would talk things over with your surgeon, husband and any family as its not an easy choice to make.

Wishing you all the best whatever you decide.
Sending hugs.

Hi @Agent14516 a very tough time for you- maybe you’ve made your decision by now. 

Hi
i had a lumpectomy and then the pathology came back that my calcifications were DCIS so I had to go back in for a mastectomy. I didn’t have much to take off :-) but again the pathology came back with tiny tumours everywhere. After 12 months I went and had my other side removed too and it was. one of the best things I’ve ever done (I haven’t had a reconstruction) I was 43 at diagnosis and I’m now 47.

Unfortunately no definitive answer on this for you. As my surgeon said - we can always take more if we need to (and we did). 

Thanks for your lovely support everyone and your journeys. I changed my mind to a lumpectomy and this is happening on Wednesday, 24th July so not far away now. A bit nervous but the surgeon feels he can get clear margins. Here’s hoping for a good result on Wednesday 

Hi @Agent14516. I started with a less invasive treatment. I was offered two options: lumpectomy or mastectomy. My lump was over 5 cm and had spread to the lymph nodes. Therefore, I had a lumpectomy and axillary clearance (all lymph nodes removed). The pathology test came back with unclear margins, so I was offered re-excision, after which the margins were clear. After chemotherapy and now going through radiation, I am not questioning whether I made the right decision.  I will always follow my breast surgeon's recommendations; they need to help us make informed decisions. However, it is never an easy decision to make. All the best with your surgery and I hope you will get clear margins. 

Wishing you all the best for your surgery tomorrow @Agent14516 ....  I know how relieved I felt afterwards, just knowing the 'beast was gone' ... and hope you feel that same relief xxx

Jump onto this thread to read up on other areas in the forum, as well as what to take to hospital & also some 'tick sheets' that you can print off, for monitoring your mental and physical health .... sometimes it is easier just giving your specialist the sheet, than talking about it! ;) 
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-new-online-network-members#latest

take care & all the best xx