Get it out now or wait and think?
Hi, I'm newly diagnosed hormone positive her2 negative. I had my first appointment with my surgeon and was told my diagnosis a week ago. I was told to consider lumpectomy with radiation or mastectomy....
Forum Discussion
I think there is one very important factor here and that is everyone's case is different - there are 3 different cancers in the breast, (in your case hormone positive) the stage you are at & things like clear margins or not. You absolutely need to ask for more info or discussion from your surgeon because your scan and biopsy indicates if they do lumpectomy, wide local or mastectomy and when you do treatment if it all. You need to ask - what is the risk if it's just lump removal. In my case, my margins were not clear and I could have insisted on another wide local excision to save my breast (and I just got a recon anyway and my boob is nicer than ever!) but then the risk for cancer returning was high. The surgeon will absolutely have a recommendation but will also empower you to make the final call. They can't just decide mid-operation if they remove the whole boob or just the lump because it needs your consent. You won't be seen as a pain or the 'annoying patient' if you ask to chat some more, I know it's hard but it is your right to do so. Hearing everyone's story helps but it can be overwhelming and confusing and they are after all their cancer journey not yours.