Lumpectomy or mastectomy?

Terrific to hear you are going so well, @Xyzabc and great news, no rads!

Great to hear!🌺

Just to update, I’m 10 weeks out from a double mastectomy and it was absolutely the right decision for me. Im healing well and did not have to have radiotherapy, but am on Tamoxifen

Hi @Xyzabc, I am glad you are happy with your decision and recovering well.
Once I had made my decision I felt a great sense of relief.
Be kind to yourself.🌺

Good on you @Xyzabc - make haste slowly - and take care of yourself xx. terrific that you are not in pain xx

Hi @Kripa I’m on day 3 of recovering from my surgery. I ended up having a double
mastectomy- for a whole lot of reasons I felt it was the right choice for me and my family. I’m feeling so much better about it all now - having to make the decision and the anticipation of it all was very stressful but now I’m just focused on recovery. I’m not in as much pain as I feared I might be and although I know I’ve got a long road ahead I’m feeling positive about it. Just taking it all one day at a time. 

Hi @Kripa - welcome to the club no-one wants to join .... I'm glad you've found us.  Ask away any question & we'll do our best to give you an honest answer.  That is fantastic that you've not had to wait long for your surgery!

Where abouts are you?  Town/city? If you add it to your profile, members living nearby may be able to help you with specific services that they are aware of in your area.

check out this post for lots of info on different threads on the blog that you may like to look at .... as well as down the bottom, some tips on what to take with you to hospital when you go.
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-our-new-members#latest

I'll suggest to one of the moderators @Mez_BCNA so that you get your own 'thread' so you can continue to add to it, as your story progresses ...... yet you'll still able to follow the conversation on this one as well, with @Xyzabc's progress.



@Xyzabc - how are you going with your decision making?  Have you had your surgery yet? I hope you are going well xx. take care xx

Hi @Xyzabc was reading ur posts, i am also recently been diagnosed a week ago , invasive ductal carcinioma left side and 1.4mm lump. saw the surgeon yesterday and surgery scheduled for Monday. I too asked about Mastectomy, but have been advised its not needed. part of me just wants to get it done, but also part of me wants to the right thing. all happening fast around me.
i do have family history and this is estrogen and progestron positive.
what did u finally decide? would love to know if its not a problem, fine either way, 

Hi @Xyzabc sorry you find yourself here and with having to make a decision on which way to go.  I also had thought perhaps I would have them both taken off when first diagnosed, but after all the clinical staging I was given the choice that it is only necessary to have a double lumpectomy and lymph node clearance, so I went with that option. 

I also had chemo and radiotherapy, and to be honest I found the radiotherapy alright, although I was tired, (probably just cumulative from previous chemo and still having Herceptin infusions), but I got through six weeks with some burns which healed very quickly.

Whatever you choose make sure it is your decision, and not based on fear!

I agree with what @Halla says...................... The doctors say survival rates are identical for both options.

Take care and best wishes and we are here for you. xx

Hi @Xyzabc I had a lumpectomy and radiation. The radiation is nothing to be afraid of, it doesn’t hurt at all and to be honest I found the whole ritual of going in every day, lying down and doing the deep breathing, all quite relaxing and a little bit like going in for a facial or leg waxing (but not painful). You need to moisturise your skin and it gets a bit red but no big deal.

I also struggled with the decision because I had quite a few multifocal cancers, but I am happy I still have my boob and that I didn’t have to have a huge operation that would have incapacitated me for a few months, and derailed my business. I didn’t think I would care but six months on I am glad the boobs are still there and I can feel them. Scars minimal.