Lumpectomy or mastectomy?
I have just been diagnosed with invasive carcinoma grade 1, small (about 1) at 2 0’clock and have to decide pretty quickly whether to have just a lumpectomy or mastectomy. I am terrified of radiother...
Forum Discussion
Hi @Xyzabc,
I had choice of lumpectomy or mastectomy and choose a lumpectomy. I was stage 1 but grade 3 early breast cancer. I had very big breasts and had the size of an orange cut out of me so all margins were clear. I had no lymph involvement.
Because of the large amount removed and my big breasts I also had a lift and eventually evened up my other breast with a reduction and lift. Hey it was a bonus out of it all.
I had chemo and radium because my grade 3 cells I didn't think radium was as bad as I expected. I had 4 months of chemo but got through it. I did have breast cancer in my extended family but no brca gene although I didn't know about no brca gene before my surgery. My surgeon was very confident and he made me feel confident in him so I trusted the lumpectomy.
It is all such a big decision and a very personal one too. I do think emotionally i healed well with the lumpectomy, even though it was so very hard. I don't know if my healing would be the same with a mastectomy but regardless it is such a big journey to deal with on so many levels.
I do have big scars: one under the breast all the way across, another up to the nipple and then a 3rd all the way as round the nipple as it was moved as well. I also have the same on the other breast as I had a reduction and lift to then match up the 2 sides. The physical scars are fading. I finished my active treatment and last surgery in march this year. I am on hormone suppression, rebuilding physically and emotionally I am healing well.
Good luck with your decision making. I am sure you will make the right choice for you.
I had choice of lumpectomy or mastectomy and choose a lumpectomy. I was stage 1 but grade 3 early breast cancer. I had very big breasts and had the size of an orange cut out of me so all margins were clear. I had no lymph involvement.
Because of the large amount removed and my big breasts I also had a lift and eventually evened up my other breast with a reduction and lift. Hey it was a bonus out of it all.
I had chemo and radium because my grade 3 cells I didn't think radium was as bad as I expected. I had 4 months of chemo but got through it. I did have breast cancer in my extended family but no brca gene although I didn't know about no brca gene before my surgery. My surgeon was very confident and he made me feel confident in him so I trusted the lumpectomy.
It is all such a big decision and a very personal one too. I do think emotionally i healed well with the lumpectomy, even though it was so very hard. I don't know if my healing would be the same with a mastectomy but regardless it is such a big journey to deal with on so many levels.
I do have big scars: one under the breast all the way across, another up to the nipple and then a 3rd all the way as round the nipple as it was moved as well. I also have the same on the other breast as I had a reduction and lift to then match up the 2 sides. The physical scars are fading. I finished my active treatment and last surgery in march this year. I am on hormone suppression, rebuilding physically and emotionally I am healing well.
Good luck with your decision making. I am sure you will make the right choice for you.