Forum Discussion

Skbr's avatar
Skbr
Member
4 years ago
lrb_03 said:
Such a personal decision
I will say that my surgeon recommended lumpectomy, and I went with her recommendation. I ended up with a re-excision as margins weren't clear even after chemo. 5 years down the track, some additional breast shrinkage post radiation and my treated breast is at least 30% smaller than the other. Significant enough that I  wear a partial breast form.  I'm waiting for some revision surgery that's been delayed by Covid, then other health reasons.
If I'd known all that then, I probably would have pushed harder for a mastectomy. I didn't have to think about it so I still don't know what I'd do about reconstruction 

Thank you! That’s so helpful. I am thinking the same thing - my cancer is a few tumours over a 5cm area, and I’m only a small C cup. If I have a large lumpectomy with radiation my surgeon said I’d be around a cup size smaller. I’m already self conscious about my size/shape.. 

I’m wondering if by trying to keep my natural breast, am I going to end up with a worse cosmetic result and worse health outcome? 

Can a standard breast implant augmentation be performed after your lumpectomy/radiation? Or a fat transfer?

Obviously beating the cancer is my priority, but I think maybe focusing on the aesthetic side is helping me cope/distract from the whole situation.