help to make a decision

Hi Jane

Sorry you're feeling rushed into making a decision. Sounds like it's a very stressful time for you.

I found information from My Journey Kit, BCNA website and Cancer Council Helpline/ booklets very helpful. Fact sheets, diagrams, some photos and FAQ's were especially useful. It also helped me to write down any specific questions to ask my surgeon at appointment times.

Once I had a basic understanding of my diagnosis, I felt more confident investigating and discussing my treatment options with my medical team ( including my breast care nurse who had lots of practical experience and tips to share). I kept asking questions until answers made sense to me and I felt some control in my decision making.

My first surgery (wide excision - no clear margins) was followed by a major decision/second surgery ( mascetomy/ immediate reconstruction with expander) about 2 weeks later. About 7 months later, I had my final surgery (with expander exchanged for permanent implant).

I found recovery time (physically and emotionally) at each stage quite challenging as I'm normally very busy and active. However I learnt to adjust my routines and enjoy new activities.

I am now fully recovered with no regrets. I feel stronger, healthier and happier for making my own decisions.

Keep looking for the information and support you need, to make decisions that are best for you.

Keep in touch, too.

Di

Hi Jane,

Welcome to the Online Network.

Firstly if you haven't already got this I recommend ordering a My Journey Kit. It’s a free, information pack that can help you make decisions on your treatment and care. 

I would also recommend checking out this page on our website - Treatment. You will find different pages on the different types of treatments.

I hope this will help you out.

~ Ann-Marie

Being rushed with not all info is not a great combination.  my experience is that my surgeon thought it was a small lump and she drew a little diagram and then said she would do a lumpectomy and although I usually like a collegial relationship with doctors I'm glad I didn't make the decision although difficult to argue against her assessment of mammogram, ultrasounds and then biopsy. From memory she thought lymph gland was ok but turned out micromet   If I was given the choice it wouldn't be a great time as it would have been fear based.  In this way I was guided by her.  The lumpectomy was pretty straight forward: had a week off work and one overnight stay in hospital which I would do again: I don't quite get how lumpectomy Can be day surgery.  I assumed I would have a great scar and as I'm into them was ok with that but surgeon went in via nipple line so no scar.  A year later I was complementing her on this and she said "it helps recovery" and she's right: so there was no adjusting to self image or drains or scans.  Went on to wait impatiently for radiation: again no lasting problems : I do have appreciation for my rather simple, straight forward treatment plan: minimum all disruption to health, life, family or work : good luck!

(infiltrating duct bc grade 2. 20mm

lymph node micromet .8mm Eric pos, pr pos, her2 neg: lumpectomy, radiation, tamoxafin)

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Unfortunately the Dr won't make a recommendation. He has just given me pros & cons of Mastectomy vs lumpectomy. If he had made a recommendation then we would have gone with that. Making this decision with the information we have is very stressful.

Carol, you mentioned a permanent external prosthesis? What is a permanent prosthesis as opposed to other external prostheses?

Mastectomy doesn't always mean no radiation, like most of this BC stuff it varies

I still am having radiation after mastectomy 

I'm like you - finding prostheses not too bad, went down a size which suited me and am considering reconstruction later - maybe much later !!

Do not get rushed into making a decision !!!!

You can give yourself time. As you said each woman is diff - for me I chose bilateral mastectomy but I had chemo first which gave me 5mths to think about it - still a very hard decision.

Ask lots of questions !!

The claim your curves website and fb group is fantastic for stories and pictures, also the group on here

Im sorry you have to make this decision but you have come to the right place 

??

Hi Jane

I found at the time of making a quick decision for surgery I went with what the the doctor recommended which was a mastectomy. There is so much information out there which was way over my head from a technical perspective, my doctor was my interpreter through the minefield of test results and best outcomes, that's her job and I put my trust in her advice.

I believe, and please someone correct me if I am wrong, that radiation always follows a lumpectomy, having had a mastectomy and good pathology results from the surgery it is looking unlikely radiation will be required, and as far as I am concerned the less treatment my body has to endure the better in the long term.

Having said that a mastectomy was a no-brainer for me, I am 50yo, have a close family and my husband is my best friend, if I were perhaps single or younger, or both it would have been more difficult decision to make.

I picked up my permanent external prosthesis last week and must say I am very happy with it. I will consider reconstruction down the track but that is for another day.

Good luck with your decision and trust in your medical professionals.

Love & luck

Carol

Jane sorry to hear of your diagnosis.... What kind of BC do you have?  That may make your decision a little easier.  For me I have Invasive Ductual Carcinoma 3cm with 1 SN positive.  I had a lumpectomy to remove tumor and lymph nodes and then I had 4 rounds of AC chemo.  The next step was radiation but I decided against it and now looking into double mastectomy, also need to be on hornome blocking treatment, good luck with your decision just ask as many questions the girls here are very supportive and full of information.

Chriss xx

For myself I just wanted the whole thing off which did turn out to be the right decision as with pathology it was in the sentinel node as well and most likely the second op they would have done mastectomy along with the full node clearance they did anyway. I am not a big breasted lady at all and the cancer breast was the big one so I figured just get rid of the whole thing.

If I was a big breasted lady and quite feminine ( I am more tomboy) I probably would have tried the lumpectomy side of things to preserve as much breast as possible. In the end it is your decision. Not your partners, not your family's, just yours.