Treatment plan

I had a mastectomy, chemo & am nearly finished radiotherapy. I had lymphovascular invasion so that is why radiotherapy was recommended. Then I am having a mastectomy of the other breast which I was told does reduce my risk but only by a little bit.

@Socoda Cath is right, I was also told the same thing, there is no difference in recurrence rates between lumpectomy or mastectomy, thats why my Surgeon said at my recurrence I actually had no benefit of a mastectomy. 14 months on I had the mastectomy post chemo as preventative and the breast tissue was all clear and Im nearly 2yrs clear. So depends how you look at it, I could say I reduced my risk of recurrence a 3rd time or I got rid of a boob that was perfectly fine, fixed something that wasn't broke. I choose to think Ive just done what was recommended and not gamble again. I still had a recurrence inspite of Radiotherapy and Tamoxifen...so though 2015 I did chemo and am on Arimidex and done Mastectomy...Im absolutely not complacent but only because of what Ive been through. x Melinda

Hi Paula, I was told that the reason you don't need radiotherapy when you have a mastectomy is because all of the breast tissue is already gone and that with lumpectomy it is a given that you will have radiotherapy due to there still being breast tissue. I was also told that there was no difference in recurrence rates between mastectomy and lumpectomy but I chose mastectomy due to the size of the tumor and the possibility of a satellite (which turned out to be benign - at that point anyway). I don't think that there would be one of us that don't worry about the possibility of recurrence - unfortunately it goes with the territory. But please don't apologise for getting info, opinions or just simply venting. It is scary stuff but we are all here with you. Big hugs. Xx Cath

Hey Paula. I had lumpectomy, 4 rounds of TC, radiotherapy and 12 months of herceptin. I too wondered if I made the right choice. But research shows that radiotherapy is very effective in reducing the risk of recurrence. My surgeon said that a lumpectomy and mastecomy would give me the same benefit. I really wanted to keep my nipple so I was very happy with my choice in the end. I guess there are no guarantees with anything so just go with what feels best. Good luck.

hi @Bellablor,

head spinning is totally part of this whole process! Yes you could do either mastectomy or radio, but what has your surgeon recommended?  We all worry about recurrence and have to rely on the experts in each stage of this process.  I had a dble mastectomy and still have a risk of recurrence.  the one thing I do know out of this whole process is that these experts don't have an agenda. Sadly each of your team, surgeon, oncologist and radiologist will have more than enough "clients" to keep them employed whether you chose radio or surgery.  Do what feels best for you.
Aine

Lots of research that shows a lumpectomy with radiotherapy has as good results as mastectomy in removing tbe cancer. 

I chose mastectomy due to my tumor not being visible in a mammogram only 5 weeks before I felt a palpable lump due to breast density. I felt I could never feel confident a cancer couldn't be regrowing and remain undetected. I also live remotely and wanted to avoid a 5 week stint away from my family which I would have needed for radiotherapy.   My lumpectomy would have resulted in quite a disfigured breast with nipple loss due to location. So I chose a mastectomy with reconstruction. If I had a detectable cancer via mammogram, a different pathology with a different breast location, I may have chosen differently.

We all worry about our decisions. It's a normal part of this darn diagnosis as well. If your surgeon believed it was necessary for mastectomy, he would have recomnended it.

I hope your treatment goes well. Kath x

HI Bellablor. The main aim of treatment is to kill the cancer cells and stop recurrence. If the surgeon suggests go with lumpectomy then I agree. There is no guarantee that having a mastectomy will stop recurrence. I only had a lumpectomy.
The surgeon wants whats best for you. Radiotherapy kills microscopic cancer cells . Chemo kills cancer cells. Looks like you have a good plan of attack.