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The following is an Editorial Resource from YourTotalHealth. More Diagnosis Stories Mastectomy vs. Lumpectomy? I can give you some info, but it is a very personal decision. I had a bilateral mastectomy for several reasons. I was not given the choice to have a lumpectomy as I have IBC [inflammatory breast cancer]. But, I know women who have been given the choice and have chosen both. What does your surgeon suggest? I was 33 at diagnosis and there was no question as to what I was going to do. From what I have read, if you are given the choice to have a lumpectomy with radiation, then it is supposed to be just as effective and have the same prognosis as if you were having a mastectomy. But, on the flip side, some younger women choose to have mastectomies because they have the mindset that they have so much life in front of them that they don't want to take the chance of having a recurrence. For me, the main reason that I decided to have a prophylactic mastectomy on the healthy breast was that I wanted to make sure that I was doing everything that I could to not have to worry about recurrence. I would talk to your surgeon and weigh the pros and cons. If you are going to have to have radiation regardless of what you choose, that is a harder decision. You can always have reconstruction but the new breast will not be the same. You won't have feeling like you did in your breast and it isn't perfect looking. If you have the mastectomy and don't have to have radiation, reconstruction options have a much better outcome. If you have a lumpectomy and then have to go through radiation, that is every single day [Monday through Friday] for five to six weeks. There are a lot of things to consider. Good luck. Just found out I have cancer, but [I] don't know anything about it yet except that it’s very small and early stage. Will find out more on Wednesday when I meet with the surgeon. I am scared, of course. Have not told anyone except my two grown daughters, but [I] don't want to let on to them my fear. Just looking for comfort, I suppose. I was just diagnosed for the second time. The first time I was 27 and now I'm 32 with a 5 1/2-month-old daughter. You will do just fine, even though it's scary to know that you have cancer. I hope that you have a good medical team and remember that you have to be your own advocate. If you don't understand something or have questions, make sure you get answers. I would do a little research, but would do so by using Web sites that are legitimate like The American Cancer Society or Susan G. Komen. Let me know if you have any questions. You do have the strength to get through it! …I think the biggest problem for me right now is just being alone and letting my mind wander. I usually have pretty good control so I will get a grip. Tomorrow is the appointment with the surgeon, so I will find out more then. I know I am strong. My son was killed in Afghanistan last summer (07) and our family was very strong through that time and we will be now also. Sounds like you have your hands full at home. Enjoy your babies, and thank you for answering me. It helps. Just try to stay positive; picture in your mind that it is small and they can remove it, and you will go on to be a survivor like so many of us. I was diagnosed on October 13, 2006, so I can still remember those scary feelings. My cancer was stage 3 and over five centimeters, and I had a radical mastectomy. At the time, I had recently separated from my husband of 25 years and moved back to my hometown with my two children. My daughter and my son gave me a lot of comfort and support, as did my mom and my two neighbors in the new neighborhood I had just moved into. When you are laid up or not feeling well, be sure to accept their help, whether it be doing laundry for you or fixing a meal and bringing it over to you. I hear it is hard for some people to accept the help and the people who care about you need to feel they are doing something to make you feel better. I found it really did help a lot. Next year in August, you can go to Union Station and be one of the survivors who participates in the Susan G. Komen race/walk. It is so encouraging to see all the women and men survivors. You are in my prayers, and remember the mind is a powerful thing. Think good thoughts. What's Next: More Diagnosis Stories
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I was just diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma grade 1 hormone receptor positive cancer. I am now faced with the choice of mastectomy or lumpectomy followed by radiation and tamoxifen. A mastectomy seems drastic, but the tamoxifen worries me as far as how it may affect me. I am so confused as to what to do. I am 41 years old and have no cancer history in my family. Is the mastectomy overdoing it or am I wise to just take care of things now instead of possibly later? Does anyone have thoughts they might want to share?
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