Posted on: Jun 13, 2013 01:54PM
Posted on: Jun 13, 2013 01:54PM
ealga wrote:
Hi all,
i was wondering if anyone could elaborate on this question. i have multifocal, grade 3 DCIS, and am contemplating another lumpectomy vs a mastectomy. my surgeon is confident she can clear the margins with another lumpectomy, and recommends radiation afterward. BUT anecdotally, so many women I’ve talked to, even with a Grade 1 single foci lesion, opted for mastectomy. I don’t want to undertreat OR overtreat but I am struggling to figure out why women would make this choice and what am I missing? I'm at a very cutting edge cancer hospital if that matters. I'd love any perspective on this. Many thanks in advance.
Mar 19, 2023 12:44AM azqueenb wrote:
Thank you, Salamandra. I spoke to my ob/gyn and she referred me to fertility clinic. I scheduled an appointment with them but I learned yesterday that my genetic test is negative for the BRCA and I can move forward with surgery. I'm trying to make this decision soundly but quickly because I don't want too much time to pass. In reading on radiotherapy, the side effects are scary and overwhelming.
Mar 19, 2023 12:35PM quietgirl wrote:
most people get thru radiation for breast cancer just fine. Is it a walk in the park no not at all but for most people it is doable and not something that would effect fertility. If you have no desire to breast feed then that doesn’t impact your decision. If you do then a lumpectomy would allow you to do that (although if you have radiation you would only be doing it from the breast that didn’t require surgery because radiation would effect your ability to produce milk on that side )
Hormone therapy after surgery is the thing that would impact fertility (and chemo before or after surgery). How soon is your appointment at the fertility center? I know you want to get surgery over with but I think making an informed decision rather that a quick I think I have the information I need decision is the way to go. In the end however the choice of surgery is yours and is impacted by your life not just what a typical patient might do according to some chart somewhere. But yes plenty of people who want to avoid radiation opt not to have a lumpectomy it’s a valid c
Mar 19, 2023 03:07PM lillyishere wrote:
azqueenb, I'm sorry you are joining our club. Most of the women who had BMX, it was their decision not to deal with radiation, scanxiety from all follow-up mamograms, or recurrence after the radiation. Your case is unique in a way. Are you planning to breastfeed when you'll have a baby? If yes, obviously, you will need to keep a healthy breast. If not, then you have to make the decision on how much you need your natural breast vs. implants and how comfortable will you be with scans and worries. Only 15% of breast cancer patients have genetic gene that means the majority of BC patients don't have a known genetic mutation for breast cancer. Keep us posted what fertility clinic suggests.
