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Lumpectomy vs. mastectomy
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JenIrene11 View Drop Down
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Points: 2 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JenIrene11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Lumpectomy vs. mastectomy
    Posted: Jan 12 2022 at 2:25pm
looking for personal experience stories when choosing lumpectomy vs. mastectomy. I’m stage 3b TNBC with internal mammary node and axillary lymph node involvement. After 6 rounds of taxol/carboplatin w/ Keytruda, the tumor and lymph nodes have shrunk significantly and scans show no evidence of metabolic activity. My original thought was to do double mastectomy and just been done with it for peace of mind ( since there are atypical calcifications on the non cancer side). After talking to my oncologist, she feels my risk of recurrence is the same whether I do double mastectomy or double lumpectomy (recurrence risk do due node involvement. Now I’m confused and don’t know what to do. Interested if anyone else has been in this position. Also I am BRCA negative as well so no risk there. Thank you!
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cookie54 View Drop Down
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Points: 78 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cookie54 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan 12 2022 at 7:01pm
JenIrene I'm so glad to hear that you had a good response to chemo! Yes it is true that a mastectomy vs lumpectomy doesn't appear to affect the risk of recurrence. It truly is a personal choice, for me I knew mastectomy was it. Prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer I had a biopsy every year for 7-8 years. So I had enough of mammo's and biopsies ,it was a fairly easy choice for me. There is no wrong choice you just have to do what feels right to you. Think about the pro's and cons of each, invasiveness, recovery time, risks, reconstruction or flat closure, future mammo's or no mammo needed etc. 
As you said whatever will give you more peace of mind which is so important!
Best wishes with your decision, be well.
8/16,IDC,StageIA,Gr3,0/1 nodes ER-PR-HER2-
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10/20 ALND 5/8 nodes,Rad x25
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HelenC View Drop Down
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Points: 4 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HelenC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jun 01 2023 at 11:34pm
Hello, it is so glad to hear the chemo works for you. In my case, I have no nodes involved and reached radiology total response before surgery (verified by MRI). However, I still optioned double mastectomy just for ease of my mind. I reached PCR. Also, I do not need to do radiation. I want to return to norm life asap.  I am happy with my decision. For your case, since you have nodes involved, you will need to do radiation regardless lumpectomy or Mastectomy. Anyway, it is totally a personal choice based on what I talked to my surgeon and medical oncologist. Good luck! 

Edited by HelenC - Jun 02 2023 at 12:01am
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