Seeking Advice: Lumpectomy or Mastectomy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer?

I was given both options due to small tumor size and went with lumpectomy and radiation. I ended up having a second surgery due to dcis in margins. Second surgery was clear margins. I understand your fear, especially at your young age. The fear can be overwhelming. I was okay with having the lumpectomy and doing monitoring. I really didn’t want more surgery than was needed, but that thought is always there that there could be more cancer, something I have to live with. It’s a tough decision and you need to be comfortable with what you choose. I prayed on it a lot until I felt at peace with my decision. I wish you the best with what you decide.

I have opted for the lumpectomy and radiation bringing the reoccurence rate to the low teens. I have also been told the reoccurence rate between a lumpectomy plus radiation and a mastectomy are the same. I can live with saving my breasts. I will continue to monitor. If it does come back, I will opt for more drastic measures. I know reconstructive surgery with implants has its own concerns to consider. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/seven-signs-you-need-a-breast-implant-revision#:~:text=Painful%20or%20uncomfortable%20implants%20can,has%20ruptured%20or%20is%20leaking.

Same boat here. Stage 1 breast cancer in right breast. Had lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy. Hasn’t spread. Recommendation is 20 rounds of radiation but first need the orcotype to determine if chemo is needed as well.

Same experience as everyone above; Cancer is in our family history: grand mother and sister one time with remission.Gram was 94, did not pass from cancer. Sis- in-law chose mastectomy due to gene positive and her family genetic history. Sending support, take time you need.

Same situation here.

ER+\PR+,HER2-, stage 2a because the tumor is 2.2 cm and into chest muscle. Am doing neo-adjuvant therapy with Letrozole to try to shrink it out of the muscle before surgery, having the same dilemma. Lumpectomy vs. mastectomy. …..not sure mentally which I could handle better, is looking at a deformed boob from lumpectomy and radiation better than looking at a scar where the boob used to be………..it’s tough…….

Such a hard decision. I was 1A IDC multi focal and brca 2 positive. I did decide on DMX ( mostly because of brca) a secondary cancer was more likely than a reoccurrence in my case. I also avoided radiation. I did do chemo and still doing immunotherapy. I did start the hormone blocker but stopped after 2 months side effects were bad. Will try again after my exchange surgery.

I was diagnosed with same and had a lumpectomy on 2/26/24. My pathology came back with cancer in borders. On 3/27/24, I then had a mastectomy, left breast (Goldilocks). I was prescribed a hormone blocker and no chemo or radiation. My scar from lumpectomy was not noticeable at all and I had 2 sites. I feel very good about this (mastectomy )totally gone now. I was fortunate also no lymph nodes involved.

My diagnosis was the same. I had a lumpectomy. If you look at the stats for your/our diagnosis, your dr is correct. I have had many woman in my life that did what I did and they are cancer free for 20+++ years. Mastectomies are a whole different beast and I didn’t want to have to go through several more surgeries after my treatments. It is a personal decision and regardless of what you do it’s the right decision for you. I was diagnosed on my 65th BD in December. Make sure your plastic surgeon is assisting your oncology surgeon, they are the ones that make sure incisions and stitches are done with the outcome for you to be as perfect as possible. If your surgeon says you don’t need one in the OR with you, INTIST on it and don’t back down. He or she is a surgeon, and there to get the cancer out, not to make sure it looks good. 👍.

Karen L. True. I have both the breast cancer surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon that specializes in women with breast cancer. My surgery is scheduled for this fall

Im also 43 er+ pr+ her+. Curious how you are doing and which path of treatment you elected. I did 6 rounds of chemo, followed by a mastectomy. Currently in a targeted therepy treament.

I had the same diagnosis last September. I did six rounds of TCHP (three without the Carboplatin due to extreme reaction). Also had double mastectomy to yeet those murder-boobs into the sun. Now doing the 14 rounds of Kadcyla due to not having a complete kill of all the cancer in my left breast. Doc also wants me to take Aromatase inhibitor for five years. I am opting out of the AIs, due to the side effects. I tend to get every damn one from any med. Do your research using medical journals and sources, and trusted websites. Google with caution.

These are times in our lives we wish we had a crystal ball. My only suggestion would be a second opinion from either a surgeon or oncologist. We all have differences in our bodies even though we may have the same Er+ PR+ HER- etc. I wouldn’t even pretend to know what advice to give you. Listen to your intuition and when you connect with a medical professional who is the right fit, you’ll know. Bless you 🙏

I had lumpectomy for stage ll BC in 2002. I drove 9 hrs the next day(my son had a melt down over concern for me). But, I was fine for the drive. I was diagnosed with MBC in 2016 and have been on treatment s since then. My sister had a double mastectomy 1.5 years ago for BC stage 0, 2 lumps in 1 breast and 1 in the other breast. (She had small breasts, too.) She had help for 10 days post surgery and pain so bad she wished to die. Then, she had another surgery 6 months later for reconstruction. She is still recovering. Another sister had lumpectomy for BC stage ll in 2003. Later had her ovaries removed years later. She is fine no recurrence We are all HR positive HER 2 negative. Research in 2002, showed similar recurrence rate for lumpectomy vs. mastectomy. The same is still true in 2024. However, now testing is available to check if you are predisposed for a recurrence. Plus, you will probably be on hormone therapy for many years. It's a very personal decision. Three sisters all choose different options. Each of us had different outcomes. I know you will choose the right one for you. Praying for you, Ginny

43 is what caught my attention. I was 43 when I got my diagnosis of her2+++ multifocal breast cancer in 2022... At 43, bilateral mastectomy is a very big decision. Everyone here goes through the same questions, fear, fellings. A lot of breast cancer survivors went through a lumpectomy with radiation and dont have recurrences. As I was told by my oncologist, there are no "zero risks". I had the rocky road of 18 months chemo, 19 radiation, lumpectomy and everything that came with it. I've asked myself if I had the double mastectomy and it came back.... would I have regrets... my answer was yes. Its a very personnal question to ask yourself. Your relationship with your body. You are courageous for asking this question. You need to balance both ideas and be true to yourself. Being anxious about reccurence is normal but it becomes part of living after a while. I hope you find the answers and support you're looking for. I believe you're in the right place for that. Take care, S

I had a lumpectomy and radiation at 48 for ILC , stage IIb. After that I learned I have the BRCA2 mutation, and my doctor recommended a double mastectomy. I got a DIEP flap reconstruction. It was VERY painful and difficult to recover. But I have no regrets

I took the dmx with the same diagnosis and no other treatments. It was a rough recovery but worth it to me. I chose not to do reconstruction.

Has anyone had burning in the stomach from chemo treatment ACT. I did my 1st treatment and can't stop the burning/nausea. Eating has been a real struggle. I've tried ginger cookies, ice, etc. Any suggestions would be helpful. At this point I'm seriously considering stopping chemo and just doing radiation. Help!

Dawn T, Have you tried Tums or Pepcid? I too had terrible heartburn with AC. Has anyone had burning in the stomach from chemo treatment ACT. I did my 1st treatment and can't stop the burning/nausea. Eating has been a real struggle. I've tried ginger cookies, ice, etc. Any suggestions would be helpful. At this point I'm seriously considering stopping chemo and just doing radiation. Help!

I had a great cocktail : ranicidine during the day for heart (stomach) burn, pantoprazole for the same but for night time. Metoclopramide for nausea and odensetron if the metoclop didn't work. You should ask the oncology pharmacist to have medication to cope with the side effects. You don't have to endure any of this. You can ask your own pharmacist to help You. They will get in touch with the oncology dept and you'll get what You need. Hope this help sending You Light, S.

Thank you! Wishing you all the best!

I would ask for a pet scan. My daughter was diagnosed with stage 2A but insisted in a pet scan and found out it had already spread to her bones in three places. Now is starting hormone therapy

I am with you on the bilateral masectomy and reconstruction. I am 1B, HR+, HE2-. Ki67: 21% When I was diagnosed, they thought I had 1a. No family history, no genetic mutations, never obese, didn't smoke, barely drank, 44, workout, etc. Most importantly, the MRI didn't show any lymph node involvement, but it was wrong. My non-sentinel lymph node was positive, but my sentinel was negative. Luckily, they check your lymph nodes during surgery. I have both ductal and lobular invasive carcinoma, and lobular frequently spreads to the other breast. Plus, the most common place for you to get recurrence for breast cancer is in the breast again! So I looked at as, why take the chance? I had DIEP flap reconstruction and had a great experience.

Same diagnosis here. My team said survival rate and recurrence are pretty much the same as mastectomy so I opted out for less aggressive.

I have similar diagnosis. I’m 99% sure that I am going with lumpectomy with radiation but am also going to do oncoplasty so my surgeon can take a little more tissue for clear margin. It takes the chance of having to go back a second time down to less and 5%. I’m not thrilled about radiation but mastectomy wasn’t medically necessary for me and since the rate of reoccurrence is the same, I don’t want to go with a major surgery. It’s a hard decision but do what you feel is right for you.