Facing Breast Cancer: My Upcoming Double Mastectomy

I hope your surgery went well well. I have the same diagnosis in one breast. Had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes taken out. Margins were clear as were my lymph nodes. Currently in chemo right now due to a high oncotype score and radiation next. Good luck in your journey.

Hoping your surgery went great and you recover quickly. I, too, have the same diagnosis. I had a lumpectomy and reduction (which allowed my surgeon to take large section to achieve good margins) last week. I am very glad I did that because pathology report showed tumor was much larger than expected. My lymph nodes were clear. I know I will have radiation after I heal but not sure about chemo yet. I haven’t gotten my Oncotype score yet.

I was diagnosed with same and I am seeing the surgeon next week. I'm curious as to why you chose mastectomy over lumpectomy. I'm on the fence until I hear what the surgeon says.

Depends on the type of cancer, how fast & aggressive it grows, & how much must be removed to obtain clear margins. Look into oncoplasty if the area to remove is more then than they like for a simpler lumpectomy because it allows for taking a larger area rather than requiring performing a masectomy. Oconoplastic surgery is either a breast reduction &/or lift combined with the lumpectomy.

Thank you.

M Jane W…. Glad to hear your surgery went well. Trying to find a good surgeon & place that will do this type of surgery with a reduction as they do not do that at our hospital. I have the same ILC in my left breast. Will you have your other breast done to match?

You women with the ILC. The sneaky hidifen cancer. Had an annual mammogram for 5 years. Cancer never showed on it. Felt the tumor myself at 2.3cm size. Surgeon says I probably had it for approximately 5 yrs. It is positioned behind the nipple. Have a tiny tumor on the left side. Very slow growing. They will not do a tumectomy because it is too large of an error to remove together(why not take separately)? Does not run in my family. No lymph node involvement per MRI. Their only suggestion is a double mastectomy for cosmetic reasons which I refuse to do. They never mentioned a oncoplasty because the surgeon here must not do that procedure. When I attempt to talk to the doctor about fat transfer the oncologist says it does not exist. He refuses to confer with any doctor from a larger facility concerning another procedure because he claims that doctors do not do that. Why not?

Suzy, they did surgery on both sides during lumpectomy/oncoplasty so both sides match. Plastic surgeon left the cancer side a little larger since radiation often makes breast smaller. I will begin radiation on the 15th.

Preparing for surgery can feel overwhelming, and it's completely natural to have mixed emotions as Wednesday approaches. This community is filled with others who understand the journey ahead and are here to offer support and encouragement during this challenging time. Consider sharing any specific concerns or questions you might have - many members have valuable insights that could help ease some of the uncertainty you may be feeling.