Newly Diagnosed: Will Choosing Mastectomy Delay My Surgery?

No that should not. I have the same diagnosis 9/17/24 and my reconstruction(inserting tissue expanders) and mastectomy are scheduled for 11/5/24. My implants will be placed after the first of the year 2025.

Thank you, Carla!

I had lumpectomy then DMX. In my doctor group, once you are identified as needing plastic surgery due to cancer, you get in the queue. DMX was March. Radiation in June. New boobs in November. If I opted for DIEP flap, the surgeon in my county is 18 months out.

Also, I’m sorry for your need to join this board.

Thank you, Nancy. That may be the best route to take, to be honest. I really appreciate your response and share the same sentiment.

Heidi, chances of recurrence after a mastectomy is under 2 years. Chances of recurrence after a lumpectomy is 5 years. Do some homework before talking with your surgeon. Discuss complications, recovery times and overall out look. Best of luck.

Virginia, can you direct me to the source of “chances of recurrence after a mastectomy is under two years”? My sister had a bilateral mastectomy 12 years ago (followed by 4 rounds of chemo and 10 years of Tamoxifen) and is still cancer-free. My surgical oncologist told me the chance of recurrence was identical had I chosen lumpectomy, unilateral mastectomy or bilateral mastectomy. I chose a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction for Stage 2 IDC with no node involvement. I was incredibly blessed to have a single surgery 10 days after my diagnosis. I am eager to read any source that offers an alternate perspective to what I chose. Thanks.

Paige, I have 5 sisters. Three of us have had BC. Two of us had lumpectomy and one had mastectomy. It is a very personal choice. My goal is to enlighten women that BC cancer can come back years after their 1st diagnosis. Most will be cured, but many will have a recurrence. Some will develop MBC that is incurable at this time. I was naive and thought that it would not come back after 5 years.

Virginia, do you have the brca gene? Or any gene mutations that might contribute to the cancer? That isn’t something mentioned in the article…just hard to tell whether it’s the surgical intervention (partial mastectomy or full) that contribute to any recurrence, vs environmental factors or hereditary factors

As for your question Heidi - I first opted for lumpectomy bc I was so scared and wanted minimally invasive surgery/treatment, however like the article states I am in a rural area where radiation would consume 1-2hrs per day for 5 weeks and just wasn’t preferable to me. I changed to bilateral mastectomy (also liking not getting mammograms after or feeling anxiety about my natural breasts which brought me the current cancer). My surgery was pushed out and changed to 1 month later so I could have a plastic surgeon present.

Surgery timing can vary based on many factors including the surgeon's schedule, operating room availability, and the complexity of the procedure being planned. Many community members have found it helpful to discuss timing concerns directly with their surgical team, as they'll have the most accurate information about scheduling in your specific situation. The surgery and recovery community here has great experience to share about both surgical options, so connecting with others who've been through similar decisions could provide valuable insights as you prepare for your upcoming appointment.