Lumpectomy + radiation VS Mastectomy -- pros cons?

Hello. Please excuse my delay in responding. It is totally a personal choice. I felt validity in not completing the lumpectomy and doing radiation. I think it depends on the type of cancer, the size, and location. I did not want the worry down the line and made the choice for the double mastectomy. You have to be happy with your choice. However, I did discuss this with my spouse as well and he was in agreement that this was to improve my quality of health. My boss had breast cancer but she opted for the lumpectomy and radiation. She wanted to keep her breast but, she will continue to be on medication. I am not on any medication.

I had DCIS in 2003. Age 48. Sentinel nodes negative. Couldn’t get clean margins so L mastectomy. Had saline implant. By fluke had bilateral mammogram in April. 1 cm invasive DC - so despite the mastectomy I have breast cancer again in L breast. Oncotype score is 8. Having lumpectomy and removal of implant on July 10. The MRI tech had hard time getting imaging around the implant. I want to hear what radiation oncology has to offer. They can do what is called a frozen section during surgery where they send to pathology to check for clear margins. The MDs seem to be getting away from that option. The radiation techniques are improved these days Chat GPT is free. Was very helpful. Evidently the longer us DCIS patients live the better chance of recurrence. My understanding is that radiation is to kill off local cells that may be there. Hormone blockers are more systemic. These decisions are difficult, give yourself grace. My surgeon thinks I am crazy to get my implant removed. Trying to give myself best shot.

I had L mastectomy in 2003 for DCIS. Negative sentinel nodes. By fluke order had bilateral mammogram in April. Now invasive DC in same breast. Lumpectomy scheduled in July. Also getting saline implant removed. I am very interested in hearing from radiation oncology. I will be more interested if the margins aren’t clear. Also trying for sentinel node again so there are variables that are unknown until after surgery and both pathology reports are back. Chat GPT is free, found it incredibly helpful. My oncotype score was 8. No chemo. Will probably start at 2.5 mg tamoxifen though my oncologist doesn’t know that yet. I am 70 so decisions I make are based on age. I want to spare my bones so refusing AIs. Any update from you?

Have you had the oncotype DX test done? I never even heard of it until I was told they were doing it. Meaning sending part of my biopsy to California. After waiting four weeks for the results, I found out there is only a 6% chance of it coming back again and that chemo was not necessary. As a result, I am not going to have the double mastectomy that I planned on. So on wednesday I will have a lumpectomy, removal of three lymph nodes, and my nipple will be removed. After six weeks of healing I will begin radiation. When that is complete I will have a nipple reconstruction and tattooing. Not as bad as what I originally thought but it still will be tough regarding the nipple removal. Can someone tell me if I will need care after my surgery next week.