Mastectomy instead of lumpectomy

Thank you for your response. My question is did you have reconstructive surgery? Is chemo still necessary if mastectomy is done?
I am HER2+amplified. Still waiting to do MRI and PET scan.

In 2019 i had a lumpectomy as it all happened so fast, stage 1. In the waiting room for radiation and also in online support groups i met 2 sweet ladies that opted for mastectomies, one was stage 4 and the other stage 0.
They both said how there was more breast cancer found after the surgery. I don't know how that is found afterwards but they were all so happy they elected to have a mastectomy. One was going to remain flat and use prosthetics and the other was still working through the reconstruction of her breasts as that apparently takes some time.
Sending you courage and strength on your journey. ☺️

No, I chose not to have reconstruction because it's more surgery. I also have HER 2+ and I'm doing radiation. It's 5 weeks and I'm on my last 6 days which wasn't as bad as I thought either. I'm still doing chemo and everyone is shocked when I tell them that I've had 79 chemo treatments. I've lived 10 months longer than they expected and surgeon told me on operating table that he didn't think I would be here now but the cancer was out of my lymph nodes and liver, it's still in my bones but not as bad so that's why I jumped on the mastectomy wagon when they said I could do it plus the tumor was growing again. I don't feel any bad feeling from chemo or radiation and it may be because I changed my life with harmful chemicals and now I'm 98% plant based eating. The oncologist said I am the longest patient she's ever had but we don't want to stop treatments until we definitely know it's under control. I'll be on herceptan the rest of my life but hopefully a pill form. God is good, I'm still here!

Thank you so much for your reply.

Thank you. I definitely have been blessed. Not because of any wonderful thing or decision I made, but because of a husband who woke every morning before work, dressed and traveled to downtown San Francisco to a church to pray for me. He did this for one year and here I am. Only God knows if it was the surgeon or God who made the decision that I should remain around for a little while, or maybe it was a combination of both.
I was talking with a friend today, and telling her about this site, and how I have lived long enough to have had many medical procedures I can discuss and perhaps gvet some hope to someone who may need it at this time. That is quite a gift I have been given.
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Gina5009

If you contact a store that sells after surgery prosthetics you will be able to get Mastectomy bra's and prosthetics through Medicare. They usually have a "fitter" who can suggest the Bra or Prosthetic which is best for you.
Gina5009

Thank you. I live in the Maratimes Canada so will try but specialty shopping is some times limited. I will try a "bra shop" they might be able to help.
Thanks again.

First, good luck to you on your journey. I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer on 9/20/22. I went to the Breast Clinic at the Mayo in Jacksonville. My oncologist began chemo on 10/13/22. My tumor was 3.9 cm, almost 4, stage 2. It has not spread to the lymph nodes. I finished chemo on 2/16/23 and had my nipple sparing, double mastectomy on 3/21/23 with reconstruction. At first the surgeon told me a lumpectomy was all I needed. I wanted the double mastectomy from the start as my grandmother died of breast cancer at age 30. I also had a friend who had a lumpectomy with triple negative and she got breast cancer again 5 years later and had to go through chemo and get a double mastectomy anyway. In the meantime I tested positive for the BRCA1 gene which sealed the deal - double mastectomy it was and the surgeon agreed. No radiation needed. Also, my MRI showed I had HERS2 positive breast cancer in the center of my breast at not even stage 1 yet. That is all gone after the operation as well and no medications needed. At first I was going to go flat. I am 60 years old, so what's all the fuss? I met with the plastic surgeon to see what my options were for reconstruction. He reassured me he would go in after the breast surgeon and put tissue extenders in. A few months later after filling the tissue extender to the desired cup size, I will have another "Exchange" surgery where they will replace the tissue extenders with the normal implants. This is where I am at right now. I have total movement and feel so normal just 7 weeks after surgery.I will have my last surgery around August. I am happy I opted for the reconstruction because I feel normal as I look at myself. The scars are small and can barely be seen. I still have my nipples! My clothes fit and I feel like me. I am wearing a normal bathing suit. I hope this helps. I am athletic and don't have too much body fat on me so tissue transfer was not an option. Everybody is different, but your surgeons will go over what procedure is right for you. My advice to you is to research all your options. Talk to your surgeons. They will know what is best for you. Wishing you the best of luck and praying all goes well for you. I hope this helps.

See my comment below. For me, chemo was done first to shrink the tumor, then surgery. I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction and I am very happy.

Thank you so much, your info was massively helpful!
God Bless!