have current implants - do I choose lumpectomy/rad or mastectomy
Hi- I currently have implants and have been dx with Stage 1a Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I am struggling with choosing lumpectomy or mastectomy because of the potential radiation effects on the implants. Can anyone comment on the mastectomy surgery compared to having a breast augmentation? As I know what breast aug was like. Just trying to get an idea of how bad a mastectomy is? Most plastic surgeons are telling me they won't put an implant back into a radiated breast so now I am back to struggling with a decision. Please jump in if you have feedback. Thank you
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.
I was diagnosed with same breast cancer to left breast 2 years ago. Suspicious areas that were non-malignant to right breast. I decided to go with double mastectomy. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.
Me too! It was the best choice I ever made.
I have invasive Triple negative ductal Breast cancer. I had the dbl mastectomy. I'll get implants about 3 to 6 months after chemo. With my dbl mastectomy they removed and tested lymph nodes. They were negative. I do not have to have radiation therapy.
My breast cancer did come back, same area, in April this year. The tumor was removed & a re-excision done one week later because of margins.
Now I am undergoing 20 radiation treatments. This is my 1st time for radiation.
Have you had radiation treatments & what side effects?
I had a single mastectomy. Recurrence on chest wall 2 weeks later. Max chem to shrink 4 cm tumor. Surgery with 3 bad margins and 3.2 cm residue. Another re-excision with intense lobbying to the medical establishment. Second re-excision. 1.2 billion cancer cells 1.2 residue. Finally clear margins hopefully. Max radiation. Prophylactic mastectomy (reduces risk to 5 % for every woman if breast is removed). Double reconstruction which looks amazing. The damage done by radiation looks like spider veins. However, this is now being corrected by laser treatment costing around $1000. Absolutely amazing. Better than before.