Good morning I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 breast cancer.  I have one invasive breast cancer site and one DCIS site which are next to each other and the surgeon has advised he can remove these with a lumpectomy.  However there are 5 more calcification sites one of which has been biopsied and has come back as a risk lesion which is too far away from the other identified sites to remove as part of the lumpectomy.  The surgeon said he cannot recommend a mastectomy as he does not want to over treat.  He would do a mastectomy if that is what I want.   However there are another 4 sites of calcification which could or could not be risk, DCIS or invasive.  I am having a further biopsy this week and if this comes back DCIS or invasive then my decision would be to have a mastectomy and tissue reconstruction at the same time.

I am torn about this as if this biopsy comes back as benign I am back in this same position.  I am quite resigned to the fact that I have a breast cancer - originally concern showed up on a mammogram I had in June and I just want to get to a place where a decision is made regarding my treatment.   I wondered if you are able to tell me if I have a lumpectomy and leave behind any risk lesions, how will these be monitored to see if they are becoming a cancer of DCIS.   I have been told that whatever treatment I decide on I will be monitored with annual mammograms but my experience is that the risk lesions need to be biopsied to see what they are exactly and this cannot be identified from a mammogram alone.

I know that 1000 of women have to make these decisions and my family and friends are extremely caring and supportive but it is my decision - mastectomy or lumpectomy.  I am 68 years old, my husband and I have been together for 50 years.  He had prostate cancer 9 years ago.   From an aesthetic perspective losing a breast does not really concern me - only he and I see my naked.  But I find it very hard to reconcile how I am now to how I would be after surgery and treatment.  I do not feel ill, I am fit and active and well.  I have 3 children and 4 grandchildren and want to be around as long as I can, as healthy as I can to be there for them.  I am the strength in the family and am always there for any of them.

I appreciate the opportunity to be able to contact someone with these thoughts.  Many thanks.   Janet