Hi, sorry to find you here and that you are going through this.  I was 54 when I was diagnosed with a 1cm invasive breast cancer back in January after they found calcifications in a routine mammogram.  I was due to have a lumpectomy but 2 days before my surgery it was cancelled and I was told more had been found which after further biopsies resulted in low grade DCIS.  
Making the decision to have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy is so difficult and a very personal choice.  I decided on mastectomy and I'm now 12 weeks post surgery.  Initially I was just "get it off" I don't care what it looks like as long as it's all gone.  That was naive of me because I underestimated the trauma I felt afterwards about losing my breast, especially as I couldn't face the quite radical surgery of reconstruction.  
 

However, despite the sadness of losing my breast, I'm now very glad I did!  I decided to get a copy of my post op histology report and it was quite clear that as well as the two areas, they also found LCIS and lots of other changes, inflammation and it was very cystic.  There was things that hadn't shown up in the biopsies and it was all a bit bigger than they thought (although thankfully still stage 1).  I was SO glad it was all gone frankly and mastectomy was right for me.   Very often, there is no radiotherapy needed after mastectomy.   I've no experience of it but I understand Radiotherapy isn't without risk either so that's a big bonus. 

I didn't want the worry of the surgeon not getting clear margins with a lumpectomy, that must be incredibly difficult, especially if further surgery is needed.  With mastectomy I found the finality of it all very reassuring once I got used to it.

Wishing you all the best with your decision.  Once you've had your scan you will have the information you need to make the right decision for you.

Mary x

Hi Mary

Thank you for your response & it is so nice knowing that we are not alone with this. I am glad to hear that you made the right decision & it has worked out for you. I would definatley want reconstruction as I am not small breasted & they have told me that i will not be as big as i am now but to me that is a small price to pay for getting rid of cancer. I have always told myself that if I did get breast cancer & that it was down to a faulty gene that i would deffo get a double mastectomy, i alway think that if you remove the problem then the future looks brighter. Now i have breast cancer & do not know if I have the faulty gene my head is spinning. I am leaning more towards a mastectomy now i have done some research. Even though there is still a chance of a reacurrance of it getting it again & chances are slightly less with a mastectomy. I am so pleased that you are coming out of the other side. Are you getting any more treatment? or is that it for now? 

Take care

xx

Hi Mary

Thank you for your response & it is so nice knowing that we are not alone with this. I am glad to hear that you made the right decision & it has worked out for you. I would definatley want reconstruction as I am not small breasted & they have told me that i will not be as big as i am now but to me that is a small price to pay for getting rid of cancer. I have always told myself that if I did get breast cancer & that it was down to a faulty gene that i would deffo get a double mastectomy, i alway think that if you remove the problem then the future looks brighter. Now i have breast cancer & do not know if I have the faulty gene my head is spinning. I am leaning more towards a mastectomy now i have done some research. Even though there is still a chance of a reacurrance of it getting it again & chances are slightly less with a mastectomy. I am so pleased that you are coming out of the other side. Are you getting any more treatment? or is that it for now? 

Take care

xx

Hi Kat,

It must be very difficult for you to make the decision at the moment.  I think you said you were having an MRI?  This horrible inbetween time waiting for tests and results is awful.  Once you've got all the information you need you can make that informed decision with your consultant.  
 

I totally get how you are leaning towards mastectomy, I felt the same and it does have its advantages, notably you won't usually need radiotherapy afterwards.  
My treatment has finished and was just surgery and hormone therapy (Tamoxifen) for now.  It does give me some comfort that they have taken the breast off, it's gone and I'm told, God willing the cancer is unlikely to return.

Prayers and thoughts for you and everyone going through this, you will get to the other side, keep going taking it a day at a time and stay strong.

M x