Masectomy or Lupectomy? my friends tumor was shrunk down to 9mm though chemo but dr. still wants the masectomy

She has done 8 rounds of chemotherapy hoping to become a lumpectomy candidate. Anyone out there a breast cancer survivor with tips?

Yes, that sounds kinda small enough for lumpectomy...2.5cm is one inch (or 25mm in one inch?)... get a second opinion if you want...

They say lumpectomy plus radiation equals mastectomy. With lumpectomy you usually have to do several weeks of one hour a day times 5 days a week of radiation...this might be 1/2 hr drive each way plus wait time added on...and time off work every day (or take a leave for that added on to the chemo and surgery time)..FMLA is 12 weeks tops, I believe...will her employer be all that forgiving and/or flexible with that much time off?Sometimes employers are not very nice and can fire someone by making up other reasons, when really you being on the company policy raises their insurance rates...so they want to fire you..but avoid discrimination by making up stuff that they would not even glance at in other people doing...then you can't get unemployment either because you were fired (and can't prove discrimination)...

Radiation permanently changes the skin in that area...after burning and healing the area...

Sometimes lumpectomy leaves a small crater, depending upon where the tumor is and what the doctor decides...not exactly as pristine as one might think...

Sometimes with lumpectomy the surgeon does not get enough of a "clean margin" (area around tumor where there is no cancer)...so they have to go back and take a larger area...it is not common, but it can happen...leading to two surgeries..

I did not want to do the extra dragging out of the treatments, the extra time off work and driving, etc from radiation. But everyone is different and it is an individual decision.

My mom had 2 lumpectomys and never got clear margins so had to have a masectomy and then did reconstruction after that healed. I know after talking with her, she would just have a masectomy and not do the reconstruction surgery as it was really hard on her. Now, they often combine the masectomy and reconstruction, so you don't have to do it as two surgeries.

9mm is a pretty big tumor--a lumpectomy prob wouldn't work b/c they'd ahve to take half her boob and she would look deformed. So, with the mastectomy she can have reconstruction and look better.

You must compare Mortality with Morbidity . Yes you are right , mastectomy is a morbidity and has negative impacts on quality of life , but tumor recurrence is an ominous sign and increase mortality rate , with a simple lumpectomy the risk of recurrence is more than mastectomy , so do not hesitate your mind and proceed with your doctor's opinion .

I agree with Kathy Louise that the size would mean taking out a really big chunk anyway. If the dr. is recommending the mastectomy, then why wouldn't she do that? Have her contact the American Cancer Society office in your area. They are wonderful! I just finished up chemo treatments. Had a 2 cm. lump removed in Dec. and there is quite a "dent" there. I start radiation Monday and they've told me that now one side will be a bit larger than the other, but the ACS has things that I can put in my bra to make me look "even" again. Best part it, it's free of charge. I would not be able to afford it otherwise. Definitely have her talk to someone there. Feel free to email if you need to talk. I'll be keeping you and your friend in my prayers.

Maybe there is a concern about affected lymph nodes, or other spots in the breast that are suspicious. I had three lumps, the biggest being 4cm. I had a mastectomy, and eventually a preventative mastectomy. I just didn't want to worry about every little thing I found. It wasn't worth it. I was 29 years old when I was diagnosed, and I had (and still have) a very supportive husband who would rather have me than my boobs.

But it's a personal decision that each individual has to make, based on what they know. Please be sure to tell your friend to make an educated decision, learn all she can about her cancer, before she makes a choice. Good luck!

17 years ago the use of pre-surgery options wasn't available. It was either lumpectomy and radiation or mastectomy, usually followed by chemo or chemo and radiation. I opted for mastectomy as I wanted the cancer OUT ! My tumor was over 2 cm and would leave my breast misshapen anyway, with the lumpectomy option. My only regret is that I didn't choose reconstruction but, at that time, it would require 2 separate operations. Apparently, the choice worked for me . I had no recurrence in 17 years.