lumpectomy vs mastectomy

Hi,

I was just diagnosed with DCIS in both left and right breasts.  However, DCIS is in 2 different quartdrants of one breast.  I'm trying to decide which approach is best for the long term.  Lumpectomry/radiation + tamoxifen or simple mastectomy.  I'm afraid of the side effects of radition such as damages to lungs, hearts and ribs.  For those of you who have a similar case like me, would you please share your experience with me?  BTW, my HER-2 is negative.

Thanks in advance

NL

On 4/20/2009 l1624 wrote:

Hi,

I was just diagnosed with DCIS in both left and right breasts.  However, DCIS is in 2 different quartdrants of one breast.  I'm trying to decide which approach is best for the long term.  Lumpectomry/radiation + tamoxifen or simple mastectomy.  I'm afraid of the side effects of radition such as damages to lungs, hearts and ribs.  For those of you who have a similar case like me, would you please share your experience with me?  BTW, my HER-2 is negative.

Thanks in advance

NL

 

 

I would not do the radiation - too much risk to the heart and lungs.  Tamoxifen causes lots of problems for many women. There are natural ways to inhibit estrogen - pls see my blog:

my story

http://motherearthtreasurechest.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-stor

my regimen
http://motherearthtreasurechest.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-pers

Research has shown that many people who do not seek treatment for their cancers live just as long (or longer) as people who have surgery and get chemo/radiation.  Unfortunately I do not know any way to predict who might fit in that category. There is also some concern that surgery may seed cancer to other places, but many people do not accept that this could be possible. And many leading advocates of alternative medicine can point to evidence that tumors do not have to be removed for therapy to be successful in eradicating the cancer, especially if it has been caught early.  So to me the question of surgery vs no surgery is a toss-up. (I did not even consider alternative therapies with my first diagnosis in 2002 - have learned a WHOLE lot more about them since my recurrence was diagnosed in 2008.)  If it were me, and I chose surgery, I think I would have bilateral simple mastectomy, and I would at least consider having flap reconstruction instead of implants.  But I certainly would also give serious consideration to using natural therapy either in addition to conventional treatment. or an alternative to the tamoxifen and radiation.  Many foods, herbs and supplements really can be very effective at fighting cancer as well as boosting the immune system.

If you are interested in learning  more about alternatives other than the info in my blog, these are excellent sites:

 http://www.cancertutor.com
http://www.lefcancer.org
http://alkalizeforhealth.net
http://alternativecancer.us

If you want to try some supplements, many leading advocates recommend at the very least taking these 5 minerals, and I recommend adding a vitamin:

 selenium:  200 mcg/day (can start with 400mcg/day but only for a few weeks)
magnesium:  200 - 250 mg/day (350 mg/day max), take with food
zinc:  50 mg/day (can start with 100mg/day but only for a few weeks), take with food
manganese: 10 - 15 mg/day, take with food
calcium: 1200 mg/day

We need Vitamin D-3 to be able to absorb and utilize calcium. Our bodies manufacture D-3 if we get adequate sunlight (15 - 20 minutes exposure/day) - but I do not believe in leaving this to chance, so also recommend a Vitamin D-3 supplement, 1000 - 2000 iu/day (10,000 iu/day max)

I hope this reply has helped, and I wish you the very best as you make your decisions and move ahead with treatment.

Sincerely,

Tre

With DCIS the surgeon may or may not be able to get clear margins.  This is crucial that they obtain healthy tissue completely around the area.  If it can not be achieved then a mastectomy will have to be performed.  I had stage 1 BC.  It derived from a DCIS but broke through and became invasive.  I had the same options and choose the lumpectomy with radiation.  As mine was left sided there is the question of the heart hit by the beam but I used an experimental technique using a breathing mechanism that removes, in some cases all of the heart, in mine a small area was still exposed. I had this done over 5 years ago.  The one thing to consider with radiation is tha, as they say, it is the gift that keeps on giving.  It will continue to cause shrinkage of the breast tissue over time.  My surgeon intitially told me that once you have radiation you cannot have reconstruction but I fought for that as I lost quite a bit of tissue from an already modest breast.  I've had implants for 4 years now and have had to the affected breast tweeked once but I'm very pleased with the results.  Would you consider reconstruction if you opt for mastectomy??  Considering the DCIS is in two different quadrants of the same breasts this should prompt you to find out what the resultant cosmetic appearance may be.  This may influence you decision.  Get as much info as possible so you feel comfortable in your decision.  Know what they have in mind as far as extent of surgery in either case.  Again, with DCIS there is the possibility of not achieving clear margins and then the decision would then be mastectomy.  Best of luck to you!

On 4/20/2009 l1624 wrote:

Hi,

I was just diagnosed with DCIS in both left and right breasts.  However, DCIS is in 2 different quartdrants of one breast.  I'm trying to decide which approach is best for the long term.  Lumpectomry/radiation + tamoxifen or simple mastectomy.  I'm afraid of the side effects of radition such as damages to lungs, hearts and ribs.  For those of you who have a similar case like me, would you please share your experience with me?  BTW, my HER-2 is negative.

Thanks in advance

NL

 

 

I had a bilateral mastechtomy in 2006.  I was glad to be rid of the too large breasts that had been my enemies practically all my life.  I don't advocate for lumpectomy or mastectomy, it is strictly a personal choice.  It also depends on the type of cancer.  I made my decision based on lowering my percentage by as much as possible.  Each treatment lowered the percentage until it was down to around %7.  Good enough for me...I am 57 years old (not too old...not too young)  I think age has something to do with a decision like this . 

I have never seen this up for discussion before: when you lose your breasts, you lose your nipples and it can be bothersome in the sex department-depending ...I found it to be something I had not thought of and no one told me...just a thought. 

Your health is the main thing so My ultimate decision was with recurrance in mind.  I did have some cancer in the nodes (I waited too long) and so they told me the cancer "got loose" in my body.  I refuse to believe that cancer could live through chemo x8  and radiation x33.  Ask your docs to map out all your options and have someone with you who can write this all down for discussion later.  I wish  you the best and hope to hear you are doing great!