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rebecca0623 · 09-24-2008, 04:42 PM

First - you have come to the right place for thoughtful responses from women in the same situation. This is a great resource and has been endlessly helpful to me in all aspects of selecting treatment.

I ultimately chose lumpectomy with a reduction mammoplasty and lift. My breast size was large enough for this to work on me without too drasctic a result (D cup) but I will have left breast done to match after radiation and it has settled in. it has already fallen from what was a great height (too high for me and my age I thought) and looks very natural. I had some moments of thinking I should have had bilateral mastectomy and my deciding factors were - I did not want inpatient procedure if it could be avoided and I did not want implants. I do no think that I would be happy with prosthetics as I am wearing one on the lifted side now and I find it very annoying. Also, my genetic BRCA1 and BRCA 2 test came back negative so that was further corroboration for me. I don't think there is a wrong decision and I will be thinking of you as you make your choice and sending nothing but good and positive thoughts your way. Do let us know how it goes for you.

09-24-2008, 04:42 PM	#21
rebecca0623 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee Posts: 48	First - you have come to the right place for thoughtful responses from women in the same situation. This is a great resource and has been endlessly helpful to me in all aspects of selecting treatment. I ultimately chose lumpectomy with a reduction mammoplasty and lift. My breast size was large enough for this to work on me without too drasctic a result (D cup) but I will have left breast done to match after radiation and it has settled in. it has already fallen from what was a great height (too high for me and my age I thought) and looks very natural. I had some moments of thinking I should have had bilateral mastectomy and my deciding factors were - I did not want inpatient procedure if it could be avoided and I did not want implants. I do no think that I would be happy with prosthetics as I am wearing one on the lifted side now and I find it very annoying. Also, my genetic BRCA1 and BRCA 2 test came back negative so that was further corroboration for me. I don't think there is a wrong decision and I will be thinking of you as you make your choice and sending nothing but good and positive thoughts your way. Do let us know how it goes for you. __________________ Dx June 2008, Age 44 Mother Dx age 54, deceased 1.2 cm tumor right breast, grade 3, ER 4+; PR 3+ HER2 +, invasive ductal carcinoma Quadrantectomy right on 7/30/08 Path report, all 3 nodes taken were clear!!!!!! Lymphatic/vascular invasion and sent out BRCA testing Port in on 9/2/08. Chemo began 9/3/08. TCH (MUGA wrong - echocardiogram says 65% cardiac MRI 59% 9/10/98 elevated liver enzymes, PET scan 9/16/08 all clear. TC ended 12/17/08 Port blood clot and hosp. 1/2/09 radiation begins 1/8/09 BRCA testing done - results NEGATIVE! cardiologist said go back to coreg as it helps counteract heart effects of herceptin and slowly increase dosage - now 40mg daily.