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I have been where you are. I too am stage IIIA and they wanted to do a lumpectomy on me. But I think it HAS to be a personal decision. We are all different. What's right for one....might not be for another. Many women want to save their breast and I can't blame them.
For me personally...I have been married for 26 years...and I was just terrified of then not getting clear margins if I went for the lumpectomy since my mass was almost 4cm big. Had my lump been smaller...I probably would of went for the lumpectomy. My thought was how much breast would be left when my mass was so large? Plus my husband said he didn't care...he just wanted me around. So I went for the mastectomy for those reasons.
I too had lumph node involvement. I know I was told MANY times from doctors and all kinds of other people that has dealt with this decision that lumpectomy is just as good as mastectomy. So I wouldn't worry too much...especially since your surgeon said he got the clear margins.
One of my biggest concerns BEFORE I had the surgery...I was advised that sometimes with lumpectomy...they CAN'T get clear margins and I might have to have another surgery to get clear margins...and sometimes women go back up to three times. (Not often..but it does happen.) I just could NOT DEAL with the thought of several surgeries. I just wanted to get the cancer out and get moving on treatment.
Since your surgeon got clean margins...you should be fine. I know how hard it is to make all these decisions. Its not easy thats for sure.
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