For Miss Hamel. Need for mastectomy
Dear Miss Hamel,
My mom's case of breast cancer does not have any node involvement. She is ER positive and PR focally positive. And yes, her's is a case of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. The doc she is consultaing has suggested that a mastectomy be done in order to rule out the possibility of a recurrence. Although she is ok with it, I was wondering if there was any way it can be avoided. Do you think she can avoid mastectomy and still ensure the non recurrence of cancer?
Regards,
Keerti
Hi Keerti - Unfortunatley, there's no way to rule out the possibility of a recurrence. With infiltrating cancer the possibility will always be there. You can lessen it with a mastectomy. You can "lessen it less" with a lumpectomy. In other words, mastectomy would make a recurrence IN THE BREAST nearly impossible, while it wouldn't rule out a recurrence elsewhere. Lumpectomy would make a recurrence in the breast possible, as well as recurrence elsewhere possible. So, it's a roll of the dice... It's playing percentages. I'd ask your doc what the percentages of recurrence are for lumpectomy and radiation, vs. mastectomy; in either case, she'd be taking tamoxifen or an aromatse inhibitor for years afterwards, so that will help, too. Good luck - PJH
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