The 2 drs I've seen disagree over the extensiveness of treatment needed, mastectomy or lumpectomy, due to the type of cancer it is. One says comedo is like a rattlesnake and mastectomy is the way to go. The other says, "I'm comfortable" with a lumpectomy and radiation.
A pathology website said, "the tumor spreads extensively through duct walls beyond the extent of its visible confines. Thus excision margins frequently contain tumor and the technical difficulties of ensuring complete excision frequently demand mastectomy." Who is right????
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Q: Is infiltrating ductal carcinoma more serious when it is comedo type?
Answers (2)
4/ 1/09 5:02pm
Sorry, Pokey, there's no "right" here. It's all informed opinion. At some point you just have to say "this is the opinion I'm going to follow." You need to step off the cliff, not knowing where you'll land. It's tough; but cancer is tough. You have to give up your need for control, and just move forward with faith that things will turn out.
Here's my opinion, if you want another: you can always have a lumpectomy first, then a mastectomy if they can't get clean margins. But, you'd want to consider an initial mastectomy if you're a very worried person; if you're the type (you'll know this about yourself) who's constantly second-guessing your decisions, wondering "What if...?"
Good luck - PJH
4/ 1/09 5:34pm
This is just my opinion, for whatever it's worth.
I had a lumpectomy, but didn't have clear margins - so a week later I went back in to get a modified radical mastectomy. Three years later the cancer returned to my chest wall, so more muscle was removed. In the past 4 year between my initial surgery and multiple reconstruction attempts, I have had 7 breast surgeries. I know that I am the rare exception, as most women my age don't even have cancer once let alone twice. So my suggestion is if the thought of more than 1 surgery bothers you, I'd recommend educating yourself and making the best informed decision that is right for you. No one else can really decide but you, it is your body afterall and you're the one that has to live with whatever decision is made.
Best of luck to you!
Angi
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By Pokey— Last Modified: 12/27/10, First Published: 04/01/09
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