I had the options as well when I was diagnosed with DCIS just a few months ago. I chose mastectomy for multiple reasons. I did not want to do 5 years of tamoxofin, or any other medication. I was also told that if I had lumpectomy, I would have 6 weeks of 5 day a week radiation. I was also told this radiation, due to the positioning, would potentially kill some lung and possibly heart tissue as well. I mean, I kind of need my lungs and heart, breasts, not so much anymore. Also, the kind of personality I am, I know that every day for the rest of my life I would worry that the cancer had returned. I would be a nervous wreck. It really would haunt me, that is just how I am. So it was also chosen for peace of mind. I am now one month out from surgery, and yes I am tired and sore and have a ways to go regarding full mobility and reconstruction, but it is worth my sanity in the long run.

I was diagnosed with IDC in December and chose the bilateral mastectomy because I didn't want to go through the radiation treatments that go along with a lumpectomy. I had my surgery in January and had expanders in at that time. I am about three weeks away from my surgery to have my implants and am very glad I chose the option I did. I did end up having to go through four rounds of chemo and my oncologist is highly recommending I do five years of drug therapy and his first choice is Arimidex which I will starting in July. Honestly the recovery from the mastectomy was not as bad as I had anticipated, but now that the expanders are at full capacity it is very uncomfortable and I am anxiously awaiting the surgery to replace them. Hope this helps and good luck with everything.

I made the decision to take them all, I was not playing when it came to taking the chance of having it come back, am not saying this to scare you but the horror stories I have heard, I just didn't want to go through it and I had a double mastectomy and some lymph nodes under my left arm taken, I am cancer free to this day and I was not going to be in and out of the doctors office for any reoccurring lumps that may or may not have come back or spread to the other breast that was good. I know I made the right decision and I feel great and I got through it an you will too, you and only you know your body well and you think long and hard about what they tell you may happen or may not happen, good luck to you in your decision, and whatever you decide know this, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! and we will all be here for you if you have any further inquiries! be well my friend!

My story is similar to yours. After lumpectomy no clear margins I chose prophylactic bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstruction and I do not regret my decision.

@A MyBCTeam Member/linae - my cancer was at the top, near my breast bone and below close to the chest wall. That's why I told them to take the breast. I caught it quick but as I said in a prior post it came back quickly. So you are correct lumpectomy, mastectectomy, it can come back and the margins are important.

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