posted
I understand your concerns because I had breast cancer 7 years ago. I had the same questions & they gave me the same options.
To me, the mastectomy seemed like it would be much more traumatic to the body. My surgeon recommended lumpectomy & radiation so that was my choice.
I got along fine & hope that you will, too.
My breast cancer was a fairly early stage. Had a lumpectomy & 25 radiation treatments.
Also, had 15 lymph nodes removed. It's my understanding that theories about lymph node removal have changed since then.
They were testing a new procedure that I think is done routinely now - checking the "sentinel" node. They injected radioactive material into the area of the cancer. Every 30 minutes they took a picture with the "Gamma Camera" to track the path of the material. Then in the surgery they checked all the nodes that were removed. Only the "sentinel node" had radioactive material. In my case, all nodes were negative for cancer.
The radiation treatments did not bother me that much. I drove myself each time (only a few miles), but would try to rest a while when I got home.
My only problem was that, towards the end, I had a radiation burn about the size of an egg, but they had things to help that. I have very fair skin, which may have contributed to the problem.
The nurse told me to let the air get to the area, but I told her - I'm in my 60s & considering the location, gravity's working against me!! Would have to stand on my head.
Your Lyme symptoms could be worse than mine, and each person's body reacts differently to Lyme meds, so check with your LLMD & see what (s)he recommends about the radiation versus mastectomy.
Also ask your drs (LLMD & oncologist) 1. if being on antibiotics for Lyme would have any effect on the situation - surgery and/or radiation.
2. if the mastectomy would be a greater strain on the body than lumpectomy & radiation.
3. would there be any difference in recuperation between the 2 procedures?
4. what your options would be if the radiation makes your Lyme symptoms worse.
If you have the lumpectomy - Since the radiation is to kill any stray cancer cells that may be present after surgery, I would recommend that, with your LLMD's permission, you have radiation. Not sure I'd want to chance the lumpectomy without radiation.
If I can help you in any way, just let me know. Think positive thoughts!! That helps!!
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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stymielymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10044
posted
a mastectomy if needed is the procedure of choice if the cancer has not encapsulated and has spred to other lymph nodes.
my wife had lumpectomy, prefered choice with radiation if the tumor is small and the sentinel node is negative. they do a frozen section in or and look at the sentinel nodde if that is clean they go no further.
mastecotmy is a devatating procedure nad many many more risks of infection, problems with lymphedema of the arm the lymph nodes are removed, and also major infection issues of the arm do to the fact that if you get a cut , there is no place for the infection to drain.
radition will make you more tired,but the arimdex they give you afterwards, cause more bad effects than the radiation. the arimidex they give for five years along with. a biphosphonate for osteoporosis. read my post on biphosphonates or google it. also google arimidex.
so these come with either surgery and worse than the radition. we were tough in dental school the KISS principle, keep it simple stupid. this applies to everythingin life. do the least that is necesaary to take care of the problem. btw: you should have them genetically test the tumor to see if it is an agressive tumor on fairly benign cancer. if it is the agressive type , i would go for the mastectomy, if it is an isolated tumor and one that does not metastsis then you should be fine with the lumpectomy,it aslo just leaves a dimple in the breast.
good luck,
docdave
Posts: 1820 | From Boone and Southport, NC | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
keh, Concerned because we haven't heard anything from you. Hoping you'll check in & let us know what your drs recommended.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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D Bergy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9984
posted
I do not know the answer to your Lymes question but if you take Curcumin, active ingredient of Tumeric the spice, it will protect your bodies cells from radiation damage. The quotes below is in the following link.
"The curcumin in curry seems to shut down genes that trigger the development and the spread of breast cancer"
"Radiation not only kills cancer cells, but it can also increase the production of chemicals that can cause skin damage, such as sunburn-like rashes or blisters. But researchers found that mice given a daily dose of curcumin for five days before exposure to radiation developed far fewer blisters or burns than mice that didn't get the spice treatment."
posted
I just recently was forced to make this same decision. It was a hard choice to make which I really did take my time making it.
I choose to do the mastectomy because I did not want to do the radiation! I felt that I could live with myself without a breast but was not confident that the radiation would not do any more damage.
This was 6 weeks ago and my surgery has healed up easily, nicely, and without much pain.
Posts: 51 | From Roanoke,Va | Registered: Jan 2003
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