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I went with the lumpectomy

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I was diagnosed with HER2+ breast cancer and ER+/PR+ plus I had some DCIS tissue behind the tumor.  My doctor gave me the choice of mastectomy or lumpectomy but told me the outcome of success of treatment would be the same so I went with the lumpectomy which allowed me to keep my own breast tissue.  Also...silver lining....I was able to get a breast reduction (bilateral) and breast lift all covered by insurance as part of the lumpectomy surgery.  Because I wanted the breast reduction I was able to tell my surgeon to take really wide margins when removing the cancerous tissue.   The plastic surgeon teamed up with my breast surgeon and I had both surgeries at the same time.   I am happy with my decision to do a lumpectomy as there are many risks with total mastectomy and much longer recovery time as well as reconstruction surgeries to deal with. With total mastectomy you usually don't do radiation.  Because I did a lumpectomy I had to do radiation but I felt it was the easiest part of my treatment plan compared to everything else.  IF the cancer were to ever return, I would choose a mastectomy at that point but here's to keeping fingers crossed that it never returns!


   
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