BEFORE MD NO TO MASTECTOMY NOW RECOMMENDING

[wmaker]

a very close friend had MBC HER2 + last 2 years ago with fractured 11 bones, she underwent radiation, IV chemo, ibrance, falsodex, xgeva she was a mess. Not knowing if she's going to survived and by a miracle from above she is on remission. Oncologist and surgeon onc. recommending to have her mastectomy to the breast where her cancer started. Any experiences of this situation and how did it help your condition? Thank you all, appreciate input.

[Nocillo]

I had two tumors in the right breast and had a mastectomy before any treatment at all. Had very extensive bone mets at same time. I started then on Faslodex and Arimidex and Zometa and that lasted 5 1/2 years. Cancer went to stomach lining and now I’ve been on Ibrance and Tomoxifen and Zometa for a year. Scans are still looking good. Not sure why some oncs hesitate to do mastectomy. I wanted those tumors gone! Good luck!

[USIrishcolleen in reply to Nocillo]

Nocillo,

My cancer started out with a 5 cm tumor in my right breast. I too, just wanted the tumor the heck out of there. I thought that would be the first thing they would have done. No, I was on Ibrance and anastrozole for 10 months. In that time the tumor shrank to 1/2 the original size. They took the tumor our, with a partial. After 18 rounds of radiation, I was switched from Ibrance to Verzenio, and anastrozole. I had cancer in one of the 18 lymph nodes that they removed; that they had biopsied, and knew was cancerous. I was put on Verszenio as a systemic treatment.

So, I understand wanting to get the tumor the heck out of there!

Best,

Colleen

[8576 in reply to USIrishcolleen]

Hi Colleen: Had a mastectomy in Jan. 2020. Glad I did. The opinion of the local surgeon is that it is extensive surgery for the hip tumour. I have met\s also in both lungs.

Cheers, June S.

[Hazelgreen]

In my opinion, your friend has been through enough. She does not need to undergo further surgery, especially if she doesn't wish to do so. Since her cancer has already metastasized, a mastectomy can do nothing to change her situation. Systemic MBC treatment will help shrink tumours anywhere in her body, including her breast.

[wmaker in reply to Hazelgreen]

thank you Hazelgreen and to every one who shared their own experiences God bless and healthy journey to all.

[8576]

I had a mastectomy in Jan. 2020 because of tumour pushing through the skin. Glad I did. Cancer has never returned to that site. Two years later I am stable but we are all different with different degrees of Cancer. Wishing you well.

Cheers, June S.

[Sharon0122 in reply to 8576]

I have cancer pushing through the skin, Mets and now osteoporosis. Was diagnosed in June of last year. They refused to do surgery. I’ve been on Ibrance for six cycles it has not gone away. The tumor has shrunk to half its size and Mets are gone, had radiation. The sore on the outside never healed on my underarm. The cancer is also gone in my lymph nodes. Am in the process of changing oncologists due to a move and he is talking surgery. So I’m thinking. Thoughts?

[8576 in reply to Sharon0122]

Hello: We are all different but it seems to me, that if it is pushing thru then you will have a permanent fungating wound. Therefore, why not have it removed? I hadI mine removed and I am glad

Cheers, June S.

[Sharon0122 in reply to 8576]

Thanks!

[8576]

Don't know why my mail is so slow. Just got this today.

Cheers, June S.

[Hidden]

I had cancer pushing through the skin. I was told it would never heal but I was on Ibrance and leterzole and the cancer pushing through did heal. I praise God for that. I was taking Xgeva which turned into a nightmare. Had to have an operation to put titanium bar in jawbone and it took a year for that to heal so I could get my teeth fixed. Finally got teeth repaired with a cost of 17K. Started taking Faslodex after being taken off Xgeva. Shots hurt so bad when the nurse gives them to me. Have little bumps all over my butt from the shots and she cannot give me a shot in one of those bumps. All of the tumors have shrunk in size and now my Onocologist says I can take scans every six months instead of every three months. It does scare me because I am so afraid what can happen in 6 months.

I have something different that has happened to me recently. I sleep all the time. Is anyone else experiencing this? I will be reading, watching TV and I just go to sleep. Please let me know.

[Discocat in reply to Hidden]

Hi, May be ask to have your thyroid hormones levels checked. I had this when I had hypothyroidism. When thyroid is under-active it can make you fall asleep a lot.Take care, best wishes… Zoe xx

[Hidden in reply to Discocat]

Just had an ultrasound on thyroid but everything was fine. Did it because my brother had thyroid problems and my Onocologist wanted me to have mine checked.

[Adele_Julia]

I had the unpleasant experience of having breast cancer Stage 2 initially in 2019. Then it was a lumpectomy, chemo and 2 months of radiation since some of the lymph nodes under my right armpit showed external nodal extension. Low and behold a year and a few months later in July of 2020, the tumor came back in the precise same location. I was then diagnosed with MBC in November of 2020. At that time, I should have lopped that right girl off right then and there. Unfortunately, my onc wanted to use that tumor as a visual as to how I'm doing on Ibrance and Faslodex in between scans. That was all fine and good until July of 2021 when the tumor literally BURST through the skin and tore part of my implant with it. I remember yelling to my husband - Honey, my water burst ! While funny, what happened next was not. The hole was incredibly painful and we were scrambling to get a mastectomy by end of December 2021 but all Operating Rooms were booked already. I had to wait until Jan 17th to get the mastectomy. The pain on the right girl was EXCRUCIATING. I finally had the mastectomy done with complications due to the fact that I went through radiation and the skin was incredibly thin. That said GET THE MASTECTOMY ! In hind sight that girl would have been gone a year and a half ago. But everyone is different.

[Anita-B]

I was diagnosed in November 16, I had my Mastectomy Jan 17, I would have had it sooner but was unwell. Like a few other people have commented here I just wanted the cancer gone and did request a double mastectomy but they said no. Up until now the cancer has stayed in my bones. I know a mastectomy does not stop spread it it has already started but I felt I had to reduce this to the lowest point. I just hate this disease!!!!