Is there any alternative to this treatment?

[suzieb54]

I attended the clinic yesterday for the results of my breast biopsies.  The good news was that the micro-calcifications they found on the mammogram were benign.  However there is a small cancerous tumour just under my areola which needs to be removed by lumpectomy.  I have been told that it will be what is termed (in UK) a wide local incision and that I will lose my nipple due to the location of the tumour; it being so close to my nipple.  As yet there is no information whether it is a hormone driven tumour and I will not know this until Monday.  If it is I may be given Tamoxifen for a couple of weeks before my operation.  Also they do not know what stage or grade the cancer is until the lump is removed.  I am horrified at the thought of losing my nipple.  I was told that the only other alternative I have is to have a total mastectomy.  Is this true or is there some other way to get rid of the lump and spare my nipple?

[SueYoung55]

I'm so sorry you've got this weight on you right now. If the cancer wasn't near your nipple you could have done nipple sparing mastectomy. But honestly suzie, if the cancer is that close to the nipple you don't want it anymore. It's compromised by cancer. No reputable doctor would leave it on at that stage. Is saving a nipple worth the risk?

I had bilateral mastectomies with DIEP reconstruction and went back 3 months later where they created new nipples for me and 3 months after that I had them tattooed.

Think about it.... Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Cheerpul]

I am a patient, not a medical professional, so I do not know about all the surgical technique options.  Just under a year ago, I had a mastectomy due to microcalcifications (DCIS), which subsequently found a small tumor hidden under them.  
The shock of a cancer diagnosis is great and the treatment seems to be terrible, but I can tell you that even losing your nipple is not nearly what you fear it will be and that there are techniques to reconstruct breasts and tattoo a nipple that looks very good.  There are even prosthetic nipples that are very real looking.  

I had very small breasts and so have chosen not to have reconstruction, or to wear a prosthesis, since it is unnoticeable that I only have one breast in almost every outfit that I wear.  I have a very neat, smooth, horizontal line across my chest where my breast was removed.  After getting rid of the cancer and having chemo, I am honestly not bothered by my appearance at all.  My husband feels the same about me as ever, but with just a bit of amazement about the strength I have shown.  

The important thing is to get rid of the cancer and do all that you can in follow up treatment to keep it from coming back.  Your surgeon will be able to tell you if it is prudent to try to save your nipple or reconstruct one.  You can get very good results.     I am thinking of you.  Please let us know how things progress and let us be support for you.