Is Mastectomy Right for You?

Mastectomy may be the right choice for you if the following is true for you:

• If the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters, you will probably need a mastectomy. Depending on stage and other factors, some tumors smaller than 5 centimeters may still require mastectomy, although others may be addressed by lumpectomy.
• If your breast is small and a lumpectomy would leave you with very little breast tissue, your doctor may advise you to have a mastectomy.
• If your surgeon has already made multiple attempts to remove the tumor with lumpectomy, but has not been able to completely remove the cancer and obtain clear margins, you may need a mastectomy.
• If lumpectomy plus radiation is not an option for your small tumor (for example, under 4 centimeters) because you have had prior radiation to the same breast, you have a connective tissue disease (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), you are pregnant, or you do not want to commit to daily radiation treatment, you may need to have a mastectomy.
• If you believe mastectomy would give you greater peace of mind than lumpectomy, you might decide to have a mastectomy.