Breast Cancer Life4 Huhti 2025

50. Natalie Ditri Mastectomy vs Lumpectomy to Remove my Breast Cancer

I had a choice in terms of what would be the best option to remove the invasive ductal carcinoma that I had just learned was in my left breast. I had recently had a biopsy in a different part of my left breast. Given that there were 2 places that had the potential or were actually problematic, I opted for a mastectomy. I thought that if there were 2 problem areas, there were likely to be more problem areas in that breast. I did not want to take any chances on having more cancer. I also wanted to avoid needing radiation. By removing my left breast via a mastectomy, I was not likely to need radiation to the breast or chest. In addition to being convinced that there was a storm brewing in my left breast and even possibly other places that could be cancer (there were not), I wanted to avoid any radiation effects on the heart and lung tissues, which were situated nearby the left breast.

I share my personal assessment of the situation and why I chose to have a mastectomy in this episode. I also talk about my experience of looking back and wondering if the mastectomy was the right decision, nearly 2 years later and given the more in-deptch screening that I know have, knowing my risk for developing breast cancer. .

The content of this podcast is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a healthcare professional regarding your healthcare questions and concerns. This podcast contains opinions of the host.

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66. Breast Surgeon Follow-Up: 3 Years After Breast Cancer and a Mastectomy

It has been three years since my left skin-sparing, nipple-sparing mastectomy for the diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer). I just had my annual follow up with the breast surgeon....

19 Kesä 24min

65. Breast Cancer Surgery: Why it's Important to be the Person Having Surgery in the Morning Rather Than at the End of the Breast Surgeon's Day

I've been thinking a lot lately about my surgery back in 2023, when I was diagnosed with invasive carcinoma in the left breast. At that time, I chose to have a left mastectomy. I'm sharing what ...

10 Huhti 24min

64. Breast Cancer Surgery: Personal Experience on why it is so Important to Have a Second Opinion for the Breast Surgeon and the Plastic Surgeon

This episode I share what I learned recently that would've helped me more when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and seeking the guidance of plastic surgeon and the breast surgeon. My care ul...

3 Huhti 23min

63. My three year journey to get my life back after a breast cancer diagnosis

It's been almost 3 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. What has happened over the past few months is that I really took a pause from recording episodes. It really was not intentional that...

27 Maalis 18min

62. Breast Biopsy Results

I finally got the results of my breast biopsy and I talk about it in this episode. I waited almost 2 weeks, and at times it was very difficult. At some point before getting the results, I experienced ...

21 Tammi 15min

61. Natalie D'itri on Living With Uncertainty After an Abnormal MRI

It's something I never thought would happen although I was aware that I wanted to prevent it didn't hit me that it would be reality that I needed another biopsy because something showed up abnormal on...

9 Tammi 23min

60. Reflecting on the Time of Diagnosis

24 Loka 202514min

59. How Breast Cancer Robs me of my Future

After having a history of breast cancer, it makes you think about future dates differently. It may be that before I had cancer I thought about the next year's Christmas or birthday and hoped that ever...

19 Syys 202515min