2nd Diagnosis

Hi, I have had recently 2 lumpectomy surgeries without clear margins and subsequently had MRI which exposed multiple high grade recurrence areas. I lost confidence that the surgeon and the diagnostic tools had any idea of what was going on in my breasts. Not their fault, simply just dont know. So I made the very difficult decision to have a bilateral mastectomy. While the cancer we knew about was only in the one breast, I have decided to remove them both for a couple of reasons. Firstly no diagnostic tool can detect early DCIS, so my untrained logic is that there might be cancer developing in the other breast; that I never want to possibility of breast cancer again, I have read so often about women who have had a lumpectomy and have recurrance or new primary; that I will be the same on both sides after reconstruction (or even if I don't reconstruct), a feeling of being balanced. Basically, I decided it was the best thing i could do for the best chance to never have breast cancer again. I felt I owed it too my family to do the most I could do. I hope my experience is useful. It was the hardest decision i have ever made, but as soon as i made it, i have never looked back and feel confident its the right thing for me. (my surgery will be March 2013). Good luck with your decision and your future treatment. Warm hugs, Louie