Forum Discussion
Single or double mastectomy
Since being diagnosed with Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer in March I have been pretty clear that I want “a double mastectomy, no reconstruction and fab tattoos”. My breast surgeon is actually the guy who first broke the news to me when I ended up in hospital thinking I had an infection and I have seen him twice since. He has always said that having a double didn’t make recurrence less likely (I have a tumor in my right breast and there were some cancer cells in my lymph nodes) but that we will take about it nearer the time. Well, I see him next Friday prior to finishing Chemo in 2 July and my oncology says surgery will be around three weeks after that so now it is time.
I know I am the only one who can decide but would love to hear from others who had to make the same decision. Lumpectomy is absolutely not an option, it’s one or both off. I am also wondering if choosing a double will have cost implications, I have found out about gap fees in the private system the hard way so if he says it’s not medically necessary is that the choice taken away from me as I certainly can’t fund it? I would be very grateful to hear what others did.
I know I am the only one who can decide but would love to hear from others who had to make the same decision. Lumpectomy is absolutely not an option, it’s one or both off. I am also wondering if choosing a double will have cost implications, I have found out about gap fees in the private system the hard way so if he says it’s not medically necessary is that the choice taken away from me as I certainly can’t fund it? I would be very grateful to hear what others did.
36 Replies
- Well done on making a difficult decision. Be gentle with yourself over the next six weeks. Big hug, K xox
- Gawd, the ' like' button doesn't really cut it, but I'm glad you've decided on a course of action.
This shit is really hard and confronting. It's life changing stuff, but what choice do we really have? Everything is maybe, possibly, most likely... It's difficult to assess the evidence. In the end it's up to us to decide what we are willing to do.
Personally, I made a similar decision and don't regret it. Mxx - Well, appointment with my surgeon was today and my double mastectomy is booked for 1 August. It’s nice to have certainly. Not sure what I was concerned about as his only response to “I want a double” was to say he wasn’t surprised that was my decision. I’ve been feeling really low for the past couple of days but knowing I’m nearly on to the next stage of this roller coaster ride cheered me up. Hope everyone else is ok this evening x
- If they won't do what you want them to, whatever you decide that is, get another surgeon. Mxx
- Mt rationale is very much like yours @Igray so I am hoping the conversation with my surgeon is an easy one 😊
- I opted to have a double mastectomy. My surgeon recommended single mastectomy but I insisted on having a double. They weren’t happy about doing it but I had to follow my gut and double mastectomy was the only option that made sense to me. Best decision I could have made for me. I have 2 small boys and I only plan on doing this once so threw everything at it. Chemo, radiation, herceptin etc... I’m not planning on going down the recon route at this stage. Couldn’t face another surgery at the moment and not sure why I would do it. My husband doesn’t care so not sure who I would be doing it for? I just want a healthy body and padded bras work a treat for me as was only an A cup before cancer! Good luck with your decision and just follow your gut! Xxx
- Love the analogy @AllyJay, I might steal it at my surgeon’s appointment on Friday if I have to! My plan was to go down the mental health route if necessary. The psychologist I am seeing happened to be at the Multi Disciplinary Team meeting where my case was presented and told me that everyone in the room was pretty much going WTF at the speed and shock factor of my diagnosis so I will use that in my favour.
- @AllyJay, I love your analogies. They just bring it all to something understandable.
I didn't have to make that decision. I had a lumpectomy, then re-excision. However, any recurrence or new tumour in either breast and they both go - You so make me laugh @AllyJay . I would have loved to see the look on her face when you proceeded to explain your reasoning, xo
- My left had gone feral on me and the right had "abnormal geography" according to the ultrasound and other scans. I insisted that I wanted both off and was initially given all the "Not necessary, that's overkill, we'll monitor you very carefully "routine. I then told my surgeon that I felt that my right breast was a threat to my mental and emotional health, as well as potentially my future physical health. I asked her how she would feel if she knew that a convicted rapist lived next door to her...and that he had a duplicate key to her front door. No amount of reassurance such as "He has to report to his parole officer twice a week. He's completed a course in how to deal with his perverted behaviour, he's wearing an ankle monitor, so we know where he is at all times" and so on would ease her concern. After that, she said she understood completely my fear, real or imagined, and would remove both. Good move, as it turned out...the right side "abnormal geography" was an area of precancerous cells which apparently have a strong history of going bad. I wear my "fake titties" when going out (sometimes), but otherwise go F & F. My one big regret is that I no longer have a handy place to keep mt crochet hook or pen for marking off knitting patterns.
