HI ,I am 50 and have just been diagnosed with a 2nd breast cancer.
My first was high grade DCIS 5yrs ago and treated with lumpectomy and radiation.
I now have Grade 1 invasive but small growing cancer, oestrogen,prog + HEr2 Neg in opposite breast.
Needless to say I am completely devastated .Radiotherapy is not an option this time as I had a severe reaction to radio last time and am left with chronic pain in breast and chest wall which is being managed by a pain specialist .
My Breast surgeon feels that lumpectomy and tamoxifen should be OK but I definitely want to try and reduce my risk of this happen a 3rd time!
Am still waiting for gene testing .
I am pretty much happy to have a skin,nipple sparing mastectomy with implant for new cancer.
As I had radiotherapy cant have the same on previous breast, would need a DIEP flap and implant.
As my chronic pain is an ongoing issue and also have chronic pelvic pain, surgeons are keen to be as minimally invasive as possible, however agree that mastectomy on new side is fine but feel that should leave side that had radio alone and hope that wont get another cancer in that one. I am torn between wanting to reduce my risk of another cancer as much as I can and having to have major surgery with risk of ongoing pain Would really help talking to others who have been down this path before as feeling v scared and lonely
