I agree with Tanya. I wish I had had a bilateral mastectomy the first time! Unfortunately I ended up with BC in the other breast after having a mastectomy in one side 7 years earlier. If I had had both done at the same time I would have saved myself from having to have chemo this time around :( However, it wasn't right for me at the time and I think that is what you need to keep in mind. Make sure that whatever decision you make is the right one for you. Your surgeons will tell you what they think is the right way to go.
I'm certainly not saying "Get a Mastectomy" but just remember that you don't stop being a woman if you do decide to have a mastectomy. My husband still loves me even though, now, I don't have any of my original breasts! I will be the perkiest one of all my friends as we grow older!!
I truly don't know what decision I would have made if I had had the choice to have a lumpectomy at the time I was diagnosed the first time.....my children were only 5 and 8 at the time and I was only 35. It would have been a huge decision to make and luckily for me one that I didn't need to make. This time I did have the choice but didn't hesitate in opting for the mastectomy as for me it was important that I was sure that it wasn't going to come back again (I didn't want to go through it a third time!).
I hope you can find peace with your mind and make a decision that you are comfortable with :)
