have to make decision

Hi Jane. Its a terribly decision to make and you will make the right one. I had a choice of single or double mastectomy. Lucky I had over xmas to think about it. I would change my mind daily. My decision was made when I had an MRI. The surgeon wanted to make sure nothing was missed on my left breast when I had mammagram and ultrasound. The report came back no cancer but extremely dense breast tissue. Same as the right breast. Cancer can b easily missed with dense tissue. That made my decision to have bilateral. I am very happy with my decision as I wouldn't want to be doing it again as some women have. It honestly hasnt bothered me loosing both. At least i'm even . I just wanted the cancer gone and not grow in the othet breast. You will come to your decision. Dont be influenced by others. Its your body. My other is fine. He'd sooner have me than boobs he said. Good luck. Airlie x

Hi Jane, I'm not on the other side of the coin yet, but  made the decision today for a double mastectomy.  I have a rare lolbular cancer that is very aggressive. I have a good risk of it affecting the non diseased breast. I am only 50 and I am a worry wart so in conjunction with my doctor I asked him to do a double mastectomy and he agreed and supported my decision. I also made it because i am a big breasted woman (size E) and I have a friend who has been a qualified prosthesis fitter for 30 years and we talked about women she's helped over the years, the problems they faced as larger breasted women with back and muscle imbalance issues due to a remaining heavy breast and how most of them wished they'd had the second one removed at the time of the first mastectomy.

This journey is yours and only you will know what you are comfortable with. But for me, while its taken me probably 8 weeks to get to this one, I am confident that for me, a double mastectomy is the right decision.

I wish you all the best.

Hi Jane, everyone has personal reasons behind the choices they make.I had a lumpectomy,full node clearance  and radiation back in 2003.I was 47 and horrified at losing a breast.It wasn't aggressive cancer so I thought it would be a 'one off'.After the radiation,my breast shrunk and it felt uncomfortable to the point I couldn't stand my husband touching it.He just trained himself to go for the other one! It was really there to fill my bra. 7 years later cancer came back in the same breast(an 8% chance apparently) So I had to have a mastectomy and it looked awful due to old radiation.It's more confronting and abit of a pain finding clothes with higher necklines.I wear a prosthesis and once dressed,I forget about it.I'm a c cup and don't like being lopsided when undressed.I don't do do naked in bed. Intimacy is ok with one boob so I'm reluctant to remove that one too.I think about recon but I could only have the DIEP type which is HUGE surgery and I just couldn't face it at the moment. I had 3 operations on a broken ankle inbetween 2 breast cancers.Also,I watch my chest scar like a hawk for fear of another recurrence. Your story and situation is unique to you Jane.Once you've done your research, go with what feels right for you and have no regrets.Tonya xx

HI Jane

These are hard decisions. They will vary from person to person. I had a mastectomy - no real choice it was that or a partial mastectomy and I couldn't see the point of part of a breast!

No suggestion of a bilateral mastectomy (then or now). I have checked given a colleague who elected to have the other breast removed, just in case, and my oncologist can see no reason to do so. However there was no heightened gene risk, and I have no history of cancer at all in my family.Like many, I stand a higher chance (not particularly high, just average!) of getting cancer somewhere else rather than my right breast.

I did not fancy a reconstruction at the time and still don't three and half years later. My surgery was all excellent, quick healing, no pain, no movement limitations (can happen, usually short term,) but I did have a problem with fluid and, short story, am not in a rush for more surgery. I was 67 when I had my mastectomy but as concerned about my looks as any. It's a large scar (large boobs!) but I don't mind it, my husband certainly doesn't, and once I got fitted with a good prosthetic, I have been fine.

Best of luck with whatever decision you make.

Hi Jane - that is a very complex question where all the responses from us are not going to give you the definitive answer you need.  Your medical team is your best source of information. 

The type of treatment that you need after surgeries can sometimes influence reconstruction timing.

For me it was a mastectomy (one breast only) with immediate reconstruction;  woke up with a small cleavage as a result of having the expander put in place whilst in surgery. I found that hilarious and in time comforting.  Come forward a few months and I've had changeover surgery and very happy with the result.

As Anne Marie as eluded already there are lots of posts and information on here as well as your My Journey kit.

It is overwhelming but make a list of questions and be guided by your team.

Good luck with it all

Take care

Christine xx

Hi Jane,

So sorry you are facing all these tough decisions. As you are probably aware these decisions are affected by all sorts of individual circumstances, from pathology to breast size and personal situations.

I am happy to share my experience in case anything I have been through may be of help.

I never had a choice about lumpectomy or mastectomy because of location of my cancer. At first I was thinking take both and I'll have reconstruction. This was based on my fear of getting cancer in the other breast.

After my doctors explained that this was not necessarily a high risk for my situation, and that my priority should be in treating the cancer that was there right now, I went with a unilateral mastectomy. Immediate reconstruction was also not recommended because of the high chance that I would need radiation (which I did as I had 5 positive nodes and tumor against chest wall).

So I had the mastectomy, chemo and radiation and was then placed on tamoxifen for hormone therapy. I was 47 and married to my wonderful husband for 24 years at that point.

During those months of treatment I had time to research and think about what, if any further surgery I wanted to have. I was a D cup but lost weight after treatment (healthy lifestyle) which then left me a C cup. 

I decided that for now I would run with a prosthesis and see how I felt at my 12 month check-up with my surgeon ( she had left extra skin when she did the mastectomy so that reconstruction would be easier). 

Here I am almost 3 years from diagnosis. I am happy with my appearance with the prosthesis. It allows me to lead a very active lifestyle (including swimming). I think that for me I prefer to still have one 'real' breast as far as intimacy is concerned. 

So, do I regret any of my decisions? No.  I have not felt any pressure from my family to reconstruct but I was amazed at the number of people who seem to think that I am taking some sort of major risk in not removing my other breast. I trust my doctors advice that for me, there is no huge risk. 

I know that reconstruction is an option should I decide that I would prefer that at some stage in the future, but for now I am happy to enjoy being well. 

Wishing you all the best. None of our decisions are easy. Be guided by your doctors but ultimately do what you think is best for you. Take care. Deanne xxx

Hi Jane

I have sent you a personal message within this system.

Thinking of you.

Summer  :-)

Hi Jane,

I just did a quick search and found some other post's for you may be interested in reading - click here

~Ann-Marie