masectomy

hi sandy,

i had lobular cancer diagnosed Dec 2010, after lumpectomy it was found to be invasive loular cancer and i went on to have chemo and mastectomy X 2.  the breast surgeon was happy with the suggestion of bilateral but the plastic surgeon was a bit suprised.  I had expanders and implants as that was the simplest surgery. the last surgery was june and i was back at work 4 days a week in july.

no way i would want to do chemo again, yuck, bald, sick, eyelashes gone etc.  with fibrosystic breasts anyway i would have ben panicing about every new lump- and I had lots of them.

the mastectomy was about what i expected but i felt that having both sides done did not make it twice as bad!

the plastic surgeon felt i would look better with more 'volume' as he did the reconstruction ("better to kick a goal than a point") and i have gone from a very small A cup to a C.  No more padded bras!

went through all the treatment with a very positive attitude but now look back and do feel sorry for myself!~  in short very happy to ahve gone the double.

Helen

Thanks ladies!!!

It is all food for thought, I mull it over and find myself on a seesaw of indecision.  I have found that if I discuss it with people who do not have breast cancer most look at me as if a I am totally nuts for considering it. But these same people dont see me post chemo for 10 days when i am feeling so sick, I never want to have to repeat the chemo again!  My husband says he will support me regardless but ultimatley it is my decision.

I am not a person who goes to beaches and I now regularly walk around home with my bald head, I am not sensitive about it but find others are so I cover up when people who arent direct family are here so the slightly unbalanced look doesnt worry me (I think) but the emotional loss I think may get to me.

Sandy

Hi Sandy, I found out in March this year I had grade 2 breast cancer, and had the option of having the lump out or a mastectomy, I decided on a mastectomy as I would have worried myself sick about it returning. My lump was 15mm and I had 15 lymph nodes removed all negative for cancer.

It is now 7mths on and I have an appointment in November to see about getting the other one off and reconstruction at the same time. Fear of it turning up in the other breast is a worry.This decesion is right for me, everybody is different.You have to do what is right for you.

Big hugs Debbie

Hi Sandy, I have just remembered another reason why I considered, and then chose a prophylactic mastectomy 2 weeks ago. It was a very sensible comment from my 22 year old daughter. Her comment was based around the fact that, no one knows what exactly causes breast cancer, so, what can I do differently to prevent another one. Already I had done all the things that should make me low risk, and that didn't help. Her reasoning was, if it has happened once, and I don't know what to change, then possibly it could happen again. I had absolutely no pressure from hubby or 4 kids to do anything, but the sighs of relief when I made this choice, helped me to realise that this was certainly the right thing for my family and me. It is now 2 weeks, and I'm so delighted with the early stages of reconstruction. Both look very even, and the scars are both the same, and it is great to have a small breast mound. Next week I will start weekly infils of 100mls each till we reach the correct size. I have already lost that large cavernous appearance that was left from my first mastectomy 9 months ago. Good luck with your decision, and the remaining chemo. Love Chris xx

Hi Sandy and Julia, The one fact that played heavily in my mind was when the breast surgeon told me that 20% of breast cancers are missed on mammogram. I never knew this before, and it really annoyed me. Yes, I know that every time you have a mammo, they tell you to still check your breasts between visits, but never did they say there is such a large % that is missed. I have always been very dilligent and in the past, when a lump has been felt, I've always had a mammo with an ultrasound. Once I reached 50 I went onto the screening program, and with nothing suspicious no ultrasounds were done. After years of hot flushes I decided to give HRT a go, but not before my screening mammo at 52 gave me the all clear. I had 3 lovely months without hotflushes, but became concerned about an old thickened area, which had been checked out before. Fortunately, because I was HRT, and always a little worried about using it, I decided to see my Dr who suggested an ultrasound. This thickened area was normal fibrous tissue, but underneath, a small 4mm cyst like lesion was discovered. No one seemed concerned, but we did a fine needle biopsy just to be cautious. I wasn't even the slightest bit concerned about those results as the lump in question was ok, and I knew that the mammo had also been ok. This is why, I decided that I would always find it hard to believe a normal mammo. The other thing about a double mastectomy for me was the greater choice for reconstruction. Being only a B cup, I have a better chance at even breasts with them both done. I figured I would have needed the remaining breast operated on anyway,as it was droopy after breast feeding 4 kids, and I didn't want scar tissue to hinder future mammos or ultrasounds. That was something that concerned my breast surgeon.

Hi Sandy and Julia, The one fact that played heavily in my mind was when the breast surgeon told me that 20% of breast cancers are missed on mammogram. I never knew this before, and it really annoyed me. Yes, I know that every time you have a mammo, they tell you to still check your breasts between visits, but never did they say there is such a large % that is missed. I have always been very dilligent and in the past, when a lump has been felt, I've always had a mammo with an ultrasound. Once I reached 50 I went onto the screening program, and with nothing suspicious no ultrasounds were done. After years of hot flushes I decided to give HRT a go, but not before my screening mammo at 52 gave me the all clear. I had 3 lovely months without hotflushes, but became concerned about an old thickened area, which had been checked out before. Fortunately, because I was HRT, and always a little worried about using it, I decided to see my Dr who suggested an ultrasound. This thickened area was normal fibrous tissue, but underneath, a small 4mm cyst like lesion was discovered. No one seemed concerned, but we did a fine needle biopsy just to be cautious. I wasn't even the slightest bit concerned about those results as the lump in question was ok, and I knew that the mammo had also been ok. This is why, I decided that I would always find it hard to believe a normal mammo. The other thing about a double mastectomy for me was the greater choice for reconstruction. Being only a B cup, I have a better chance at even breasts with them both done. I figured I would have needed the remaining breast operated on anyway,as it was droopy after breast feeding 4 kids, and I didn't want scar tissue to hinder future mammos or ultrasounds. That was something that concerned my breast surgeon.

Thanks Chris and Sandy and everyone,

I find that everyone(except those on this site) thinks it is mad to be thinking of removal of other breast when nothing has been found, but they can not know the worries that one feels about this.

With me, I also imagine that if I was to have recon. on the absent breast that I would also need something done to other one anyhow as it is quite large and think it unlikely that they could match "new " one to it.

Yes, I am suffering a lot with chemo too and still can't lift my left arm above about 70 degrees nor sleep on that side(lymph glands removed in May)so dont want to get it again.  It seems to me from my readings here that many of us have had a second one in the other breast within about 6 years of first- I guess though those people are likely to be the ones who are still on this site.

Julia

Trouble is my gut feeling changes weekly (very bad on chemo weeks) and I guess that is why I am confused. I also feel thet boobs are so much tied up with sexuality feelings (right or wrong, that is the way it is) and I also worry about this (I am married and am 47 years old) . I still have a couple of months to decide but obviously dont want to regret what i have done later. Most of the women who have chosen this option seem to say it takes a weight off their mind in the long term. I find that reassuring but once it is done , there is no going back, although obviously reconsrtuction is an option.

 

sandy

Thanks Chris for your post

Don't boobs always cause trouble! I find myself envying your peace of mind in your decision as I feel confused and unsure. Liike you, i breast fed 4 kids, have no family history and was low risk.

Chris, You are right though, the mamogram diagnosed a lump (located about 2cm above nipple) but truly hid the size, the tumour had grown to 80mm and had twisted around and under the nipple, this was easily seen and felt and literally became evident between the doctor visit (not evident) and the mammogram (could be seen and felt)which was about 10 days later. But it didnt show on the mammogram at all, they said it was probably a blocked milk duct but the surgeon said it was definitely part of the tumour. I guess this has scared me, it shows mammograms are not infalliable and do not show the correct size. Therefore my hesitation in believing future mammograms will pick up anything sinister! And I also worry about the cancer in the lymph nodes!

I have tried discussing this with my husband but he is as confused as I am. I have another 4 treatments of chemo yet, then they will do the masectomy. Chemo really sucks, I get bad nausea and am exhausted for about 7-10 days after. Therefore I do not want to have to do this in another few years, the upheavel to my life is huge, I am not a good patient!!!

Thanks for the input and gives me food for thought. Feel free to stay in touch. Good luck and I hope all goes well for you

 

Sandy