Single vs Double

There are many reasons why people may decide to have a double rather than a single mastectomy. Many of these are personal and very valid for that person, but I am frustrated at the number of people who list as one of their reasons WANTING TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF RECURRENCE. Breast cancer CANNOT come back in the other breast. If you have cancer in the other breast this would be a separate NEW PRIMARY CANCER. Having cancer in one breast does increase your chance of having another new cancer occur in the other breast but this is not the same as a recurrence. The chance of this varies depending on the type of cancer and factors such as genetic issues. For many women this chance (of a new cancer) is only slightly higher than any woman's chance of getting breast cancer in the first place. In fact with changed lifestyle factors and hormone therapy for women with hormone positive cancer this risk may be quite low. For other women it can be much higher and may quite rightly play an important part in deciding whether to have a single or double mastectomy. So please do not think or tell people that you have had, or are having, a double mastectomy to prevent a recurrence. Removing the second breast will reduce your chance of a new cancer but will do nothing to stop the first cancer from coming back. A recurrence can only happen in the same breast or remaining breast tissue if you had a mastectomy, breast skin/muscle, lymph nodes or somewhere else (secondary breast cancer) but not the other breast. I just feel that it is important for people to understand that there is a difference between your chance of recurrence and your chance of a new breast cancer. Deanne xxx