Forum Discussion
Advice please...
Hi everyone. Am newly diagnosed (2 weeks) and have a few questions. A routine mammogram has got me here with the details that a biopsy has found cancer cells. A visit to the specialist didnt tell me anymore information other than I need to have the breast off. Pathology will then tell me what I have and treatment needed. Is this normal? I thought I would know what type of cancer I had, aggressive or not, stage etc before surgery and not after???
Also, specialist only recommends having the one off. When questioning him he says their is a slightly increased risk of it coming back in the 2nd breast. I would love to hear from others who have had to make the decision of one or two off and how they came to that decision. At this point in time i am thinking of having both off so that I wont worry about it coming back but would love to hear what others have to say. Thanks in advance.
62 Replies
So sorry to hear your news-what a shock for you.I know how you feel- one minute you are well and then the next you have breast cancer.You have come to the right place here at this network.You'll get lots of support and be able to vent your fears.We try to stay brave for our family so it's good to NOT be brave here.All choices are hard but the positives about a bilateral mastectomy is you won't be lopsided,no more mammograms or worrying about the"other"breast and possibly no radiation.However,whether you have one or two breasts off,it's still hard to get your head around it.I had a mastectomy 4 years ago and I'm fine now.I just wear a prosthesis.I won't say I'm fine with it but I have adjusted. Yes,keep very busy until your op but keep blogging back here and ask any questions.Big hug,Tonya xx
- Hi everyone. I am to have a double mastectomy in three weeks. I saw my surgeon yesterday and as I have cancerous lesions in both breasts, I have no choice. It is so overwhelming...i went for my 2nd yr. breast check feeling great and in a week I am fighting breast cancer! My darling husband and children have been so supportive, I know I have to keep busy..stay positive...but I am so scared.
- Hi my name is Sharl and welcome to the group
- Hi my name is Sharl and welcome to the group
Thanks so much......you have all been so helpful.
- Sorry to hear about your bc diagnosis but welcome to this network.Your first breast biopsy via fine needle or core procedure only tells you whether it's cancer or not. You will get detailed pathology after your surgery which also determines your treatment.I've had breast cancer twice and this happened each time.I've had a mastectomy and wear a prosthesis in my bra.To tell the truth,I just wanted the cancer gone as quick as possible and didn't think about the other breast at the time.I think if you have large breasts then being lopsided might be annoying- I'm a c cup so it's not too bad.Still having one breast with sensation might need consideration with regards to intimacy.Yes,it can be abit uncomfortable to lie on the mastectomy side in bed.Lots to consider but if in doubt,just have one breast taken now.You can always have the other one taken later or reconstruction later. There is no right or wrong decision- all bc decisions are awful!! Keep asking questions and then go with what feels right for you NOW. Big hug, Tonya xx
Thank you ladies. Unfortunately I have no choices.....the breast must come off which I can deal with fine. My dilema is one or two? I really just feel un-informed as to how necessary or important it is to have that 2nd breast off. My surgeon is not recomending it but will do it if I ask. As mentioned above, the 2nd breast 'could' contain nasties as well but as also mentioned above, give myself time and deal with what has to be dealt with now, the one, and maybe at a later time depending on pathology results, it may be necessary to take the 2nd off. Appreciate your thoughts.
- Hi Donna ; it's a tough decision but in the final wash-up it's one I think you can only make for yourself , your own life circumstance and what is going to "sit " with your psyche the most comfortably going forward . I ended up choosing to have a double mastectomy for lots of reasons and I would do it again in a heartbeat . I am comfortable , symmetrical, no more mammograms ever. I either put my prostheses in which look exactly like my old boobs ( granted they were small!) or I get around flat and free . As it turned out my " good breast" had a significant amount of precancerous changes in the ducts , none of which had ever shown up on any imaging , so it was a bit of a time bomb anyway . It is also now likely I may have the BRCA gene so it was a good thing as I would have needed the other breast removed anyway . It's so hard at the stage you are, because so much is still a bit up in the air until the final pathology is done and there is a clear plan of forward treatment . The surgeon explained to me that it's really important to go step by step . The tough part is that it means lots of waiting for pathology , test results etc which can do your head in a bit but it's the best way . Just tough at times ! We are all so different and I think sometimes the best guide is your own intuition . All the very best to you Donna with whatever decision you make :) xxx Karen
- Hi Donna ; it's a tough decision but in the final wash-up it's one I think you can only make for yourself , your own life circumstance and what is going to "sit " with your psyche the most comfortably going forward . I ended up choosing to have a double mastectomy for lots of reasons and I would do it again in a heartbeat . I am comfortable , symmetrical, no more mammograms ever. I either put my prostheses in which look exactly like my old boobs ( granted they were small!) or I get around flat and free . As it turned out my " good breast" had a significant amount of precancerous changes in the ducts , none of which had ever shown up on any imaging , so it was a bit of a time bomb anyway . It is also now likely I may have the BRCA gene so it was a good thing as I would have needed the other breast removed anyway . It's so hard at the stage you are, because so much is still a bit up in the air until the final pathology is done and there is a clear plan of forward treatment . The surgeon explained to me that it's really important to go step by step . The tough part is that it means lots of waiting for pathology , test results etc which can do your head in a bit but it's the best way . Just tough at times ! We are all so different and I think sometimes the best guide is your own intuition . All the very best to you Donna with whatever decision you make :) xxx Karen
- My situation did not allow for a lot of time to research before i had my first surgery. I figured that it was more important to treat the life threatening cancer i had than to remove a healthy breast. As my surgeon said i could always have this done at another time or in conjunction with reconstruction if i chose. I asked my oncologist to give me the statistics as a guide. It is such a difficult decision but I wanted to base my decision on facts as much as possible. The fact is for me, removing my other breast is not going to do much to improve my odds of not getting breast cancer again. I think unless you have a high risk of getting cancer in the other breast (some people do) that you really need to think about what you will achieve by a second mastectomy. Will it give you peace of mind? Will it make a difference if you want to do reconstruction? These are questions that your surgeon may be able to help with. If in doubt don't do it now. Give yourself time to research, you can always have it done later, but once you remove your breast, even the best reconstruction will never make it the same as a real breast. If only we had a crystal ball! Best wishes and take care. Deanne xxx
