Is there a trend for bi lateral mastectomies now ?

Lisa, thank you . Good idea- I shall ask. I also have a benign tumour on my left lung according to ct scans. No growth in the last 8 years but also worrying . xx Bep 

Dear Beppie,

It's Lisa from the Policy Team. I just wanted to jump in and suggest that you might like to talk to your medical oncologist again about your concerns that breast cancer may return. Your medical oncologist will be able to give you the best advice based on your breast cancer pathology and your individual circumstances.

If you would like more information, you may also wish to call a Family Cancer Centre in your local area. Here is a list of Family Cancer Clinics around Australia.

Warm regards,
Lisa 

Thanks for that. Yes it is a personal choice and I now regret not insisting on a bi lateral mastectomy due to the large numbers of affected family members . My reconstruction was a disaster and are totally asymmetrical and lopsided. This was purely the surgeons lack of skill even though the photos of other women he'd done were fantastic. My aunts family have a BRCA gene but I don't . They have all died from breast cancer including my cousin ( the granddaughter ) who had her's removed prophylacticly at 30 years of age. hope you improve with your recovery . xxxx Bep 

I do believe it's becoming more and more common these days.....spurred on by Miss Jolie :/

My right breast had to go after chemo....and after a lot of thought and consultations....I decided to have bi lateral purely based on the size of my tumor the likelihood of it returning in the other breast AND the fact that due to my naturally large breasts would make it near impossible to get satisfactory result in reduction to match the reconstructed breast....My mother had breast cancer and although I have not been tested for the gene...my situation was analysed by the genetics team and it was found that it would be less than 4% chance I carry it....I am 12 days post op and I think I would find it hard to have this surgery purposely......if no cancer at all was present....it's a very very personal decision to make though.

Same here... I had a lumpectomy wide excision too but must day when I really understood the gravity of my BC grade which was post surgery there eere times I wished I had lopped it all off...

If the bastard comes back I guess I jump over that bridge then but honestly not sure how/what I would do...

I am more and more worried that docial media make mastectomy a preferred and even expected choice / option for women where they are not warranted. But then upon disgnosis there is such confusion, jumbled up advice and information for most of us that I have no idea how any woman remains sane muchless makes the right choice so all we can do is run with our decisions and hope we do not neex to make them again

Jel.

Hi Beppie,

I agree, I don't think there is a push at all for Mastectomies, it does depend on each individual diagnosis of course and personal choice. I had DCIS 5yrs ago and at 4yrs last June I had a recurrence in my scar tissue, IDC Stage 3 aggressive. I couldnt do rads as did that 4yrs ago, so did chemo and lumpectomy, lymphs clear and wide margins. Everything else is fine, happy and healthy. however, my Breast Surgeon and Oncologist are now recommending I have a Mastectomy purely as it was a recurrence.

Ive decided I dont want to go through this again or Chemo, so im doing the Mastectomy/diep flap reconstruction hopefully, but I am only doing the unilateral as Ive never had issues in the other breast. 

I have no family history apart from my Mum, so I feel doing this will put an end to it all. 

My Breast Surgeon said last year, that the lumpectomy he did was as good as a Mastectomy so it wasnt necessary. Its more the Oncologist pushing it now as it came back against all treatment.

Good luck with it all.

Melinda xo

Hi, 

thanks for replying. I've had both lobular and DCIS both in the same breast but different times - 5 years apart. The second wasn't picked up on mammogram or ultrasound , just my breast surgeon wanted to be sure before I started on yearly reviews instead of 6 monthly. I had a core biopsy and 5 tumours were found. It was just a shadow like a lost lymph gland as reported on the ultrasound but turned out to be 5 DCIS. xxx

thank you, I think maybe having a female surgeon would make a difference. At least she'd understand . Just as well you did as it turned out to be necessary with your pathology results. xx

Hi Brenda, 

thanks for that. My breasts were large to start with but I wasn't really worried about the look of only one. The lopsided look I got used to but I really wanted just to look normal again - or close to being symmetrical. I had to wait 2 years before reconstruction was available do to the nature of the operation - having muscle removed as well as the mastectomy and the burns from the radiation. My skin was so tight and stretched there - it left me with little choice for reconstruction . xx 

Hi Jel

yes it's hard to choose . Never know which way to go and no gaurentees either. I think the surgeons have preferences too and they sway opinion too. It just depends who you see I guess. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but we don't get that , alas ...... If I'm unlucky to have it again I'm going to stick to my preference as ultimately it's my body .