Not sure what's to come...

When I first went to see the oncologist after my mastectomy last May, my husband (after talking this over with me) asked for the facts about my situation to help us decide on the best treatment options. I was given the odds for not having a recurrence for each treatment option. If I chose to have just the surgery (I had had a mastectomy remember) and radiation my chance of NOT having a recurrence was just 33%. Removing the other breast would do absolutely NOTHING to improve this chance. My best chance of not having a recurrence was to have chemo, radiation and start hormone therapy. As well as this I do everything I can to be as healthy as possible. It is very, very difficult to continually read other ladies giving people advice (with the best of intentions I am sure) about removing both breasts to give peace of mind about recurrence. For those of us with more advanced stage disease and higher chances of recurrence (and that recurrence cannot happen in the other breast, my chance of getting a new primary cancer in the healthy breast is more like 3%). Removing my healthy breast would not give me peace of mind. Please consider how women in my situation and their families feel when they hear others promoting the idea that if more women took the drastic action of removing both breasts that they could avoid a recurrence. THIS IS NOT TRUE AND IT HURTS! I wish that removing my other breast could give me peace of mind but that is not the case, and my quality of life is better with it. I know that some women are at a higher risk of having cancer occur in both breasts but this is not the case for the majority of women and your doctor is the best person to give you the statistics for your situation. Choosing to remove your healthy breast should be based on accurate information. It is a choice that many women feel more comfortable with and they should have that choice. I simple ask that they are thoughtful and accurate with what they tell others about the situation. Deanne x

I am sorry to hear of your situation at the moment but will fill you in on what I went through.  At the end of July this year after a routine mammo/ultrasound they located a very small IDC which intiially required a lumpectomy followed with 6 wks of radiation.  I was then sent for an MRI which then showed an area of DCIS.  I was advised that now that there are 2 areas of concern in the one breast it was necessary for me to have a mastectomy. As it is apparently difficult to detect changes in my dense breasts I decided on a bilateral mastectomy and concurrent reconstruction.  The surgeon did not try to talk me out of it and I think he was somewhat agreeing with me, though these days the drs are all for breast conservation.  After being sent to a psychologist by the dr to assess my mind set, he was satisfied that I was ready for this mammoth surgery. 

Let me tell you that it was the best decision I have ever made.  At no time have I ever thought that a wrong decision was being made and I am thrilled that I made the right decision for me. 

No longer will I need any mammograms, ultrasounds and MRI's as this would have been the story for me on a regular bases to keep an eye on the other breast. 

I want to live my life without fear and not have to go through the worry of waiting on results for each future scan.  I was a double D and would have needed extensive surgery on the other side to match the newly constructed breast.  So off they both came and have not looked back. 

I am currently undergoing the reconstruction process with the expanders which are not a piece of cake but it's only for 3 months (which seems a lifetime, but will be behind me before I know it).  Then will drop a couple of sizes and become a C cup.  Something I am really looking forward to!! 

When I read and hear stories from others who have had recurrences I wonder whether they would all be in the same boat had they had a more drastic approach.

  I am one of the luckier ones who did not need any chemo, radio or hormone therapy due to the drastic measure of removing both breasts when I did.  I would recommend it to anyone who asked me and though it is not a walk in the park, it is a comforting feeling that all will be well soon and the cancer has gone!

Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decide.

 

Thanks Tonya.

I had radiation on the side that is to be removed in 2004...so not much different to you.

I supppose that I'll just go with what my Dr suggests as 'the best thing' as he sees it, and go from there...ugghh, so much to think about, I feel like my head is numb and exploding all at the same time. 

You're right, I'll make my decision after a few more answers, and a lot more reading.

:-) Janet

Thank you to everyone for your replies. I am pleasantly shocked at how many messages were in my inbox today...it is such a great feeling to be connected.

My appointment is tomorrow (Monday) and I will post an update of the suggestions / treatment options (if any) and my plan of attack!.

Thanks so much again,

Janet x 

Thanks Tonya.

My appointment is tomorrow, so will discuss all the options (if there are any) with my Dr. I trust him, so thats a good start.

x Janet

I had a mastectomy on my right breast in 2008 and felt good about everything then had a few scares with lumps in my left breast so decided to have it off on 1st of April 2010 and have felt comfortable since not lopsided only have to be aware of the shirts I buy. I now have secondary breast cancer on my lungs and liver and am having treatment which seems to be going slowly but working. Hope you keep well. Maxine

So sorry you are facing this again. I had a single mastectomy in May last year. I was not able to have immediate reconstruction and did think initially that I would have the other breast off and double reconstruction after chemo and radiation. But at this stage I have made lots of changes to my life and I am satisfied with using a prosthesis and keeping my 'good' breast. I recently had to be refitted for a prosthesis as I had lost about 9 kilos. I had gone down 2 sizes and it did run through my head that this would have been a problem with a single implant reconstruction. You can always do further surgery later on but make sure whatever you decide is what you really want. Things can change. Take care. Deanne xxx

I am sorry also that you have to go through this again.I had a single mastectomy 12 months ago,and I am small breasted.I definitely know now that I should have had both breasts off,but at the time,I wasn't so sure.Hindsight is a wonderful thing right? Like Tonya says,if you are not sure,you can always decide later about the other one.All the best with your decision.CheersxoxRobyn

I am sorry also that you have to go through this again.I had a single mastectomy 12 months ago,and I am small breasted.I definitely know now that I should have had both breasts off,but at the time,I wasn't so sure.Hindsight is a wonderful thing right? Like Tonya says,if you are not sure,you can always decide later about the other one.All the best with your decision.CheersxoxRobyn

So sorry to hear you have to go through this crap journey again.The same thing happened to me.I had a lumpectomy,full node clearance and radiation back in 2003. Well so much for clear margins and 6 weeks of radiation- cancer came back in the same spot 7 years later.It was a 3cm area picked up on my routine mammo. So in 2010,I had a mastectomy,chemo and then Tamoxifen.I didn't really think about having the other breast off or recon at the time- just wanted the cancer gone ASAP. I''m a 16c and I wear a prosthesis to balance me.I'm used to it now but I hate being lopsided when I take my bra off. My mastectomy side is very puckered which is probably due to the radiation. I can't wear low necklines-have to alter my tops.I think about recon but can only have the DIEP type which is very big surgery and I'm not ready for that.I'm also not so sure about having the other breast off.So status quo for now. Good luck with your decision and if you're not sure then just have the one off .You can always decide later on about the other breast.Big hug, Tonya xx