Removal of 2nd breast when no recurrence

Hello @bookworm - When I was diagnosed there was no mention of a double mastectomy being available so I had the urgent single.  I am now lopsided which can be a nuisance.
I worry every year so would like the other off but due to covid and other issues this is on the back burner for now.
I do think you get a better cosmetic outcome if having both off at the same time.
All the best for your decision and surgery - and if you want a double insist on it.  Your body, your decision.

Hi @bookworm 

I haven't had to make this decision & hope I won't have to - it is such a highly emotional decision to make, too - l can understand both decisions, for & against .....

I am sure others will jump on soon & tell you of their experiences, as had @June1952 .....  There have been a few discussions along similar lines .....

Perhaps you should raise the issue with your surgeon and see what they say?  Some surgeons may be against it, whilst others are mindful of the overall 'picture' and are aware of longterm psychological issues that may arise later too.

I did a 'search' on the discussions page & these are the results .....
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/search?Search=single+or+double

Have a bit of a read of what's been discussed before (some from many years ago, some more recent) 

All the best with your decision making xx

Hi there,
I was diagnosed with lobular cancer in my left breast August last year after feeling a lump.
I had been having regular mammograms every 2 years and nothing had shown up.
turned out the cancer was 5.5 cm so there was no hope of saving the breast.
I was an E cup so decided to get a reduction in the other breast with a view to going to C cups.
I had a tissue expander inserted in the left breast and then 28 sessions of radiotherapy.I didn’t have to have chemotherapy but am now on letrazole.
People kept asking me “ why not get the other breast removed too” and I said things like “ I am an optimist” and “ why have surgery on perfectly healthy tissue”.
However as time went by ( I had to wait at least 6 months after my radiotherapy finished for my reconstruction) and I had a long conversation with my breast cancer surgeon who gave me a chance of 10 % of getting cancer in the other breast ( I am 63) and said lots of his clients decided to have the other breast removed but it was a very personal decision.
He said to me “ are you the sort of person who pays the extra insurance when you hire a car not to have any excess?” ( YES that is me!)
I spoke to my ( female) GP, a friend of a friend who had had a double mastectomy in similar circumstances and also to Giovanna one of the lovely qualified nurses on the BCN Network ( sadly no longer with BCN) and that all helped me to come to the decision to “go the double” .
One other factor apart from the desire to avoid the annual “ scanxiety” wondering if I’d been unlucky enough to get it in the other breast, was that I was planning DIEP flap surgery and you can only have it once.
I have just had the DIEP flap surgery 4 weeks  ago and am very comfortable with my decision.
Its one of those things where only you can decide and there is no “ right” decision.I have heard that some surgeons are very opposed to removing a healthy breast where there is no genetic predisposition to a higher chance of cancer in the other breast, but it’s not them who will have to suffer the anxiety of wondering if they have to go through it all over again ( including in many cases another course of Chemo).
All the best with whatever you decide.

Hi @bookworm, I had a single mastectomy in 2016 followed by chemo & radiotherapy. I wanted a double mastectomy but surgeon wasn’t keen at the time. In 2019 I decided to have reconstruction & so had the other breast removed & a double Diep. My oncologist was against it but I was so relieved to get rid of it and couldn’t face any more mammograms. I am very happy with the outcome and just have a yearly ultrasound now as even though most of the breast tissue was removed there is a small amount left behind. 

Thank you @Julez1958

The surgery had been on the back burner while I was going through chemo but I had always thought that I would get a double.

A week after chemo finished I went to my appointment with the surgeon and unfortunately I was in a chemo brain haze and for some reason just shut down and took in what he said without really processing it. I didn’t even bring up the double even though I have discussed this with my family, oncologist and breast care nurse previously.

I also think I was on emotional catch up as the milestone of finishing chemo had been reached but I then had to quickly move into the surgery space.

I am feeling so much more clear headed now and will be making another appointment to see him so that I can have the discussion that I should have had before.

I like your surgeon's question in regards to insurance as I am also someone who will pay the extra.

Thank you @Glemmis

I am not sure if my surgeon is going to want to do the double but I feel a lot better knowing that I am going to now have the conversation with him.

It is great to hear how relieved you are after having the other breast removed and that you have had a good outcome.

Reclaim your Curves is an excellent resource 

Five things nobody tells you about getting a double mastectomy - Reclaim Your Curves

Information sheets - Reclaim Your Curves


Hope you find help and questions to ask of yourself and the surgeon

Best wishes as you work through what is right for you

Take care