Hi All, First of all I want to thank you sharing your personal experiences and information on this network. When I was first diagnosed it really helped me to come to terms with my diagnosis and to not feel so alone. My question is has anyone had a single mastectomy and then gone back to have the other breast removed even without any recurrence in that breast? I am due to have a single mastectomy mid September and will not have reconstruction. I have asked for an aesthetic flat closure. As I am not sure how I will handle the worry and stress of detecting recurrence in the other breast, I just want to know if it could be an option to have it removed at a later date. Thanks!

Thanks @iserbrown I appreciate you sharing further information and will take a look.

@Julez When I wanted my remaining breast removed, my surgeon quoted similar statistics to me. Earlier on in the consultation, she had told me that the likely 'cause' of my breast cancer on the left side was a combination of factors. Gender, age, lifestyle (weight etc), alcohol use (minimal) and so on. She also wanted me to go on after chemo and surgery, to have letrozole. I flipped her argument over and said something like..."Well whatever factors which came together to cause cancer on the left side now, apply to the right side in future, with the added statistical risk of previous breast cancer. Also, you're very keen for me to have the letrozole, which you say will give me an added approx. 6% additional safety. Fair enough, but why is the 6% for the letrozole a significant number, yet you pooh pooh the 10% of a new and seperate cancer forming in the remaining breast"?...I added a lot more, using an analogy I've used before regarding my perception of threat in the remaining breast and she agreed to remove both. As it happened, the pathology on the removed right breast, showed a number of areas of abnormal cells which had a reputation of 'going bad', so I was very glad I pushed for it.

For the first 5 years I only had a mammogram on the remaining breast. After advice from ladies on here I now specifically request a referral for the mammogram plus an ultrasound on the mastectomy side as some breast was left !!!!! My understanding is that it is difficult for the surgeon to remove every bit of breast.

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+doubleHave 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

Removal of 2nd breast when no recurrence

29 Replies

lrb_03
Member
4 years ago
@Sister I have 2 guaranteed sick days a year. I have my mammogram & US one day and see my Surgeon the next, having travelled to Sydney for the appointments. My surgeon then gives me a medical certificate for the 2 days
Sister
Member
4 years ago
Thanks @afraser. I'll look forward to that. All done and they let me out without any rescans or seeming concerns so I'm assuming all's good but will find out for sure next week. Sitting in a coffee shop to get my head back together before going to work. Reckon next year I will just take the day off!
Afraser
Member
4 years ago
@Sister

Best wishes for your scan. I found the jitters abated after my fifth!
Sister
Member
4 years ago
I had ILC in my right breast and as is quite usual, it seems, the cancer was much bigger meaning I went from a lumpectomy to a mastectomy. At the time, my surgeon steered me away from a double. Fast forward a couple of years, and with apparently his own health scare, surgeon told me if I found I couldn't live with the anxiety of recurrence to book in to have the other removed. I think this was also partly due to the skin being good enough then for recon if I chose and that would be a one off procedure. I still have the other breast and no recon. Most of the time, that's okay but as today is my 4th year scan, I have to admit that I'm feeling quite anxious. (Not as bad as last year when I had a job interview later the same day which was then interrupted half way through due to issues with a suddenly called Covid lockdown.). Fingers crossed.
arpie
Member
4 years ago
How are you going @bookworm .... hope you are going OK
TonyaM
Member
4 years ago
Hi @bookworm,
Best wishes for your surgery. I’m a uniboober and I have a yearly ultrasound on mastectomy area and underarm when I have my mammogram on remaining boob.I think about having the remaining one off all the time(11yrs now).My surgeon is reluctant and I haven’t been fussed about it in lockdown.I see you are in Sydney- I run a bc support group in the Hills area.(not during lockdown)
arpie
Member
4 years ago
Well done on making your decision @bookworm xx. You'll be sleeping easier at night xx

All the best for your surgery - do you have your date?

take care xx
bookworm
Member
4 years ago
After another discussion with my surgeon I decided to have a double mastectomy which he agreed to.

It is a very personal decision and I am very happy with my decision. I am comfortable being flat and this is in part due to the surgeon doing such a neat job on the flat closures. However, I will wear prosthesis at times.

Something that helped affirm my decision was when I was getting ready for surgery and they inserted the hook wire. I had to have a mammogram to ensure the hook wire was correctly positioned. During the mammogram they had trouble getting a good picture of it due to the position and also my dense breast. I knew then that I didn't want to be having this trouble and the worry every year with a remaining dense breast.

Thank you for all your comments and sharing your experiences.

I will definitely be taking on the advice as previously mentioned and having mammograms + ultrasounds in the future.

xx
Afraser
Member
4 years ago
@Michelle_R
Take care with the seroma, the slooshing is a pain in the neck but infections are worse! Best wishes.
MicheleR
Member
4 years ago
Im wondering if the skin cut off (glamorous isnt it) on Friday was sent to pathology. Another lady im in contact with had scar revision of mastectomy site and cancer was found after pathology of skin. Could they tell by looking at the offcuts if anything suspicious?

Im sure i will get an ultrasound tomorrow as i have a seroma all along the new scar - slooshing away.

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Removal of 2nd breast when no recurrence

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