Gotta have one mastectomy...Should I just have two?

Peggie – This  is simply my opinion, but please think very hard about a double mastectomy. If it comes back (and I’m wondering where that 1% to 3% increase in risk per year figure comes from – is it reliable?), then deal with it then. Just think, in 10 years they’ll probably have all kinds of new and better surgeries and treatments.  And in the meantime, you will have kept your breast. Which is a good thing. Remember, once you have a mastectomy – no breast feeding, no erogenous zones. Just numb tissue.

A bilateral mastectomy does NOT lower your risk of dying from breast cancer. Yes, it lowers your risk of recurrence; but doesn’t increase your survival rate. And yes, you can still get breast cancer in the chest area even after a double mastectomy, though obviously, the chances are lowered considerably.

The skin-sparing mastectomy isn’t a new procedure, relatively speaking; probably about 10 years old. The nipple-sparing is newer. Is it safe, how does it look…? Those are questions for your surgeon. And yes, doctors remove perfectly healthy breasts all the time, particularly for women with the BRCA mutation. Many women have their breasts removed because they’re just plain frightened of cancer. Not something I’d do; not something I did. I had a mastectomy 8 years ago, due to a cancer that was, in fact, much more likely to also affect the other breast. But so far, so good… And I’m SO glad I didn’t have my healthy breast removed.

Hope this all helps you make a good, informed decision - PJH

P.S. Like your new picture!

Hello

I just had my Mstectomy... 3 weeks ago. and I do have some doubts now that I should of had the other one taken off as well, but I am fiding the healing precess of the one hard enoiugh never mind two. Although,I will be starting Tamoxfien.. next month and was told that that is pretty 98% guranteed that it will not go to the other breast. Yes, it is hard decision to make but I wanted some part of  me to still be there. One thing I will let you know that I did not not have any drains put in and have been filling up with fluid. which is painful, so get the drains sometimes dr's do not see the need to put them in. If you have any other questions here is my email address. dmpt7@verizon.net

Good Luck to you....

I had a mastectomy 4/09 on the right side.  I really wanted to have both done but insurance wouldn't cover it.

I wanted to have both sides done because:

      1.  decreases the 3% per yr. of odds of BC in other breast

      2.  I would be even on both side so I wouldn't be a C on one side and a 0 on the other.  I wouldn't have to wear a bra all the time even in lounging around the house.

      3.  it would be only 1 surgery, not 2

Carolyn

I had a lumpectomy first and found out I needed a mastectomy of the left breast.  After careful and prayerful consideration I decided to have both breasts removed.  Testing of the tissue showed 3 different types of cancer in the left breast.  After a year of chemotherapy and herceptin treatments the cancer still spread to the center of the chest and both collar bones.  I completed another 8 months of chemotherapy and praise God am now in remission!  I am very happy with the decision to have a double mastectomy.  I feel more secure knowing it cant attack the other breast....especially since it was spreading in that direction.  Funny as it sounds, I feel even having them both removed.  I will eventually have reconstruction done but right now do not want to endure anymore pain and suffering and just want to get healthy and feel better for a while.  I wish you luck with all your decision....it is truely a personal one to make.  Listen to your body, heart and pray.  You will make the right one.

Hugs, ~Kirsten

Every one has to decide for themselves.

My experience is that my first Dr. wanted to a lumpectomy and told me that chemo and radiation would have to follow.  I did not want the treatments so I did some investigating.

If I had a mastectomy I would not have to have the treatments. I decided to get a double mastectomy(from another Dr) for several reasons,

Number 1 -I world never have to go through the anxiety of hearing that my mammogram would    have to be redone with compression mammograms and I would not have to have any more biopsies, I had those scares 5 years apart.

Number 2 -I had family histories of cancers.

Number 3- I wanted to eliminate the chances of the cancer showing up in the other breast, and Number 4 -I wanted the reconstruction done at the same time the mastectomies were done  so that the result wold be pleasing. I still wanted to feel and look like a woman when it was all over.

My plastic surgeon created new nipples with a surgical technique called " modified skate flap" then when that healed he tattooed the areola in. I must say I am happy, Healthy, cancer free, and have very nice TA TA's for a 61 year old.

This is a precarious question and only you can decide for yourself. As younger women diagnosed with breast cancer, our cancers tend to be very aggressive in nature and  other variables such as her2 receptors, tumor size and location, etc, according to research point to the fact that a recurrence is a strong possibility. Where one is mentally is a huge variable to take into consideration as well. Do not worry about one breast looking different than another....reconstruction will take care of this. I am a soccer player, run, lift weights, do not smoke, occasional glass of wine, have two kids, and yep got those b sized breast and no body fat.

I disagree with one of the former posts in that after a double mastectomy that it is 'dead' tissue. This is not the case.......when the situation is that you are fine with yourself and that accordance is with your mental process.....you will adjust and your sexuality will be as beautiful and confident.....as a matter of fact, because of this journey, your aura will transcend the normal.

Tumor location is to be taken into consideration. My tumor was in a location in that after radiation, I would have to deal with a level of deformity....ummm no thanks....I have too many years left and lovers to conquer thank you very much. I opted for a mastectomy on my right side. Further preop tests revealed suspicious cell formation on the other breast and that we would have to keep an eye on this one....I sayed we are not keeping an eye on anything....I cannot have this in my head. I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate tissue expanders put in. I have a high tolerance for pain and as younger women, we have skin elasiticity that I think makes this process easier....in retrospect...I did not remember the role my breasts played in regard to sex....

Sex. This part sucks as my brain is trying to rewire that portion of my biological process. Toys, lubes, massage oils....are the fun things that I have indulged in with my new boyfriend in an effort to "make up" for that zing i use to get from head to toe.....BUT FOR ME.....it is worth it because my estrogen charged, her2expression +, grade 3 cancer..inductal carcinoma has nothing to come back to. Yep this is what I have to deal with for the rest of my life....but perspective is huge....errogenous zones? hahaha please,,,,,I am so much more than my tits....however, the guys on my soccer team say I have the nicest rack they have ever seen and it is sexy that I am part of a group of women who define warrior...........as far as ten years down the road....stay in the here and now.......yes there will be new research and unless that research entail NOT CUTTING....there will always be a level of numbness......even nipple sparing mastectomies....I went to Dr. Paul Smith at Moffitt cancer center and he is a genius.

I WILL NEVER REGRET HAVING BILATERAL MASTECTOMY.  THAT ALONG WITH TOMOXIFEN REQUIRED NO RADIATION OR CHEMO