risk of cancer on left breast/started on the right

kpthfaith2

risk of cancer on left breast/started on the right

kpthfaith2

I have DCIS on the right breast which my Onc. said is not the normal because the BC starts on the left side so I am more likely to get cancer on the left breast. I am on Tamoxifen so I am praying it will keep the cancer away.

Anyone know of the risk? 

MarieKelly

I have never heard that breast cancer only starts in a left breast. Are you sure you understood him correctly?? There was a poll done here some time ago asking people which of their breasts was the one diagnosed with cancer, and just from those responses it was obvious that there was no specific breast more likely than the other to get cancer. 

mke

I hadn't heard about BC starting on the left either and I have a vague memory of that thread about which breast you had BC in. 

I have heard that you are more likely to get BC in the other breast than a woman who has never had BC.  That makes sense - whyever you got it in the first place - genetics, history, diet, other factors - is probably still there.

In retrospect, if I had known that before the 2nd BC, I would have been a bit more vigilant.  I got overconfident after 6-7 years.  So I would say, don't worry too much but be careful.

Beesie

kpthfaith2,

What your doctor said makes no sense whatsoever.  Breast cancer can be in your left breast or your right breast.  It is slightly more common for breast cancer to be found in the left breast, but that's something like 52% left breast, 48% right breast, which still has a lot of breast cancer starting on the right side.

Anyone who has been diagnosed with BC one time does face a higher than normal risk of getting BC again, in either breast.  Generally, it's about double the normal risk, but this varies based on other risk factors you may have, your age, family history, etc..  If you have a lumpectomy, your risk to get BC again affects both breasts.  I'm not sure if the risk is equal for both breasts or if the risk is higher for the cancer breast.  It's certainly not higher for the other breast.  If you have a mastectomy, obviously the risk is primarily for your remaining breast (although there remains a slight risk to get BC agains even on the mastectomy side).

sharebear

If that were the case, someone should have told my right breast. I had it there first 12 years ago. My second cancer was in my left breast.

Sharon

sunbird

I was diagnosed with cancer in my right breast & was told that about 15% of patients get it in that breast. At the time of my surgery on the right breast & breast reduction on the left breast, the tissue on the left breast was found to be cancer free.  I was not told that I have a greater chance to get cancer in the left breast.