Mastectomy options

cdsouza

I am looking into having a mastectomy for BRCA1 cancer risk reduction....I really would like the nipple sparing surgery, but am not really familiar with the other types. Has anyone had nipple-sparing prophylactically?

CAZ

My surgeon would not do nipple sparing since the amount of breast tissue increased the risk of invasive cancer.  I had skin sparing and will have the nipple rebuilt in the future.  Good luck with your decision.

Carol(AZ)

darkfairy

Yes, I have had nipple-sparing surgery - I was high risk because of hyperplasia (both ductal and lobular), fibrocystic disease, multiple recurrent fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumours. It looks great *BUT* less than a year on, I have a new lump, it looks like a cyst on the scan. You know where it's growing? Right by the nipple that was left on...

Given the choice, I think I would have seriously considered losing my nipples first time around - I don't have any sensitivity in them although they do "react" to hot and cold and I nearly lost one of them due to blood flow problems after the op. Sure it makes the breasts look more "normal" but I've since seen some really good reconstructed nipples. I think it depends on whether you're having a proph mast for family history reasons or whether you actually have something growing there already.

cdsouza

Thanks...actually it IS for family history reasons....no cancer, but BRCA1 positive. I was told by the first oncologist I saw that BRCA pos women should not have nipple sparing, but the breast surgeon from SLoan Kettering said it was fine depending on body type...smaller breasts and small frame seems to be better. I guess I feel that  a surgeon from a major institution would know more than a small town oncologist...but maybe it's just what I wanted to hear.