mastectomy recommended

Debwa100

I really can't believe that it has been 5 weeks since my routine mammo.  Since then diagnosed with DCIS, had an MRI which then showed another small area of "something", also confirmed on ultrasound.  Had that biopsied to find out it was a small area of invasive cancer, and now the recommendation is for a mastectomy.  The good news is no chemo, no radiation.  My concern is should I just go ahead and remove the other breast (it is healthy).  I don't want to go through with this again, and honestly I'm a little vain, and don't want two different breasts.  Ugh!  Anyone else in this place? 

roseg

It's up to you about a bilateral. In terms of reconstruction women do seem to feel they have better symmetry with bilateral reconstruction.

Maybe you should talk to a PS and see what your options are. 

mom3band1g

I was.  I had my mastectomy 4 weeks ago.  I agonized over this decision. Only you can decide what is best for you.  Talk to a ps but ultimately you just have to go with your gut.  Everyone told me I would feel better once my decision was made.  For me....not really.  I climbed up on the OR table with tears running down my face.  I am much better now and being on this side is better than where you are now.  You are in the hardest place but it does get better.  Good luck.

Anonymous

Debwa100-

I was in your same place last December.  I understand how overwhelming it can be to try and figure out what the right thing is to do.  So many options with treatment, reconstruction, etc and not every doctor tells you the same thing.  Try to do as much research as possible, ask a lot of questions at every appointment and find a surgeon you are very comfortable with.

No one can tell you what the right thing is to do.  For me, I didn't want to have to worry every time I had a mammogram for the next 50 years.  I chose skin-saving, nipple-saving bilateral mastectomy.  It meant no chemo, no radiation, no Tamoxifen and better reconstruction options.  I am going through reconstruction now and when I am done my surgeon said you won't even be able to tell I had a mastectomy but I get the peace of mind knowing I have decreased my risk considerably.  Without the mastectomy I just felt the gamble was too high for me.  Whatever you choose, I wish you well. 

kcshreve

Since you are asking for opinions, you'll get potentially every kind of comment.  When I was in your shoes a few months ago, I did a bunch of research and read many of the threads here from real women - all the pros and cons.  Then, I had to go with my gut.  I just knew for me that I would deal with it all better with a bilateral mx.  I really weighed it out, double checked myself, and went with the decision with gave me the most peace.  For someone else it may be different.  I just knew.  In the end, my non-cancerous breast showed to have some suspicious tissue growth, but not cancer.  Maybe it never would be cancer, or maybe it would be.  I don't know.  I just know I had to go with my peace and let it be.

3jaysmom

i was in the same exact5 situation that u r in, now. a year ago.i knew myself, and i knew i had only "one shot " in me.my surgeon wanted to start with peices of the cancer breast.more tests he did, worse things looked. i never..thought there would come a day that i would beg someone to cut off both my breasts!!that's exactly what i did, tho. i knew if the "good" one went bad, i wouldn't have nerve left over 2 face it again.after surgery, we found the ca.breast had involvement 2 the chest wall;he had to do a modified radical there, and there was a and i quote "very suspicious amount of questionable tissue " in the "good breast" so, i had hit a home run!it isn't an easy decision 2 make; let me tell u the part i think is the best..they will always match, if you do both!!i didnt have reconstruction. my general health was too bad 4 that..i hope its an option 4 u if u want it...but, i get to choose what size,what shape etc. i want my breasts 2 be everyday, anfd, they always match, no chance of them trying to kill me! i'll pray ur gut or God will give u a little "nudge" in the right direction 4 u.do what "feels" best 4 u.know it's a great loss, and don't be afraid to grieve, and cry. a yr. later i am still sad that the "girls" had 2 go, and really relieved they r not there diseased anymore. I'll be praying 4 u, any direction u go.   light and love, 3jaysmom

Mantra

I was dx last July and had a lumpectomy in August. One margin was small and given the number of tumours found in the lumpectomy, the doctors decided a mastectomy should be my next step. No additional cancer was found in my mastectomy. However, if I didn''t go that route, I would have always worried. Last week I had a prophylactic mastectomy. I just didn't want to risk going through this again. Yes, it would have been great to only have to go through one surgery. But, it didn't work out that way. I'm going through reconstruction and both sides will be done at the same time.

Beesie

There are lots of discussions going on right now in other threads about the single vs. bilateral decision so you may want to check some of those out.

To your comment about not wanting two different breasts, while it's true that if you have reconstruction on one side and a natural breast on the other side that there will be differences, the degree of difference depends on the type of reconstruction you choose - the difference may be hardly noticeable if you choose to have a DIEP or GAP.  The difference will be greatest with an implant, and while certainly there will be a difference in movement, but from an appearance standpoint, many of us have very good symmetry even though we've had single mastectomies with implant reconstruction.  But, there is no guarantee.  By the same token, there is no guarantee that you will get symmetry even if you have both breasts reconstructed at the same time - my plastic surgeon warned me about that.  There are so many variables that are unique to each side that it's very possible that you could end up with one breast seeming to be a bit larger, or each breast falling differently and appearing to be uneven, etc..  Or, one side might heal perfectly and the other side doesn't.  It's not unusual to need revisions after reconstruction surgery and those who have bilaterals have double the chance that this will be necessary.

Here are some of the other current or recent discussions on this topic, where you'll get lots of dfferent perspectives and experiences, good and bad:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/751596?page=1#idx_14  

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/750039?page=1#post_1765906

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/751514?page=1#idx_12

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/750454?page=2#idx_35

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/749080?page=1

Edited to try to get the links to work.

Debwa100

Thanks, all for your comments. Thank you Beesie for providing those links, it made it much easier to find.  I still don't know what to do. Of course it is an individual decision.  I have to say at this point i'm leaning toward the bimx.  I would like to get more info on what types of recontruction is available.  I will be seeing my PS next thursday.