Anyone have prophylactic mastectomy?

grammajan627

Laurie, I wasn't taking Biotin so I'm not sure about stopping it - the doc will tell you. After my prophylatic BMX I was sore (not painful) - found it hard to get up off the couch/bed (can't push off with your arms). I dreaded dropping anything on the floor - it was a little too much to bend over and pick anything up. I had 4 drains - they are a bother. (I had 2 drains after TE surgery.) Couldn't drive for a couple weeks - and didn't want to look at myself (I did not have immediate reconstruction). It was a great day when I could finally take a shower. I was most comfortable elevated in bed with a pillow under each arm --- ahhhh!

I hope others respond who had immediate reconstruction to relate their stories. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

BonoboGirrl

My grandmother was diagnosed with ER+ BC (right breast) when she was 72. Had a single mastectomy followed by five years tamox. Within that five years she developed BC in her left breast and had to have another mastectomy.  My aunt was diagnosed with ER+/PR+ BC three years ago (left side). Not wanting to possibly have to go through it twice, like her mom did, she decided on a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy. When I was diagnosed with ER-/PR-/HER2+ BC (left breast) last year, I did the same; I didn't want to have to possibly go through the procedure and risks twice. I'm glad I did. At the time of my mastectomy the doctors thought (based on mammos, ultrasounds, biopsy path *and* MRI) I only had DCIS, but the mastectomy path revealed that it was IDC.  And, btw, BRCA negative!

grammajan627

Anne Marie: Courageous decisions! And yours saved your life. I was very suprised (& and think my long time surgeon was as well) when my pathology on both breasts revealed the same prolyphic ductal and lobular atypical hyperplasia - it was rampid and ready to transform - so I'm sure I saved my life as well - or at least saved the treatment. The surgeon and the radiologist were quite concerned when the cells traveled from the ducts to the lobes. I've been following the diagnoses on members - most have ductal CA, a few have lobular - altho' I guess it can pop up anywhere. I have yet to have the BRCA testing - my daughters would really like to know.

BonoboGirrl

Hi there, Grammajan.  I believe IDC accounts for around 80% of BCs. Wish I could have identified cellular changes before it was invasive, but we catch it when we catch it. I like to think I caught it at a point where I'd be sure to get chemo and Herceptin to mop up any possible rogue cell floating around. Glad you're doing well and thanks for the support!