Older women 72 - needs mastectomy

heartbroken08

I had a REOCCURENCE in the same breast after 9 yrs - they want to do a mastectomy on that side and I think why wait for it to happen to the left side. I'm not braca

Took tamoxifen 5 yrs and rads.

I am 72 yrs old - I think I am too old to go through this. is there anyone who is older who went through this. Thanks

nagem

Heartbroken, I'm so sorry you're facing a recurrence. I was younger (55) when I had my bilateral mastectomies (one prophylactic), but I have to say the breast-removal surgery was easy. I didn't have reconstruction, however, and my understanding is that that requires a longer recovery and more discomfort. I never had to take pain meds for the mastectomies.

Annette47

My mother had a unilateral mastectomy last October when she was 75.   She chose not to do reconstruction and is doing GREAT now.

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

dogsandjogs

I posted on your other thread about my friend who had a double mastectomy at age 74. She decided not to do reconstruction and is doing fine.  She even works part-time as a checker in a grocery store, lives alone with a cat and a dog. She decided against the hormonals and is doing nothing further.  It is her decision and she doesn't want to influence anyone else. But she is feeling fine; her boyfriend is still around and her life is good.

crystalphm

My cousin's mother in France had a right mastectomy when she was 92. She lived to be 104 and did not pass away from cancer. She had 12 amazing years with her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren after cancer.

She did not have reconstruction, which is the part that I think is most exhausting.

Momine

Hi there, as others have said, mastectomy by itself is relatively easy, as surgeries go. Extended pain and complications are much more likely with reconstruction. So my advice would be to skip the recon.

My aunt was DXed with various cancers (separate primary ones) at 72. She had half a lung removed. Then she had a hysterectomy, open surgery. Third she had a lumpectomy on the breast, as well as rads and chemo. She is still chugging along happily, riding her bike, 4 years later, although they did not catch the uterine cancer fast enough.

Erica3681

Unless you have other serious medical problems which would make surgery and recovery extra-challenging for you, you're definitely not too old to have a mastectomy. As others have said, mastectomy surgery is actually surprisingly easy and usually there's very little pain. It doesn't sound as if there's any necessity to remove both breasts.

If you decide to have the mastectomy and also decide not to have reconstruction, the fact that you've had radiation may actually help you adjust better than some women to wearing a breast form (prosthesis). This is because after radiation, you're likely to perspire less or not at all. One of the biggest complaints about breast forms is that they're hot. I had a bilateral mastectomy with radiation on one side. I never perspire on that side and it's only on the other side (where I perspire) that I sometimes find breast forms uncomfortable.

You might find it useful to check out my non-profit website, BreastFree.org, where there's lots of information, plus personal stories and photographs.