Remove both breast or not

gizmochan

I'm 39 year old, recently I diagnosed with breast cancer. I have a 1.6
cm IDC tumor, lymphovascular invasion identified (LVI), and don't know lymph node involvement until surgery.

• Endocrine receptor: positive
• HER 2 : Negative
• BRCA1 & BRCA2 gene: Negative
• No family history
• DCIS and IDC seen on biopsy

I'm
going to have mastectomy and thinking if I should have healthy breast removed as well to prevent a second breast cancer.

My surgon said it is personal decision and not mandontary, my
BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene is negative, 15% chance to develop breast cancer in
2nd breast (P.S. 10% chance for non-cancer history woman). Should I
remove another one as well?

Thanks

Moderators

Hello Gizmoyau,

Welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're glad you've found this supportive community. We're sure that other members will soon chime in with their responses to your post. In the meantime, check out our page on Prophylactic Mastectomy. It has some information about deciding whether or not it is right for you.

Sending hugs,

The Mods

songbird68

Hi Gizmayou, so sorry to hear of your recent dx. 

Your surgeon is right, it is your personal decision. It is your body and you know what you will be comfortable with. I had one off, then ten months later chose to have the other side removed. Immediate recon with implants both times.

I wish you all the best with your treatment. You will get through this:)

x x

shewolfpg

I am still waiting to see what they want to do with me still BUT my mother in law had only one removed many many years ago.  She regretted not to have both done. She always felt lopsided. If she wasn't wearing a bra with the prosthetic in she was VERY self conscious.  There were times she couldn't even wear the prosthetic either. So needless to saw that is what made my decision. If I have to get one cut I will get both. Still debating if I want implants.

wrenn

Sorry you have to make this decision. I had large breasts and so for balance I chose double mastectomy. I also didn't want to have to have surgery again later if it came up. My post surgical pathology showed pre cancerous changes in the good breast and my surgeon said she was glad I chose what I did. If I were smaller I might have chosen only one side to make recovery easier. It is a tough decision. Wishing you a smooth ride on this terrible journey.

Meow13

I had one side and the DIEP and "what ever they do on the other side" lift, I am so happy with the results very much symmetrical.  I didn't have enough material for 2.

Anonymous

Shewolf: I am lopsided.  I do not regret the mastectomy because another tumor was found in the specimen the very day before the surgery (through MRI).  I chose not to have a lumpectomy because I wanted to increase my odds that it wouldn't return.  I didn't want another surgery and I didn't want cells traveling from the breast and taking vacations in my bones, etc.  I wasn't offered a double mastectomy, and I did not have reconstruction because I did not want to worry that the implants would cause a problem.  I am just a very "natural" girl. 

Now I'm fully healed and I do have a LOT of problems wearing clothes.  I can't run to the store or even answer the door without a prosthesis.  I've gained and lost weight and had to get differently sized prostheses. I have "stick ons" and lightweight and my favorite silicone models.  But I dislike them all. 

I frequently feel that removing the other breast will probably happen someday.  If I was totally flat, I could run out to the mailbox in a T-shirt (guys have it so good).  My two breasts would always match if/when I wore matching prostheses.  I could wear the lightweight ones! (They don't "hang" enough to match my other breast, so I haven't used them since the very beginning).  And I'll never have to undergo the revisions that would be necessary (every 10 years or so?) if I got implants.  I definitely didn't want to be stuck without a way to pay for a surgery, and have a problem with an implant. 

That's some of my thinking.  But, make no mistake, it can be a shock. And you're so young.  One thing that had me keeping my other breast so far is because I don't want to lose the...shall we just say "sensation."  But I'm getting older, and I don't foresee a partner in my future so I'll probably do it sometime.

Best of luck with your decision!!!! We know it's a tough one.