Single or Double Mastectomy?

Kayce234

My surgeon and oncologist are pushing me towards a single mastectomy but 1st diagnosis of ER/PR+ then 10 yrs later 2nd diagnosis of Triple negative I really feel like double is the answer. Right now I've agreed to single with flap reconstruction but I see the plastic surgeon on the 21st and will make final decision. What would you do?

MinusTwo

It's a highly personal decision - and no one can know what's in your mind & heart. But for me - there was absolutely NO question. Double mastectomy. Since even then, I had a recurrence in a lymph node 2 years later, I was extremely glad I had them both removed.

Kayce234

MinusTwo - I have such strong feelings on the double. I remember first time I wanted to do double and doctors talked me out of it - i keep thinking had I done it there is a good chance I wouldnt have this new diagnosis...

LillyIsHere

I would go for DMX to reduce the recurrence on the other breast, not to have mammograms and breast MRIs anymore, and would be easier for the plastic surgeon to make both breasts symetrical. However, it will be your personal choice and I hope you know that most of the time, you lose the sensesion once breast is removed. Are you going to a well-known cancer center? Dana-FArber or MGH?

Kayce234

1st time was MGH through Newton Wellesley, this time is Dana Faber and Brigham Women's. I really think I want the double but feel crazy getting it just for psychological reasons. But had I done what my heart said last time i might not be dealling with this

MountainMia

Kayce, if not for all kinds of things you don't know, you might not be dealing with this. Or you might anyway. You cannot know. People still actually can get new cancers even after mastectomies, even after double mastectomies. It almost sounds like you're blaming yourself, and I hope you can find a way to not do that. No matter what happened before, or what happens now, you made the best decision you could at the time, given what you knew then.

That said, I truly hope you can come to a decision that makes sense to you. You can listen to the experts (not us), and then choose. Then, please don't second guess yourself.

moth

yes, as MountainMia said, you can get cancer even after mastectomy.

Some people get them in the remnants of breast tissue - because the surgeons can never remove it all. And mastectomies don't reduce risk of metastatic recurrence - which I haven't seen mentioned yet in this thread.

As others have said, the right answer is the one that's right for you. All the decision making is exhausting, isn't it? I hope you settle on a decision which feels good

Miriandra

If you decide to get the double, there's a lot more acceptance and validation these days for women who go flat and own it. You'll find a supportive tribe out there.

Flat AF

BrinkOfEternity

Have you had genetic testing done? I did and had negative result, so decided to have UMX and then DIEP flap reconstruction. I don’t mind getting ultrasound and mammogram and MRI done as I need to have follow-ups anyway. For me I don’t really regret my decision because the recovery from DIEP was harder than I thought as it was done after chemo and my immune system had taken a beating. A DMX would have been even harder for me.

If it were my second cancer however I probably would do DMX, especially if I were young and healthy enough to go through it.

Kayce234

Hi all - met with Plastic Surgeon today. I'm going to do the single with the deip. No reason to punish my right breast when it did nothing wrong. Surgery seem so real and so intense but worth it. I may even get a flatter stomach out of it which BONUS! But seriously, I've research like crazy but meeting the surgeon and hearing what he said made it very real. Thank you for all the responses. Oh I did have genetic testing and my results are Braca1 uknown variant