Single VS Double Masectomy

Hi Ladies, Iam new to this even though i have been battle this for 2 years, I also had a double even though it was in one breast but kinda regret it. cancer was in right breast and it is fine left breast won't heal having all kinds of trouble nipple fell off oct 10th  and now it won't heal been stiched up since, went to doc last wed and took out stiches and now i has a hole hes hoping it will close has any boby ever heard of this really tired and stressed to max. i go back next wed but really seeking a second opion!  

Mickey,

I am 4 weeks post BMX with rt. axilla disection without reconstruction.  I also had Neo Adjudvant Chemo prior to surgery in which I'm glad I did because I can't imagine going through Chemo after surgery.  My surgery went quite well and I am healing great!  This was not an easy decision for me to rid myself from one breast that was healthy BUT after having 6 biopsies and knowing that I was due for another mammogram on the good side, I chose to have both breasts removed and I do not regret it to this day. 

I feel like I have to re-learn myself all over again.  Because of not having reconstruction surgery, I am finding it a little difficult to find clothes that will fit me without wearing a prosthesis in which I have not yet been fitted for.  Also with having rt. axilla disection, I have had limited range of motion on that arm and because of the BMX there is a numbing feeling all across my chest as well as sensitivity.  HOWEVER--I am still glad of the decisions that I have made so far.   Only Rads left which will start in a couple of weeks and then I'll be done with this hopefully for the rest of my life. 

Hang in there and take one step at a time. 

Hi Grandma,

I'm sorry that you're having to go through this process. I did a lot of soul searching when I was diagnosed w/bc in my right side. I initially was given the option of lumpectomy, but the MRI came back showing multifocal ILC, and a mastectomy was needed. My intuition told me to have bilateral mastectomies, even though the surgeon was somewhat reluctant to remove the left side. I didn't want to go through the yearly screening on the left side, and I just wanted it off.The breast didn't seem to mean too much when I was fighting for my life.

 I remember being able to be out walking two days after the mastectomies, and I was back to driving by the end of 3 weeks. I didn't think I'd want reconstruction, but 6 months later I had tissue expanders placed for silicone implants. I chose implants because I didn't want any more scars or cutting into my body that some of the other methods require.  They are nice and  symmetrical because of the implants, and frankly look better in clothes than my middle aged boobs did. Of course, I'd rather have my natural body back, but I'm satisfied with the implants-they're the new me.

Spend some time in reflection, and listen to your heart in making your decision.

Warm wishes,

Catherine

Initially I had decided on only the single.  However after my implant had healed my self confidence was at an all time low.  The great north/south divide (known as my breasts) made me feel even worse.  So a year later I had a volentary masectomy and felt much better for it.  Also gave me extra hope that I wouldn't have cancer in the other breast.  (I had very little information when I was diagnosed, I didn't even know I was triple negative or that tn cancers are highly likely genetic.  But that's another story folks!!!)

Originally, I was all set for a R mastectomy with tram flap.  Waking up with a semblance of a breast with an added tummy tuck was appealing to me. 

Then I started going over all the surgical complications and the multiple scars and decided to just go with a bilat MX with tissue expanders and eventual implants.

Not having to worry about re-occurrence, extended recovery, more surgery, asymmetrical issues was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Even the insurance companies view it as more cost effective.  Now the appealing factor is being one of the lucky ones to have good cosmetic results and hope for a neg sentinel node biopsy (BMX is Jan 25)

Someone up thread had a good comment:  Since my body has shown the propensity to develop breast cancer, it makes sense to remove all breast tissue.

Kat

I chose to have both breasts removed right away. I didn't want to be lop-sided, because then I'd feel that I had to wear a prosthetic. I didn't want to have to go through mammograms and the fear that I'd have a recurrance. I wanted to be as aggressive as possible throughout the whole process.

I chose not to reconstruct, so can't help you with the other questions.

Hugs and good luck, whatever choices you make!!!

Kat, I hear you about the scars. My SGAP scars are significant, but they are hidden by underwear and they aren't 'right out front'. I chose natural tissue and have since read that about 50 percent or more of implants fail within 7 years and the life span of them in general is 10 years. I'd prefer not to deal with that. Check out www.drmarga.com for more informative information on this topic.

I've seen a lot of nice results with implants but here is another thing to know. Generally what you see on websites with implants are ladies that have cosmetic enlargement. They have great results because there is a lot of tissue between the implant and the skin. After BMx, the tissue is gone so there is just the thin skin layer on top of the implant. Sometimes you get ripples because of this. This might be something you'd like to ask your PS about - each case is different and this might not affect you at all.

Susie, Kat, I'm wishing you the best of healing thoughts these next few weeks. I felt a huge sense of relief when the BMx was done - as several of you have said, it doesn't take away all risk as there is still minute tissue left but it sure lessens it and that is a GOOD THING!

Hugs to all of you!

GrandmaMickey, I'm sorry you have to make this choice. I was diagnosed in nov 09 @ 37 IDC high grade. I had  double masectomey and i think it is the way to go. I had one good boob abd I told my doctor "Guilt by association, it is going to go with the left one that tried to kill me" I don't regret it I was out of the hospital in 3 days, my issue was constipation) TMI from the pain meds. The drains were the biggest hassle, there wasn't many nerves left, pain meds for a week with drains and that was it. After my surgery I woke up and asked my doctor when I was going into surgery and she said "We did it, your done" Everyone's experience is different. I just did not want to have one boob, and always be worried about that boob. Of course there is always somthing to worry about but soon as I am done with chemo I'm moving on, enjoying life, keeping every appointment but going into denial. Good luck, if you have any other questions PM me. I will be happy to answer anything. I really thought it was going to be a lot worse. I am one month out and things are going well, chemo's not a joy but we all move forward doing what we need to do.

I was diagnosed on Oct 19 with IDC with mets to my liver (One stupid little spot!). Right now, I'm doing neoadjuvent chemo and will have surgery in the spring. While it's only one breast, I'm planning a BMX. My mom had a reoccurance to her other breast 5 years after her initial dx. I just want this stupid cancer out of me and to live my life free of fear!

chasinghope - by fake boobs did you mean implants? I'm wondering because you said something abou them having to replaced down the road. When reconstruction is done with your own tissue, that is not the case; perforator flaps are connected to the blood supply through microsurgery and then proceed to grow additional blood supply within that tissue. So they will last your lifetime. It's important to have an expert in this type of microsurgery, though, and there aren't that many docs around that are true experts at this and fewer that handle bilateral cases. Also, generally, you don't end up having mammograms any more than someone who has had mastectomy without reconstruction, if you had a complete mastectomy. If you keep the nipples, however, mammograms continue. High risk patients will sometimes require MRIs whether a reconstruction was done or not. This will occur with patients where LCIS was found on pathology, although not all docs follow this protocol. I know this only because they did find LCIS at pathology. So I face MRIs and that is independent of the fact that I had reconstruction.

To your point of replacement, however, I think it is important to know that 50% of implants (i.e. silicone or saline) fail within 7 years, with a higher rate happening for ladies that have had radiation. And, my understanding is that the lifetime for these things is around 10 years in anycase. So you may end up having to redo the surgery. I have a number of friends that are trying to decide if they want to keep their hardened implants, go flat or go through flap reconstruction. As you get older the decision can get tougher, depending on your health.

In the long run I think it is important to look at yourself and decide if a BMx will give you peace of mind and then deciding if you would be happy without the look of breasts. Reconstructed breasts can look pretty real but they never will have the feeling they once had. For me, I didn't want to look in the mirror and see a flat chest and ribcage. The thought of it really disturbed me, so I went the route of SGAP flap at the time of BMx. It was a long surgery but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Sherry - I'm sorry they found more cancer, but I know you are glad you had the nipples removed. For me that was a no-brainer - less risk = good! Plus, the feeling will never be the same, so why save them? Plastic surgery goes a long way in creating realistic looking nipples if you want them and if not tattoos are available that can give a great 3-D look. I did have nipples created and will be having tattoos this week.

Good luck with your decision. PM me if you'd like additional information about SGAP surgery.

I hear ya, wallycat! Docs don't know everything, none of us does. Mammograms never picked up my cancer. The first time ultrasound caught it; the second time MRI did. Nothing picked up that it was multi-focal both times. By the time I got to this point I knew that BMx would minimize my worries. Right before surgery I thanked both my breasts for the awesome job they did and the pleasure they gave and said goodbye to them and hello to less worry!

I have breast cancer and is invasive ductal carcinoma in my right breast .When I went to the DR. gave two opcions but it was my decicion;so I  thought about it I read the book that they gave me and I finally decide to do matectomy in both breast (difficult decicion) I made it because I am afraid that It will recurre again specially when the Dr. tell you that the percent is less that ocurred again than lumpectomy.It is my first mayor surgery I feel confortable in one side and  in another side of me I am afraid .I forgot to mention my surgery will be on January 26 and it will be a reconstruccion choosing natural .

Grandma Mickey,

So glad I found you!!!!I I went to your home page just to figure out where you where.  I haven't noticed you on the "November Warriors" thread. I can help with the PM question. Go to the top of the page, see where it says Private Message, well click on that, then go to the right hand side of page there is a box that says +COMPOSE MESSAGE, click on it, then in the to:box type in the name of the person like for me it would be (BrendaSharon), then in the subject line, put whatever the subject is, like (checking on you)         

 The big box below those is your message box just like this one. Hope I could help. Sorry you have so many decisions to make. BUT, I'm sure you will get some advise here. I only had the lumpectomy. Good Luck Fellow Warrior. My heart is with you.

P.S. did you finish or even start your Taxol Tx's and/or did you get the Herceptin (spelling??) I was trying to update the November thread with Smileys and if you have had Taxol Tx's I need to update your place. Also, when you recieve a new private message, a little pink note by the Private Message spot on top of page will apprear.

((((((((((Gentle Healing Hugs)))))))))) Brenda Sharon

After my first mammogram ever, I was diagnosed with intermediate extensive DCIS. I did not trust my surgeon or hospital for that matter because they screwed up my breast MRI big time. I went to a new hospital with an excellent dedicated breast surgeon. The one mistake I did make was not to insist on a 3D mammogram with ultrasound because I have dense breast tissue. Because the DCIS was so widespread in the left breast, masectomy and SNLB was the recommended option. The surgery and subsequent pathology revealed 1.2 cm IDC grade 3 and micromets in once SNL.9 other nodes removed and determined clear. I am now half way through chemo and just last week read how crucial it is to do a 3D mammo and ultrasound for dense breast tissue. So, I insisted on one for my other breast and lo and behold, a papillary ductal situation is in my healthy breast, never noted by any previous (non 3D imagine). Radiologist suggests biopsy and then surgical removal. I want a straight up masectomy and do not want to mess around after last time. But I am in the middle Of chemo. My chemo port gave me a clot so I am on warfarin. Doc is out of town until next week. Has anyone had a similar issue