Odds of 2nd breast cancer

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited March 2010

    My onc has recommended that I get the healthy breast removed and also have an ooph. My grandma died of ovarian ca and 2 aunts had bc so I agree with hiim. Another thing making me agree with his recommendation - I know he usually advises his bc patients NOT to have a bmx so if he recommends it that means in my case he thinks it's necessary.

    BTW the ooph is not to lower estrogen since I'm post meno - it's to drastically lower the chance of developing ovarian ca.

    Pure, you family history is not mine, your decisions are not mine, your body is not mine. You have to do what is the best for YOU.

    Leah

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited March 2010

    Before my genetics testing I was really on the fence about getting a double.  I was told to consider it by 2 oncs because of family history.  And I believe (although I can't find my references) that ILC has an increased probably of occuring in the second breast.  But on the other hand, now that I have been dx with ILC I know that I would be getting MRIs so it would be detected before it got too far along.  My excisional biopsy was actually a lumpectomy - they removed one of the tumors which was 1.8 cm.  That was easy to go through for me.  I wouldn't hesitate to get another lumpectomy.

    But all this is moot for me now that I'm known to be BRCA 2 positive.

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  • carol1949
    carol1949 Member Posts: 562
    edited March 2010

    My surgeon said there was absolutely no medical reason to remove the second breast.

    Please consider reading Patrick Quillon's Beating Cancer With Nutrition.  Cutting off body parts is not always the answer!

    Do your research and see that there are many ways to fight cancer and win!  I have a dear friend who is 12 years cancer free and she did it with only surgery.... no chemo or rads!  She has been inspriational to me in my journey!

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited March 2010

    Remember when you hear of women who are cancer free without further treatment, we don't know the type of breast cancer they had, or the severity.

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  • carol1949
    carol1949 Member Posts: 562
    edited March 2010

    My friend had IDC stage 2, w/ lymph node involvement.  Having lost a sister to b/c 10 years prior and seeing what she went through w/ tx at that time, my friend said she had told herself if it ever happened to her.... she would find another way!  It was recommended for her to have chemo and rads.

    She did go through Cancer Treatment Center of America after a very bad experience in upstate NY at 2 different hospitals including a university hospital.  When she told them (CCTA) she did not want chemo, instead of sending her away... they were supportive in directing her to their nutrition staff and their spiritual counselors.  She used a medical intuitive, and various holistic tx over the years.  Say what you want.... 12 years speaks to me.  Incidentally, she is standing next to me in my photo!  I am the one w/ the black hair.

    Some of the resources she suggested were Louise Hay, Caroline Myss, Deepak Chopra, Andrew Weil, Bernie Seigel, Reiki therapy, prayer, etc.

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  • YATCOMW
    YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
    edited March 2010

    My breast cancer surgeon was seriously against it........ I looked him in the eye and said.....you were the one that told me there was nothing on my mammogram and the cancer was in my entire breast.  What an idiot!

    I will say that my oncologist said afterwards that he felt strongly that i did the right thing.

    For me it was the right decision since the cancer was not picked up on the mammogram and sonogram so how could I be sure that there wasn't something there in the other breast.....I honestly felt I had no choice.

    I also thought that cosmetically it would look better to have two new ones but I have seen some pictures of others and that doesn't seem to be necessarily true.

    This is just such a personal decision.

    Jacqueline 

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  • Julia257
    Julia257 Member Posts: 284
    edited March 2010
    Hi Carol, I'm very happy for your friend's successful good health for 12 years.  I don't want to discourage anyone in any way, just want to offer a heads up...Please, please, please don't ever stop monthly self-exams, also request a yearly ultrasound in addition to a mam.  I have a new cancer after 18 years.  It wouldn't have grown to 3 cm if I had continued self-exams, it wasn't caught even at that approx. size at mam 10 months ago.  It was a mam that caught it the first time around so I was wrongfully confident that yearly mams were enough.  After the pain, felt the lump, confirmed by ultrasound.  Wishing you all the best of good health!
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  • kim40
    kim40 Member Posts: 904
    edited March 2010

    Pure - I am struggling with the same thing.  Keep it or not.  I am scared beyond to the point that I check myself EVERY day!!  My onc told me that it was totally unnecessary to have the remaining breast removed, but then again, he is the one who is totally against me having an ooph!!  My BS told me that she will do it once I'm finished Herceptin in July.  So I have already made an appt to see her in August. 

    It is a very personal decision.  For me, I think I will feel better once it is gone.  Now, try to find a gyno who will do an ooph is another story!

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  • kimf
    kimf Member Posts: 334
    edited March 2010

    Jenn,

    I only had the one side removed b/c the other side was completely clear. My Onc has said that after cancer #1, you are at higher risk of a second breast cancer. I don't know what percentage, but she is diligent in looking for it...I, too, have an annual MRI in January, a mammo in June and an ultrasound if either show up anything that wasn't there before. My mast side doesn't get checked other than sbe by me and by the Onc each time I see her. After being dx'd with thyroid cancer, the Endocrinologist told me that my thyroid cancer is "no big deal" and that my worries would still be my breast cancer...well I had completed my treatment for breast cancer at the time and that sort of rocked me a bit, too. However, now that I'm years out from dx and am comfy with not having scans (which I begged for and did not receive upon completion of testing...my Onc doesn't do until symptoms show), I actually enjoy not having to go see my Onc but twice a year, have my MRI and mammo, some labs and on my way for another six months. I did have a lift on my non-mast side to try to match them a bit better, but I don't consider having it removed anymore....but that is my choice and always has been. They would have removed it had I wished it. Being dx'd under 40 drove my decision at the time to keep one breast, but I'm glad that I did today...not that I didn't question it along the way at times.

    Good luck!

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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited March 2010

    pupfoster1 - In my case my insurance did not cover the other side so I could not have it off. I would love them to be "responsible" if i develop bc in the other breast but I am sure they have clauses somewhere in all the wording that says they are not. I am also fighting them right now as the ONLY reconstruction offered in my network is an implant and I have had radiation. Really, at least in my case, they do not have to cover everything.

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  • carol1949
    carol1949 Member Posts: 562
    edited March 2010

    Julie,  Thanks for your concern and your advice.  I do monthly breast exams.  When I lived in Jacksonville, the local TV anchor, Jeannie Blalock was honored in D.C for starting Buddy check 12.  On the 12th of every month you call your "buddy" and agree to do self exams.  That is the local tv affiliate.  It is good to do with a friend or family member or several for that matter!  It was my gyn who found mine in a routine exam.

    Interestingly, I have moved and recently went to a new "female" primary care dr. who isn't pushing for mammograms!   She said, "You do know, they are very conroversial right now!"  I scheduled one, but think I am going to cancel.  If 22 weeks of chemo didn't kill the cancer in my body, nothing is going to now!  Holistically, I will continue with living my life!

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited March 2010

    blondie45 -

    My ears perked up when I saw that you are fighting your insurance company about the reconstruction type.  There a really good page on the National Lymphedema  Network about the WHCRA law.  And it appears that the health insurance provider cannot dictate the method of reconstruction.

    http://www.lymphnet.org/lymphedemaFAQs/legislation/actionAlert/whcra.htm

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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited March 2010

    Anacortesgirl - Thanks for the information. I hope my insurance reviews it very carefully before they decide on my appeal.

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