BRCA!+/DIEP vs Do Nothing

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Bonnygg
Bonnygg Member Posts: 115
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

I'm trying to figure out just what to do next. In Dec, I was tested & found out I'm BRCA1+. My risk of reoccurance falls in the 85% by the time I'm 70. Today, I'm only 53.

I am on Femara and a bit overweight & have a drink occasionally. I eat pretty healthy, portions are just too big!

I can't do implants because they don't make anything that fits my frame. I've 6' tall & have shoulders like a football player.

I have to make a decision: bmx or not then reconstruct or not. I'm pullling my hair out and agonizing every day about it.

I'm terrified if I don't do a bmx, that I'll get bc again. I've just hit my 5-year anniversary of my original bc dx. So I'm ahead of the curve there.

I am on Femara so, that helps keep bc at bay, at least for now.

No other family history of BRCA. My older sister had bc 2 years after I did, but she's BRCA1/2 negative. My daughter is BRCA1+.

My bc was er+ which isn't all that normal for BRCA1+. Go figure.

I just had a total hysterectomy, ovaries, tubes & uterus is all gone now.

I can be on high maintenance with mammos & breast mri every year if I don't do BMX.

Wht the helll do I do? BMX or nor?

Anyone have any recommendations on how to figure this out?

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  • cakeisgreat
    cakeisgreat Member Posts: 660
    edited March 2010

    Hi, Bonnie!  This is definitely a personal decision.  I am BRCA neg, but after doing lumpectomy & rads, I just wasnt at peace with that, so I signed up to do the double mx and DIEP recon.  Just finished and very happy I did.  There was no more cancer when they tested the bmx, which is great, and I feel more at peace now. 

    But my coworker who had same dx as me went with lumpectomy/rads, and is very happy just monitoring it.

    BRCA + could make things more serious, but I'm not sure.  Hopefully someone will come along with some better advice.  Good luck to you in whatever choice you decide to make!

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  • Soccermom4force
    Soccermom4force Member Posts: 631
    edited March 2010

    Dear Bonnygg,

     I would advise you check out the website www.facingourrisk.org .Mostly everyone there is BRCA+ or high risk. You will get many answers and maybe some insights,

    Warmly,Marcia

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited March 2010

    I was also going to suggest the FORCE website .. it is excellent. I'm BRCA2+   When I had first dx the onc and surgeon recommended bmx plus chemo, but I refused and did lumpectomy, chemo, rads. I had regular mammo, mri, lots of doc visits but despite it all had a 2nd dx 3 1/2 years later in other breast and totally different from first. This time I did bmx but still had to do chemo and rads again. It sucks big time. I hope to do reconstruction.

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