Decisions, decisions

Caryl, I had calcs on both sides.  My right breast turned out to be full of high grade DCIS with comedonecrosis, plus a microinvasion of IDC.  A mastectomy was my only option.  My left breast calcs were biopsied and found to be totally benign - no ADH, no other high risk conditions, just run-of-the-mill benign harmless calcs that will always remain harmless.  I also had an MRI that showed my left breast to be clear.  With that information, I decided to have a single mastectomy.

In your case, your next step depends on what you would prefer to do from a surgery standpoint. If you would prefer to have a single mastectomy rather than a bilateral, if that's possible, then having a biopsy on the calcs in your left breast makes sense.  Having BC in your right breast does not mean that your left breast calcs are also BC - my case and many others who have been through here have proven that.  So if your left breast calcs turn out to be benign, that could be very significant to your decision.  On the other hand, if ultimately you think you would be more comfortable having a bilateral mastectomy, then there's really no need for the left breast biopsy.

If you have the choice, which would you really prefer, the single (probably with reconstruction) or the bilateral (possibly without reconstruction)? Let that guide you.   

docisin, I'm glad that you are happy with your decision and that your surgery went well.  I hope that all continues to go well.  Reconstruction is a long process and with your surgery just last week, you are at the very beginning stages. I found the process with the expander and the surgery to put in the implant to be pretty easy and painless but unfortunately not everyone is so lucky.  I hope that you are.   

This isn't to contradict anything you've said but I think it's important for Caryl, as she's making this decision, to understand that a mastectomy and a bilateral mastectomy does not completely eliminate the risk of breast cancer. After a mastectomy, a small amount of breast tissue will always be left (I've heard anywhere from 3% - 5%) and as a result, it is still possible to develop breast cancer.  Of course the risk is low - only about 1% - 2% for most women - but it's something that anyone who has a mastectomy needs to be aware of and needs to monitor.   There have unfortunately been many women who've come through this board who have been diagnosed either with a recurrence or with a new breast cancer after having a BMX.  There was one case that I recall where the woman was not aware of the risk so she never checked for lumps and didn't worry when one developed.  As a result, her BC was not discovered until it had become quite advanced.  

This isn't to scare anyone who's had a mastectomy.  But if you have, please continue to check for lumps just as you would have when you had natural breasts.