ADH after breast cancer

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gwynlian
gwynlian Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

I had a mastectomy of left breast in October. My final reconstruction, with a right breast reduction was done in January. After visitng my surgeon last week, I found out I had some ADH in right breast. I am very upset because I was coming near the end of a very difficult journey. The thought of having cancer in the right breast is very disturbing to me. From what I'm reading, it seems cancer is inevitable. I would have preferred the cancer at the same time, as not only is this frightening and stressful beyond belief, it affects my finances, which aren't very good. I can't have radiation, so mastectomy is my only option. Has anyone had this experience?

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited March 2013

    gwynlian - I'm sorry about the new discovery. I don't think that ADH means cancer is inevitable. It does increase your risk. This really stinks for you.

    Knowledge is power, so at least you know. I know that is small consolation.

    I don't know about your insurance but I initially had most of my 2011 med bills in the last three months of that year, then the mx and such in early 2012. I was glad to know that meeting my deductible in the last 3 months of 2011, carried over to 2012, so I reached my out of pocket max pretty quickly. I loaded up as many med expenses as I could to 2012. 

    You might want to speak to a genetic counselor to see what they think re: bc occurance in right side.

    So sorry. I know you just want this to be over. Big hugs to you.

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  • peanutsgal
    peanutsgal Member Posts: 161
    edited March 2013

    gwynlian,

    So sorry you are having to deal with this. farmerlucydaisy is right. Having ADH is not a cancer inevitability. Depending on your comfort level with high risk monitoring, you can just have close surveillance for a while and give your pocketbook a chance to recover, not to mention letting your body recover. If you still feel strongly about having your remaining breast removed, you can do it at that time. There is no real rush at the moment for further treatment. Best of luck to you!

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  • ballet12
    ballet12 Member Posts: 981
    edited March 2013

    Gwynlian--Many people likely have ADH that never develops into anything (and wouldn't be discovered except for procedures done for other things), although you are most likely at more risk, given a previous history of bc. I had ADH diagnosed 17 years ago, and only now had a diagnosis of DCIS (and nothing worse).  Do you need to do an additional biopsy? Sometimes ADH is adjacent to DCIS (as mine was this time).  If it's not more that ADH, and no further surgery is needed, then the usual course of action is increased surveillance.  There are people who do chose to have a prophylactic mastectomy with a diagnosis of ADH, but it isn't required, by any means.

    Best of luck to you.

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  • gwynlian
    gwynlian Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2013

    thank you to everyone who replied. My surgeon isn't doing anythng right now. I'm a very anxious person who has had past health issues, and this past year has been particularly difficult with the bc and other issues. I just feel I'll wait it out at this point, I'm just so tired of everything.

    l

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