Reduction and recurrence?

Lily55
Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

As ILC is so hard to find, has anyone with ILC had a reduction on the healthy side and then had a recurrence of ILC?  I have decided a reduction even if on its own will make me feel a lot better as it will reduce the weight and size difference significantly and it will then be easier to match the other side with fat grafts if I decide to go that route.  But I don´t want to put myself at risk, my last MRI showed nothing suspicious at all.......

Any comments or advice please?

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited May 2013

    Bump

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited May 2013

    Does no posts mean good news?

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  • itsjustme10
    itsjustme10 Member Posts: 796
    edited May 2013

    It's probably something you should discuss with both your breast surgeon and plastic surgeon, whether scar tissue from a reduction could make ILC harder to detect...I know that I'm not a doctor, so I wouldn't dare hazard a guess, and probably others feel the same. :)

    I chose a BMX, so it's not something I ever discussed with my medical team.  I hope you get your answers soon. :)

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited May 2013

    I meant whether the trauma of surgery would trigger cancer?

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited May 2013

    I don't think anyone knows the answer to your question....if we knew what triggered cancer...well...you get the idea.

    I did opt for a bilateral mastectomy for the reason you mentioned.  Since even mastectomy does not remove 100% of tissue, I would think it is in the same vein...though MUCH less tissue than a reduction.

    I had large breasts and did not want to go lopsided, plus I did not want constant monitoring and worry, so that is how I made my decision.  I figured if I were going to have the surgery, just make it all even and remove as much as they could.  Clearly that is drastic to some people's view.  Having a healthy breast and losing one would have been emotionally harder to look at daily; for me it was best to be rid of it all.

    Good luck with your decision.

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  • glostagirl
    glostagirl Member Posts: 388
    edited June 2013

    Hi Lily,

    I was you for three years after a failed SGAP reconstruction and then a chemo induced infection in the surgery site.  It took me three years to try again, implant was not an option for me.  I HATED being lopsided!  I struggled with the same decision as you, to either reduce and continue with a prosthetic or to try recon again.  My surgeon had already told me I didn't have enough tissue to match my natural breast and would need a sizeable reduction if I wanted symmetry.  

    I tried again at the center in New Orlelans with good results. I am no longer lopsided and despite that fact that my chest was scar tissue and the scar itself was a long vertical one; I now have cleavage again.  At 56 years old, I don't care if I ever wear a bikini again, but I so love not having to wear tops up to my neck to hide my scars!  At the second stage of my reconstruction I also had a reduction on my natural side, the scars and scar tissue seem minimual.  Also, the pathology on the removed tissue was clean, so....so far so good.  

    My cancer was not ILC, but IDC, I hope this was helpful, good luck.  

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited June 2013

    Oh thank you Glosta girl, so glad you got there in the end, hope i do!

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