When should I begin to really consider a double mastectomy?

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babybou10
babybou10 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer
I am a 31 female who has a bust size of 38D. I've always been top heavy and only recently had problems. September of 2012 I had a milk duct removed and a needle biopsy of a lump that was found on the same breast. The surgeon said milk duct removal was just due to an inflamed duct, but was called back a few days later for the biopsied lump. The pathology had come back and they recommended I had it removed. I was taken into surgery a week after the biopsy/duct removal and had the lump removed. The surgeon said it was benign and to follow up in a few years with a mammogram. A few months ago I found two more lumps deeper in my one breast and one on the other breast. I have aunts on both sides of my family that have had Breast Cancer, also numerous family members that have had cervical cancer. All of this anticipation scares me, and I'm afraid to have more lumps taken out(the previous surgery left a yucky scar). I also was told that certain types of benign tumors can increase your risk of Breast Cancer. Is it too early to even begin thinking of preventive care like a bilateral mastectomy? I feel very much alone, am I over reacting? I don't want to go through all of this every time I find a new lump.
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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited June 2013

    I can only tell you of my route to a PBM. I have the high risk family, and did high risk screening for almost 20 years. I always knew if anything came up I would insist on a PBM. Nipple Discharge, ALH, ADH did present itself. That and a visit to a genetic counselor helped finalize my decision. I was unlucky enough to have a small cancer show up in the final pathology. This is not that common.



    What would I do differently looking back? I would have switched screeners to the absolute best I could find. That may have pushed me to do it 2 years earlier.



    Otherwise I am glad to have had my natural breasts for 51 years. I am also glad they're gone now. The implants are fine, but of course not the same.



    I understand how onerous the screening is. It sounds to me like you are in good hands.



    It is not an easy decision whatever you decide. Blessings and big hugs!

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  • BlueSky5
    BlueSky5 Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2013

    My gyn oncologist said cervial cancer is not related to BC and OC so your relative with cervical cancer should not increase your odds of BC as I understand it.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited June 2013

    Aunts don't raise risk a lot either, especially if they were older when diagnosed. With a blocked duct and one benign biopsy I'm just not seeing that you are very high risk. What was the pathology of the benign biopsy?

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  • thatsvanity
    thatsvanity Member Posts: 391
    edited June 2013

    Hi Babybou,

    It would be really good if you could make an appointment with a genetics counselor. I agree with you about having a biopsied breast and how it doesn't look to good afterwards. I had a biopsied breast that looked awful (to me) afterwards so that was one reason of many as to why I had a preventative mastectomy. My results are quite nice but it is decision that was made for me with the consult of 5 doctors. Anyways beat wishes to you and your decisions.

    Also you should read up on your breast density as I have read that dense breasts can be a very influential factor of developing breast cancer even more so or equal to family history.

    Amylynn

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