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tmurno
tmurno Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

So, I have been reading on these boards for over a year now but never joined. I am now finished my treatment except reconstruction and have a question that I feel many of you may be able to give advice on.

I am wondering about removing my other breast so I don't have to worry about the possibility of having cancer in that breast. I have been told the chance is low but I wanted to hear from others if they have experienced this.

Thanks in advance!


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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2014

    Hi tmurno,

    I'm sure there will be others on here soon to help you. But I would like to say that when I first went thru this experience, I felt that after dealing with the surgeries from mastectomy and axillary node dissection, and recontruction, I literally did not want to ever have to go thru this again. So on a follow up visit I asked my Breast Surgeon if he would remove my other breast prophalactically.  He refused saying that my right breast was not cancerous and there would be no reason to remove good tissue.  I really wish I would have pushed for this in the beginning, but I was so freaked out about losing my left breast it never occured to me to have both removed.  Now I deal with the yearly mammogram of  the remaining breast, microcalcifications, and the stress that they will find something , or worse, that they won't find something until I do.  I hope this helps.  And by the way, welcome.I too was a lurker for a while before I started posting.

    Oceana

    marvelous-nicole-rodriguez.jpg (180×119)

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  • tmurno
    tmurno Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2014

    Thanks Oceana,

    I am strongly leaning towards removing it. My rad onc said that there is a .5-1% chance per year of recurrence in other breast. My physicians will support my decision and I can have it all done in one surgery during my reconstruction.

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  • TectonicShift
    TectonicShift Member Posts: 752
    edited July 2020

    .

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  • wintersocks
    wintersocks Member Posts: 922
    edited February 2014

    Hi,

    I too find it real hard to be lopsided and my surgeon is none too keen on a recon for me. I asked upon dx about having a prophylactic removal of my healthy (so called) other breast. I was told that the hospital will l not remove healthy tissue without some serious counselling first. I am nearly due for a mammo (which I don't really trust) in finding further ca.  

    I want 2 or none. like you prefer tectonic shift,  I am two years since dx (nearly)

    tmurno, I was also told that removal of a healthy breast does not prevent recurrence (in either side)  or of course the development of mets.  

    It's all very difficult isn't it to make these decisions.

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited February 2014

    I think for the most part Docs are resistant to remove a " good  breast".  Initially upon my dx they wouldn't even entertain removing my other breast.

    I do  understand, why as they wanted to start DD chemo straight away and didn't want to deal with  the delay of 2 open wound breast sites. After chemo, though  I fought to have the good one removed, and  it turned out it was loaded with precancerous tissue.

    The reality is having both breasts removed does not ensure we won't be faced with it again, however we do have LESS breast tissue to have it recur to.

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited February 2014

    I opted for a bilat at the time of my Dx and Tx plan....I interviewed 2 surgeons and they both recommended/suggested that I do a bilat....for me, good thing as the prophy side came back pre-cancerous.  Today is 8 years since I heard those dreaded words....I have always been pleased that I did the bilat...I have implants.....I probably will never have a new primary, but I could have mets (or could not)....Listen to your heart and do what is right for you....

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2014

    ILC is a ticket to getting the BMX with little or no opposition from the surgeon. 

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  • tmurno
    tmurno Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2014

    Thank you everyone for your replies. I am lucky because all my doctors are supportive and say if I want it removed I can and they understand why. I know it will not mean I am completely clear of it recurring but it definitely will decrease my chances with little or no tissue there. I am planning on reconstruction so thinking why not just start with a clean slate and do both sides at once, haha.

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  • faithfulheart
    faithfulheart Member Posts: 544
    edited February 2014

    Good choice!! Do the BMX!!!! You will have no regrets.......I did it.... you still have concerns, but, 

    not regrets.....

    God Bless you in your Journey!!!

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited February 2014

    I had mine removed but I'm BRCA+ and I have no regrets at all.  I've done no recon either but it means I'm not forced to wear a prosthetic if I don't want to.  My BS said it's easier to create two boobs than match new one to old...not sure if they all feel this way but that was her opinion. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2014

    tmurno:  I had a few reasons to do the bilat mastectomies.  1) strong family history of BC; 2) dense breasts; 3) I felt fine right up to being dx'd.  I had to really advocate for my prophylactic surgery as my insurance usually would not pay for it. I had my doctors and surgeons back me up on the decision and I have not regretted it one bit.  Although I didn't have much fun going through reconstruction and 2 revisions, but still glad.  It may make the decision easier, to write down your pros & cons beforehand.  Whatever you do, we're here !!! 

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  • LindaKR
    LindaKR Member Posts: 1,577
    edited February 2014

    According to everything I've read and all the info my docs gave me, I'm much more likely to have a recurrence on my bones, liver, lungs or brain than I am in the contralateral breast, of course that could be different for others depending on your BRCA status and/or cancer type. I consider getting one for symmetry and freedom from wearing a bra. I don't plan on recon, nor according to my docs am I a good candidate for it. I'm a DD on the other side, have a lot of residual pain issues. Though my BS agreed if I want it, I just can't bring myself to take healthy tissue, have more surgery, risk the scar tissue issues I have on the other side, or really want my whole chest to have no feeling (be numb). 

    That's my 2 cents!

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  • Lettinggo
    Lettinggo Member Posts: 52
    edited March 2014

    Ladies, thanks for sharing your opinions and experiences.   I find myself very conflicted in making this decision on whether to remove the other breast as a preventive measure.  I am going to have surgery in july after my chemo ends and know i will have a MX on my affected breast and have decided on no recon.   But still not sure on the removal of other breast.   Reading your posts helped.   I am wondering if any of you have the research statistics of the recurrence in the other breast and how much the removal prevents that from happening. Thank you all. take care

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2014

    Ughh, I'll be going for my annual mammo next week.  I hate the whole experience as it makes me re-live everything all over again, and the anxiety of knowing I have micocalcifications and dense breast, causes me to expect them to find something each time I go.  I really hate it.  Now after having the mastectomy and lymph node removal on my left, I wonder about if they find something and have to remove my right breast.  I have a question in this regard.  How do they recommend blood pressure to be taken when a bilateral mx is done?  Presently they never take a blood pressure reading from my left arm due to the surgeries.  The same applies to taking blood.  Anyone ?

    Oceana

    marvelous-nicole-rodriguez.jpg (180×119)

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited March 2014

    BPs and IVs use leg after a BMX.

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  • Grannyof3
    Grannyof3 Member Posts: 36
    edited March 2014

    I had a BMX.  (Don't regret it) Cancer and lymph node removal on right side. I get blood tests and BP done on left arm, so assuming it has to do with lymph nodes being removed, not the breast. 

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  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 690
    edited March 2014

    BP's are taken on my leg.  Blood taken from side with less lymph nodes removed and nurses take off touniquet once needle is inserted for blood.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited March 2014

    I had a mx on the cancer side 4/12, followed by enough radiation to light up a small city.  Waited 9 months and scheduled a flap reconstruction, where they replaced the left side entirely with abdominal skin and fat, and "scooped out" the breast tissue on the healthy right side and replaced the contents of the boobie bag with abdominal fat.

    My breast cancer sneaked up on me so hard and so fast that I didn't want to play the odds.  Get 'em both off and I'll sleep better at night.  

    Since no lymph nodes were touched on the right side I get BPs, blood draws, IVs on the right arm.  Never had a problem.   

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2014

    tmurno - keep in mind also that if you opt for recon work, either implant or flap surgery, they will put an expander in that breast like they did on me and that it's not at all like taking all the tissue like they do with the side that had cancer.  But also know that the radiated skin will be tight and not have the same elasticity as the other side, so harder to get the results you want.  I'm sure your PS has told you that already.    --

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