Chance of recurrence if only single mastectomy?

I opted for a double mastectomy because I did not want to end up doing "it" all over again in a few years. I wanted to be proactive. I don't have a family history.  My surgeon told me the same thing that cancer doesn't travel across breasts that way but if it can show up in 1 what's it to stop from showing up in the other. It's all a personal preference though.  On a side note my plastic surgeon was glad I opted for a double because it made his job easier to match the girls rather than trying to match a new one to the old one.

It's really a personal choice. I think many women believe they will get a better cosmetic result by doing a BMX. Surely, one natural breast and one "rebuilt" will probably appear very different without clothes. With clothes on, you may not notice the difference at all.

Certainly having them both removed reduces the likelihood of LOCAL recurrence to roughly 1-3%, at least that's the number we were told for Lobular Carcinoma. In terms of Ductal Carcinoma, it might be a slightly different percentage, but it will be low.

I had a much larger tumor (multi focal) and multiple lymph nodes when I was diagnosed.  I was 47.  It was all in the right breast and nothing suspicious in the left.  My initial gut reaction was to get a BMX.  Both my surgeon and oncologist recommended a single mastectomy.  I am glad I listened to them.  I have no feeling in the reconstructed breast.  I am very grateful that is not the case in the left breast.  But you have to make your own decision.  

sorry you have to join us!  It is still so fresh and new for you and getting a plan in place is the hardest part.  

I opted for the BMX for very personal reasons.  My grandmother and mother both had BC at different times in both breasts. Both new cancers.  Even though BRCA testing came back negative I did not have faith they genetic testing had caught up with familial relationships and did not want to be the third generation dealing with it two times.  If I am honest with myself I also was vain enough to think about symmetry and with my very large and droopy natural breasts I didn't think that symmetry would ever be possible with reconstruction.

I asked for oncotype dx testing before surgery but was told it wasn't protocol but would be considered after.  I was 1 node positive with an oncotype score of 16.  I did enroll in the RxPonder trial and am in the chemo arm.  

Was not hoping to do chemo but am here to tell you that we all rise to the occasion and get through it.  6 more treatments and I am done!  If nothing else, we learn a lot about ourselves through this process and I believe come out the other side much stronger and compassionate.  Hang in there! You have come to the right place!

Welcome to BCO Forums. It is a very stressful
time but often talking with others can help. You'e already had a flood of feedback, that will help with deciding to go single or double. Statistics are generally that you should have no more chance of recurrence than you did of your first Dx, however there are psychological and physical considerations as well to consider - are your breasts large or small, how will you cope with your mammo after the first surgery (it can be very stressful). 

Are you considering recon or going flat?

You
could read the Reconstruction stories and options on BCO and
ask questions.

You may
consider not reconstructing and going flat, so read Living
Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

There
are many issues to consider and many variables in all treatments depending upon
location, surgeon, your body's responses and your Dx.

We understand
that it is confusing, often overwhelming and there is so much information to
read and consider but there is no easy way as YOU have to make the decision as
to what is done to YOUR BODY.

Sorry
we can't help more. You are best talking with the other members. Waiting is a
hard time but can be well spent in educating yourself on the options for
treatment.

All the
best

The Mods

Any good surgeon will recommend single mastectomy over double if you don't have either of the BRCA. But perhaps you want to ask about the 'third gene' and any others yet to be discovered  )   http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/07/health/gene-indi…

I did bmx over single very aware as the mods said that it was my body and I needed to live with it, and in it, no one else, for the rest of what I hoped would be a long, long life.  It's true though, NO sensation in the fake breasts which is a big drawback.  Also, living with a certain chest tightness you get used to. My size is also smaller, not out of choice but PS said that's the way it was/would be.  But I am happy for the choice I made. I save money, time, and angst by not having any breasts to screen and biopsy.  I also reduced whatever the risk was of a local recurrence of X%- some said 5%, others said 10 %,  who knows, but now we do and it's basically down to 1%.  That was why I did it. 

PS my happy end is that the 'healthy' side had DCIS which no one noticed from the ultrasound or the MRI or the mammogram.  

Re-occurance risk you are usually worried about to a distance part outside the breast. I was told removing health breast didnt help me. But if you have brca1/2 you may want to think about it.  Being er/pr positive means you can get tamoxifen or ai for treatment.

I had a single mastectomy 8 years ago last month.  I just had a 2nd mastectomy 10 days ago.  No recurrence.  This was a 2nd separate cancer. I wanted the doctor to perform a double eight years ago but he really didn't want to take the perfectly healthy breast, and the insurance would not pay for the double at the time.  You make the best decision you can based on the best information you have at the time.  I hope all goes well for you!!