Any unilateral mastectomy regrets?

Hi Patty,

I too struggled with Uni vs bilateral decision and initially thought I wanted both gone. I do not regret Uni for the fact I find myself grateful for soreness / healing on one side only. Also delayed reconstruction for a year to get a true picture of what I wanted to do. I feel for you trying to make this decision during such a stressful time. Hoping others can give you some comforting insight on possible regrets

Hi Patty - This feedback may not be what you're seeking but I thought I'd provide another perspective. I chose to have bilateral for the simple reason that it would reduce my risk of a local recurrence. Even though it was explained to me that it does nothing to reduce regional or systemic recurrence I simply felt better with my decision. With that said, my first attempt at reconstruction failed and I just completed surgery # 6 out of a likely 10. That's a lot to go through to get boobs back. I'm not finished with my surgeries yet but at this time I am very happy with my decision. I appreciate the symmetry and my PS has done a nice job with the aesthetics. I don't have any discomfort and I have full ROM. My MO was most helpful in assisting me with my decision. Essentially, he asked me to consider how I would feel with each outcome. This was the right decision for me. I have not regretted it for one moment. Likewise, the views of the other posters are also valid. I wish you well in finding the path that brings you comfort.

I considered uni, which both my BS and PS were fine with but they also said I would get a better symmetry with a bi. I was having diep recon. I don't think they could make my new breast look as saggy as my natural breast, lol. The PS did say he could do a lift on the natural side, but I think for me trying to match the two would have been a lot more work than getting the bmx so thats whatI went with. I ended up with 2 very full, round breasts that match.

I handled this differently- I had a unilateral mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction when I was diagnosed with multifocal bc. Also had work on my "good" side for symmetry. At that time neither my bs or mo talked about bilateral. I wasn't even thinking about it. It was, of course, a very stressful time. I had a lot of problems with my DIEP reconstruction and bounced through multiple surgeries.

I was researching things all the while during those 4 years (after being diagnosed) and also changed a number of my physicians. I understood I had dense tissue and mammography didn't work well for me. I was being followed very carefully for a new primary alternating through mammograms, MRI's and manual exams. I had a family history of bc (though BRCA negative) and was considered high risk for another primary.

So 4 years after my initial diagnosis I finally decided on a contralateral ns prophylactic mastectomy with sGAP reconstruction. All of my current doctors except one told me that if they were in my shoes they would make the exact same decision. The one physician who told me she personally would not have the surgery also told me that if I made the "no surgery" choice I would have to be willing to go through treatment again.... I was concerned about another primary and wanted to reduce the chance of that happening. I had the time to really research the prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction and found awesome doctors with a beautiful outcome. So for me absolutely no regrets - just a delayed choice that I am very happy with.

These are such personal decisions. There is,of course, no right or wrong answer to this. Just what is right for you.

I just had my uni Mx last week, with no regrets. I'm still recuperating, with so much discomfort. I still have my JP draining approximately 30 ml/day. I will see my oncologist in two weeks. Still anxiously waiting what adjuvant treatment I'm going to have.

I had a UMX and only regret it a little. My healthy breast is dense, so now I worry about problems in the future. I don't ever want to go through this experience again!

But, my surgeon had warned me that a double mastectomy is more than twice the pain. Recovery for my UMX was not so bad because I had one side that I could still use. I would have been completely helpless during my recovery for a BMX.

I'm also 43 and do not plan on wearing a bikini. I just want to look good in a t-shirt and bra. So, I don't care if my breasts look a little different from one another when I'm naked.

I had a uni, and two years out, do not regret it at all. Given my stats, my BS was not concerned about another primary showing up in the healthy breast. I had an implant, and lift on the other side. I have symmetry, with and without clothing, and wear two piece bathing suits. I have feeling in the natural breast, which I am glad to have.

Nothing is simple, or certain. There are pros and cons to every choice. I had a great PS who was able to do the job right. I have read others' stories who have had bad outcomes from breast reconstruction of a BMX.

Hi. I just had a unilateral mastectomy 2 wks ago. Now I'm thinking if I have done a mistake by not doing bilateral mastectomy. Doctors, especially surgeons are not very eager to give advices, so I'm on my own. Do I have to do radiation with unilateral surgery? I had DCIS, 1.5 CM

Hi Suenova. I had a lumpectomy so can't be of much practical help, but I am sorry you feel you're in this alone. Can you get an appointment with a medical oncologist at a local hospital perhaps? I suspect hormone therapy is a more likely recommendation than radiation, but you need a good specialist to help you figure it out.

suenova I doubt you will need radiation since you're technically Stage 1..if your surgeon got all your cancer out.