Cancer in both breasts at the same time?

I had biopsy in both but they determined the left side was microcalcifications, so they are just watching that side. Had mastectomy on the right and am now taking Arimidex.

Me too. I had almost identical tumors in the same spot on each breast.

This is an interesting topic. I had IDC in right breast and now am having excisional biopsy on the right....and it makes me wonder ..maybe I had it in both all along ?   It seems strange to me that when this all first started last March on the left side, they didn't treat the right side too.

Hi, Yes I also had synchronous bilateral breast cancer. IDC in right breast (2.91cm) diagnosed this past December. I opted for BMX due to very dense breast tissue and the fact that my almost 3cm tumor couldn't be seen on mammogram (had no confidence that a tumor in the other breast would ever be detected either). Post surgery pathology of the left breast showed a small .5cm invasive tumor. I was told this only happens in 2-3% of BCs, but I think it is likely higher and just under diagnosed.

Count me too! IDC in both breasts. The left we knew about 1.2 cm. MRI revealed something in the right. neg biopsy but after BMX discovered another 0.7 cm tumor. Left grade 2 and right grade 1 so two different primaries. lucky me

Yep, me too. I personally think that this is not a rare as people think. The tumor initially found on my mammogram was in the right breast, (7mm). US and mammo on the left found nothing at the time. But my astute BS does MRI on both breasts as a matter of course on all her pts, so one week later, that is when the LARGER (12mm) tumor was found on the left. My BS then informed me that I was no longer a candidate for lumpectomy and radiation. She said I now needed to have both breasts removed, so I had BMX with immediate DIEP flap recon 3/4/13 with PRMA in San Antonio. Pathology showed DCIS bilaterally as well.

I think that women who have a "recurrence" in the unaffected side after their original diagnosis most likely have had bilateral tumors simultaneously all along, I was told that bilateral breast MRIs are not standard of care after diagnosis. If they were, I feel more synchronous BC would be found. Just my humble opinion.

Yes, high grade DCIS in L and DCIS + IDC & possible adenoma in R. Diagnosed through the DCIS in L--nothing showed on the mammogram on the right, but did appear on MRI.

Sounds to me like mammograms are not what they are cracked up to be. My normal results on the mammograms year after year actually led the docs to dismiss my breast symptoms. I knew that it had to be more than just my normal fibrous pain.

Well in response to the questons about Mammograms, I will tell you that neither my left breast cancer nor my right Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia which will be removed and sent for further testing this Friday...were found by a mammogram.  I have opted out of them....I feel that they are barbaric in nature.  I have a high tolerance for pain, and I don't believe I'm a wimp; however, I do not have a high tolerance for pain where my breasts are concerned, so I had two mammograms in the past (over 10 years ago)...and have had nothing since then. 

Because of the high incidence of bc in my family  I was approved for a breast MRI back in 2011...which I never had ......and my lump was found by me, and then diagnosed via ultrasound.  After going through everything last year.....they told me I'm, no longer high risk so I'm not okayed for an MRI now...which I find to be ridiculous.  I was high risk before I got BC but now that I've had it I'm not ?   Crazy.

Jaysfan65 - In my case, the second breast cancer wasn't discovered until the post surgery pathology review of the "good" breast. When I first met with my breast surgeon, I asked her about an mri of the "good" breast to make sure it also didn't have cancer and her response was that that situation was extremely rare, so no, they wouldn't test for it. Thank God I decided to do the BMX. I really think the medical community is mistaken that this is as rare as they say. I just think it is often undiagnosed,

kayb - I agree that mammograms are pretty useless for those of us with extremely dense breast tissue. Even the newer, 3D mammogram missed my nearly 3 cm tumor. There are new, whole breast ultrasound machines that are supposed to be better than a hand held ultrasound scan (where you are at the mercy of the skill of the tech). Not a lot of places have these yet and dr's are still reluctant to use ultrasound as a screening tool for BC in dense breast patients. The comfort level seems to be only using ultrasound for diagnostic purposes once an area of concern has been revealed. There are actually 4 states in the US that have laws that require insurance companies to cover ultrasound as routine screening for women with dense breast tissue. I'm currently in touch with a few state Senators in PA to try to get similar legislation passed here (the bill has been stalled since Jan. 2013). I would love to see whole breast ultrasounds become the standard of care in screening for women identified as having extremely dense breast tissue.

Lucy, thank God you chose mastectomy. Wow. Also, my gynecology and insurance was fighting me every step of the way to not give me that expensive MRI. If you ask me, the mri trumps mammograms by a mile! Lots of research still needs done to improve these diagnostic tests. Early detection is the key to survival, but insurance sure doesn't like to pay for it.

Count me in this group. I too had dense breast tissue and cysts. I had a routine mammogram last year and was called back in for more pics. I wasn't worried because this is the norm for me. After the second round of pictures the radiologist came in and I knew there was a problem. He scheduled me for a double biopsy. I had DCIS in both breasts and LCIS in the left breast. I had an MRI and after the breast surgeon reviewed it, she said, "Your breasts are a mess." That's not what I wanted to hear! I wanted the minimum amount of surgery, but left her office with a scheduled BMX.

A friend had me email her sister-in-law who is a breast cancer researcher at Duke. She said BMX is what she would choose for herself given my report.

I've never met anyone else with bilateral breast cancer until I found this forum.

That makes me wonder if the "second breast with ca" was just not properly diagnosed. Just glad that I didn't have to chose uni or bilateral. I also do not know anyone personally with bilateral breast cancer. This forum helps me tremendously in dealing with this. Thank you all!!

So glad I found this thread. I didn't even know WHERE to go with this one. You may have read my continuing saga in another thread. But in the last two days I have had stabbing pain in my 'good' breast and I am STILL being told breast cancer doesn't cause pain. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? HELLO, HERE I AM!! I had an appointment with a MO today who refused to order an u/s telling me I just had a mammogram in Dec and an MRI about a month and a half ago. But my cancer didn't show on the mammogram or the MRI anyway. AND THERE WAS NO PAIN that kept me awake all night even with a sleeping pill like last night. I guess doctors are just trained to turn us away at the front gate even when we are already in the room. I called my OB and made him order me an u/s and I am going to make him give me a biopsy order too. I am not waiting a year and half or even 6 months this time.

Thanks kayb .  I made the appointment for the results on MARCH 30. But today the surgeon's office called and said they are ready today so I'm going later this afternoon for results.  I'm assuming they came back so quickly it is good news.