Preventative mastectomy of 'healthy' breast.

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southern47
southern47 Member Posts: 2
edited September 2016 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone else has considered removal of a remaining 'healthy' breast to avoid having to go through this ghastly cancer diagnosis and treatment again if a new cancer occurs?

I'm starting to get really anxious after seeing several friends develop a 2nd breast cancer or spread of an original cancer 7+ years down the track. My original cancer wasn't picked up by mammogram but by a chance find by myself. My big fear is that if I develop another cancer it may not be picked up before metastasising (sorry about spelling). I don't want to look back if this happens and know that having had a prophylactic removal at an earlier date could have prevented another breast cancer.

I had a mastectomy and lymphnode removal .

5 years ago, 4 doses out of 16 chemotherapy (allergic to one of the chemo drugs) radiation, Tamoxifen 5 years, Presently on Anastrazole for the next 5 years.

Invasive ductal carcinoma

G2 pT1C

1 positive sentinal node out of 2

Size 13mm

Grade intermediate

Grade 2

Mitosis score 1

Mitotic rate 3

Tubular formation score 3

Nuclear Grade 2

Oestrogen +ve

Progestrogen +ve

Her-2 -ve

I would love some comments please.

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Comments

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited September 2016

    Southern, having a mast is no guarantee of not having a recurrence but may help avoid a new primary. You'll get more posts shortly...

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2016

    Dear Shouthern, we wanted to send you a big warm welcome to the Breastcancer.org community.

    We know that after a breast cancer diagnosis, the fear of recurrence and metastatic breast cancer is one of the most common concerns, and you obviously want to do everything possible to lower the chances of cancer returning. If it helps, in the following article you can learn more on risk-reducing measures such as prophylactic mastectomy: Prophylactic Mastectomy

    Let us know how you're doing and again, welcome!

    The Mods

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  • jenjenl
    jenjenl Member Posts: 948
    edited September 2016

    I did and am happy i did, i sleep just a little better at night. I had a umx and 2 days after surgery my brca test came back 1 +. 7 months later i removed the healthy breast. 6 months later i did recon when i was mentally better/ready.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2016

    I chose to remove my right breast prophetically. There were many reasons that made me come to that choice but the majority of them were not necessarily scientifically based.

    Bottom line (for me) was that my breast made cancer, I was "young" (43) and couldn't imagine the stress of getting mammograms every six months for the rest of my life. Plus knowing that mammograms aren't infallible and do not guarantee that it will again be "caught early" didn't sit well with me. (Edited to add that I'm sure the "every six months" progresses to just yearly at some point)

    That being said, I know the majority of women never see BC again in their remaining breast and my decision is more of an emotional one. I hope you find peace with whatever you choose. :)

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  • daisylover
    daisylover Member Posts: 310
    edited September 2016

    Southern, I had ILC that was not visible on mammogram and feared that they would not see a recurrence. Also, after lumpectomy and reexcision, I was told that I would need a mastectomy on my right side... I wanted symmetry for my back's health as well. While many doctors repeatedly told me that the prophylactic removal of my left breast was not "medically necessary", it was for me. I chose BMX. They found ILC in my left breast (not seen on MRI) as well. So, I made a good decision for myself. However, ILC seems to be more likely than IDC to recur in the other breast? I feel like this is a very personal decision. Whatever you decide, it will be a good decision for your situation because you have carefully considered your alternatives and your needs. Wish there were a magic ball. Best wishes.

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  • LM070917
    LM070917 Member Posts: 323
    edited September 2016

    Hey Southern, I am also thinking the same. I'm 35 and just had my annual testing, they found benign calcifications, so I'm thinking of having it removed. My doc thinks due to my young age it's probably a good idea. I hate the idea of doing it, but don't really want to risk those calcifications going haywire at some point. The alternative is annual testing, which I'm not too keen due to the additional radiation from mammo each time. If the breast was completely healthy (no cal) then I might think differently, but as it is, I feel I have no choice. I know it won't prevent any potential metastases, only new Bc in other breast. My results were inconclusive for the Brca genes, but my doc is suspicious due to family history, which puts peopl at higher risk of BC in the other breast.

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  • southern47
    southern47 Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2016

    Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my post. It is so good to receive information and opinions from those who are in the same battle with breast cancer that I am and can therefore understand and relate to the feelings and experiences that I'm going through. You have all made some very good points and have given me a lot to think about and process. It would be so much easier I'd we all knew what the future held. I'm still thinking at this stage of a possible 2nd mastectomy as I have dense breast tissue and the mammography didn't pick up the last cancer. I would rather lose a breast for no reason than live with the, (albeit, small risk) of developing another cancer which may not have as favorable an outcome as this first one. I note that a lot of you have gone ahead with reconstruction. Have any of you experienced, setbacks, complications or regretted your decision of doing so?

    Are you pleased with the symmetry and look?

    I have heard of several women locally who asked to have the prosthesis removed because of issues with complications such as 'iron bra', infection, chronic pain and contractures.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited September 2016

    I had mine removed because I was young at diagnosis and have a significant family history. I also had very small breasts and the saggy, deflated one that would have remained would have been pretty impossible to match with an implant. I'd also already had a biopsy on the "good" breast, so for me it was a no brainer. As it turns out I am extra relieved because my mom had BC back in 1992 and had a UMX. Last fall she was diagnosed with a new primary in her remaining breast. I know I have not eliminated my risk of that, but I have reduced my risk. The other thing they do not mention is that after her mastectomy with the latest round, years of back pain disappeared. She had very large breasts, and even with a prosthesis, the weight was different and that caused her years of back pain.

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited September 2016

    Southern, I had a right prophylactic MX. I felt at the time that my breasts were a "matched set" and that, if one had to go, they both had to go. There were suspicious spots that showed up in the right breast during an MRI so I wanted to avoid endless imaging and biopsies. My pathology report indicated that these were false positives. I also didn't like the stories I was hearing about implants and iron-bra syndrome, so I had flap reconstruction. I ended up having a complication on the left (cancer) side and had to start over. After 2 unsuccessful lumpectomies, a MX, and 3 reconstructive surgeries, I hope that I am done. Losing a breast involves numbness and possible post-mastectomy pain. Reconstruction is a big deal, and I don't know if I would bother with it knowing what I know now about complications and long-recovery times. There are also some terrible surgeons out there, so get recommendations and look at results photos. I am happy with my results, but it was quite a slog to get it done. Buuuuuut, it's also nice to rock a strappy dress with no bra. I am glad reconstruction is behind me.

    Breast cancer forces us into a long line of choices between Crappy Option A and Crappy Option B. May you find the crappy options that work best for you!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2016

    southern47, to answer your question about reconstruction satisfaction, I am satisfied with mine. I did the nipple sparing and stayed close to my original size so I still look like "me". I did have a few sessions of fat grafting to help fill in some areas at the top. I was back to work one month after my mastectomy. It took a few years before I got used to the tight /iron bra feeling. I had no complications. I think that's due to good surgeons and equally to good luck. I've heard as high as 50% end up going back for revisions. Have no idea if that is accurate but something to note in the back of your mind so that you realise it's a possibility? Also some people are pickier/have higher expectations than others maybe? My breasts are far from perfect and definitely aren't a better replacement for the originals. When I flex, my breasts distort since they are under the muscle.

    They are as symettrical as the originals were...not sure if it's harder to achieve if there is a delay between having each side done? Plus you had radiation so that could effect the elasticity of the skin on your radiated side and thus make symmetry harder? Something to discuss with your plastic surgeon.

    And no, I do not have any regrets 6 years out. :)

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited September 2016

    I had my good breast removed after much thought mostly due to the high risk of a new cancer thanks to a genetic mutation. The small part of going ahead with surgery was I didn't want one saggy breast along with one implant. Seems silly but it is what it is.

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