Cancer in BOTH breasts

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Armecia
Armecia Member Posts: 28
edited November 2016 in Just Diagnosed

9-years after a lumpectomy & radiation, 9-years of considering DC to be in the past tense, I have cancer in both breasts.

I have a local recurrence at the old surgical margin and a new primary tumor in my right. Both are high grade invasive ductal cancer. Both are small (8mm & 12mm). Hormone receptor & HER-2/neu studies are pending.

I feel a bit like I was walking along, carefree, when the solid ground gave way under me and now I'm being carried away downstream in a torrent. On the one hand it all seems to have hit fast and, on the other, there is all that waiting between steps. Just like 9-yrs ago.

Since I anticipated this diagnosis I've had time to research and make some plans. I've got an appointment scheduled with my 1st choice surgeon in about two and a half weeks. My plan is a bi-lateral w/out reconstruction. This will get me the lowest risk of recurrence and the quickest recovery.

I've been reading up on what I need to do/gather to be ready for surgery and recovery and control what precious little I can control. Argh!




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  • Lisey
    Lisey Member Posts: 1,053
    edited October 2016

    Love being flat and fabulous. Come join our facebook page and see how women are rocking the flat! : )

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  • LeslieMemsicMD
    LeslieMemsicMD Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2016

    So sorry about your new diagnosis. It can be devastating to have a recurrence or new primary (or in your case both!) after already doing everything right to treat you cancer the first time. I am so happy the tumors are so small and I agree with mastectomy on the previously radiated side and support your decision to do mastectomy on the other side. Of course you are a candidate for lumpectomy and radiation on the newly diagnosed breast but I can totally understand your choice to proceed with bilateral mastectomies. I am also supportive of your decision to proceed without reconstruction. There are prostheses if desired and many women are totally happy with this choice. Before you do so, however, I urge you to discuss reconstruction options with a few plastic surgeons as there are new techniques which you may at least consider before proceeding with surgery. Good luck and take care.

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