20's young DX with IDC, need suggestions

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hlya
hlya Member Posts: 484
edited September 2017 in Just Diagnosed

I met a lady @ clinic for treating BC years ago and we became good friends since then (we both got BC and she had IDC). She never had anyone got cancer in her family (neither males nor females).

But today I got a call from her, her 28yo daughther was dx with IDC, only finished biopsy so not much information. I read the biopsy report, it says ER/PR highly positive, HER2 equivocal, grade 2, around 9mm tumor (don't think it's accurate until the surgery)

The surgery could be scheduled in 4 weeks soonest. The girl is super scared and decided to remove both breasts with immediate reconstruction preferable, and her family fully support it.

But as it's very difficult to book the plastic surgeon, and if that's the case the surgery might need to be postponed. The girl does want to get both mastectomy and reconstruction done at the same time as both are big surgeries and she doesn't want to experience twice in short period. - we understand as 28yoshe wants to be reconstructed asap.

But it's also a risk to postpone the breast removal, at this age, also with her mom's "history" , she has higher risk factor than others.

Option 1) If they can't schedule the reconstruction soon, just do lumpectomy, see how "severe/urgent" the disease is, then they will decide when to schedule the mastectomy with reconstrction together.

For this option, if the reconstrction had to be scheduled very late (eg. 2 years later), then she might need to do the mastectomy first. - That would turned out to be 3 surgeries.

Option 2) Schedule the mastectomy in 4 weeks anyway, if can't schedule the reconstruction with it, they will do it later.


Could any ladies with similar experience/knowledge give some advices? Or even any experiences from your friends?

Thanks!

Comments

  • Hopfull2
    Hopfull2 Member Posts: 418
    edited September 2017

    hi. Sorry about your friend. What I chose was mastectomy on the affected breast with no reconstruction then 9 months later after I was done with chemo I had my other breast removed and reconstruction on both sides. So that's always an option for her. My breast surgeon and plastic surgeon was on board from the beginning on doing the delayed prophylactic mastectomy and the delayed reconstruction. Good luck

  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited September 2017

    hlya, it might really be more helpful if you had your friends' daughter actually come on here herself and ask her questions. This type of information and decision making is incredibly individualized with so many factors, that it is sure to be condensed in some way through the relaying. She can go to the forum that fits her best to help her in decision making as well as connect to other young women going through the same. Just a thought

  • hlya
    hlya Member Posts: 484
    edited September 2017

    Hi, Hopfull2,

    Thanks that really really helps. As I have no idea about reconstruction (I didn't do it for myself and haven't been followed up with related "technology").

    I will pass on the information to her and my friend.

  • hlya
    hlya Member Posts: 484
    edited September 2017

    Hi, MTwoman,

    I mentioned this forum to the family and none of them seem interested. 1stly, my friend (the girl's mom) is a very "nervous" type, she is the one who doesn't want to know anything about her own disease and doesn't want to see any bad news on internet, Even when we talked about somebody else's BC she became very scared and nervous, even that BC is totally different from hers. She doesn't want to have the knowledge, just want to hear any words like "everything is good, you will be fine...." etc. then she will be happy. So I seldom talked to her about BC. I am not sure whether her daughter is the same type, the only thing I know is she is very sad. 2ndly, my friend's English is very poor, much worse than mine, not sure about her daughter's.

    But your suggestion really makes sense and I will suggest them to come to the site again.

    Thanks

  • hlya
    hlya Member Posts: 484
    edited September 2017

    Hi, All,

    Per MTwoman's suggestion, I deleted another thread and move Lula73 reply from that thread to here.


    " Lula73's reply: Option 3) find a different PS

    What type of recon is she having done? If she wants immediate recon, is she just looking at implants (that at age 28 would need replacing at least 3 times and maybe more in her lifetime) or was natural tissue recon on the table (immediate DIEP flap or immediate SGAP)? The center for restorative breast surgery in New Orleans that specializes in flap recon usually gets you in within 3-4 weeks. Women travel from all over the US and from other countries to have them do their immediate recon, delayed recon and even correct other surgeon's botched recons. "

  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited September 2017

    here's the link-

    www.breastcenter.com

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