Unilateral or bilateral mastectomy

I would just add that I think it's important to see an oncologist before surgery. The surgeon has his specialty and so does the oncologist. It might be very helpful to you to have their input now.

I was given choice by my surgeon (they found multi tumors in my left breast) I wanted both breast gone even though no family history of breast cancer. The minute I was diagnosed , I just felt like my breasts were cancer farms and I wanted them removed. (In hindsight, it was definitely the correct decision because when they did tests on right side they found `very concerning tissue'' which would have had to be monitored quite frequently. I hope they give you a choice and you make the decision that gives you the most peace of mind. Good luck with it all and try to remember you will get past all this, althought I'm sure it doesn't feel like it right now

My surgeon wanted me to have one mastectomy to see how I reacted, physically and emotionally, and promised that if I still wanted my other one taken off, she would do it. So I had two surgeries within a few months. I found having one breast to be kind of uncomfortable. More importantly, there were aspects of my cancer that suggested more risk to the other breast, and it turned out the non-cancer breast was full of cysts (I had told them it felt funny). I am flat and feel fine. If you are considering reconstruction or have a romantic partner, there are other concerns and reasons to keep one.

re: the 2 tumors... we knew mine ahead of time. It's all very bizarre how it happened. Divine intervention in my book. I could feel one tumor which is what sent me for my baseline mammogram. The mammogram found a tumor, and I started down this crazy road. BUT - found out during the appointment with the breast surgeon that the tumor they found was NOT the tumor I felt. She could feel something too, and sent me for an MRI. My insurance denied the MRI, but she personally called them and fought with them. The MRI found the 2nd tumor, and this is what kicked me out of getting a lumpectomy. At first, going into the 2nd biopsy (I got to do it all twice - so much fun!), they thought maybe it was just one big tumor, or they were connected somehow. But there was a definite space between them and they were separate.

My cancer breast did not feel any heavier, but then again, I've had DD breast to begin with, so my little under 2 cm tumors will just floating around in there.