Should I have gone for preventive 2nd breast mastectomy

Mastectomy does reduce recurrence considerable, something in the 1% range. I was told I would have only a 5% risk in other breast, which is standard risk, and I got it two years later. I wanted a double mastectomy but they didn't recommend it. THAT said, it is rarer to get it in the other breast. With good follow up even if it does, it should be caught early enough.

I decided to have a double mastectomy with no reconstruction, after getting cancer again after 16 years, in the same breast where I'd had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. There was no indication that it was necessary, nor lessen the risk. I mostly did it to be even and have less worries. was not gene positive and MRI and PET scan showed nothing. The surgeon did not plan on searching for nodes because I have lymphedema on the left side. I got the path report today. Along with breast tissue, the surgeon removed a negative node on the left and two nodes on the right. One of the right nodes had a small percentage of cancer! The surgeon and oncologist cannot believe my report, having 3 separate breast cancers. It is really unknown if they are all primary or metastatic. But. one thing for sure, my instinct to remove both breasts was definitely the right choice

I decided on a right UMX because I was most worried about recurrence of my current cancer, and I know the chances of the cancer “jumping” over to the other breast is rar. Also I wanted to recover quickly and get everything over with. Breast MRI revealed a 2nd DCIS tumor in the same breast (that's too small to be felt) so I feel I can trust imaging.

Removing the other breast would prevent me from getting a new cancer on the left, but that's not my primary worry.

I have seen enough profiles with recurrence (on the same side) after mastectomy that I know I'll have to be vigilant the rest of my life anyway.

It is a very personal decision and I do wonder from time to time the chances of me getting a new cancer on the other side, but I am comfortable with my decision still, especially since I can take hormone blockers.

I was actually kind of shocked when my breast surgeon asked if I wanted them both off! I said , well why would I?I thought maybe something was wrong that I didn't know about. I asked how common would it be to get another cancer in the opposite breast. Not common! So I opted to be vigilant and keep my other breast. Happy with my decision. P.S. did good job matching my recon breast to the good one. Just my own opinion, for me, I never considered losing the non cancer breast.

hello sweetie we were planning our 2nd marriages when I found lump. Idc stage2 0\3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast reconstruction but my body rejected the expander had very high temp fiance rush me to e r taken out. Got married after chemo then 7wks rads and then Honeymoon. 5yrs on Tamoxifen. Am now this yr going into 25yrs Survivor. Praise God. It is Possible. Wear prothesis in bra on left still have healthy breast on right. Mammogram yearly. God Bless Us All. msphil

Very dense breast tissue, an ILC dx (tends to be more multi-focal than other types and hides from scans) and five "clear" mammos that missed my problem decided it for me when I finally found the b.c. in my right breast-almost under my armpit--in a random self-exam. I waited a year after radiation to let my skin recover, and did a nipple-sparing BMX with immediate recon, so it was only 2 surgeries-the nipple-sparing one was in my PS office under a local, and then 7 days later after the biopsy from that tissue came back negative I had the rest of the surgery.

I do miss the sensation in my breasts, and even have dreams where I still have feeling in them, sometimes. I suppose I'll always feel that sadness that I was forced to make a choice like that.