Did anyone NOT have a bi-lateral?

Hi, Connie. I'm in the minority in that I just had a lumpectomy. After the surgery, when it was found I also have extensive pleomorphic LCIS in the bad boob, both the surgeon and the onc recommended bilateral prophylactic mast. After much pondering, I decided I wasn't mentally prepared for the bilats/reconstruction, but that I could live with close monitering. If I could be 100% guaranteed to not have a local recurrence with the bilats, I'd be more moved to do it. But since that's not the case and my gut tells me to not do the sugery at this time, I stuck with the lumpectomy.

Ironically, after I agonized over the decision for weeks, the surgeon and the onc went to tumor board, where everyone did an about-face on their recommendations, decided distant recurrence was more of a concern than local recurrence for me, and that my boobs should stay put. Sheesh.

At any rate, all of this being said, if I'd had a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy, I believe I would have decided to have the other side off prophylactically, if for no other reasons than not to be lopsided and to make reconstruction more symetrical.

I think if you are emotionally ready for the bilat, you should follow your gut. Everything I've read has said that the women who want it done are much happier with the outcome than the women who are advised to do it by their docs, but who are really sort of on the fence about the whole thing. 

Hi Connie,

I was dx in Feb '07 with ILC in my L breast and because I am 31 years old, my bs said mastectomy is the only way to go. She never mentioned anything about bi-lat.

I saw her again a few weeks ago, and I told her I'm thinking about letting the good boob go as well. She was horrified, and said because I do not have the gene, my chances of developing BC in the good boob was not more than that of any other woman. (To which I replied that I've gone through this once, and am not that keen to go through it again...) 

She did, however, say that acquiring symmatry was easier with a bi-lat. She told me to have a good think about it, and if I still feel the same way by next year, she'll do it.

Decisions, decisions. Do we ever get a break?

Janine 

Hi.

I had a mastectomy on my rt breast. The surgeon said that there were 3 lumps and when I got the path. report, it said lobular and 19+ nodes. The surgeon was shocked. I wish that I knew about the lobular because I would have wanted a bilateral. Now after all the treatment is done, I think I want the left one off too. I wish the surgeon would have awakened me because I would have given my permission.

hi, I had a 9cm lobular, single mastectomy. I am 58 but still want some feeling in my breast, so I did not have a double - I'm just thinking about reconstruction now...i've only been out of chemo for 4 months....but do you have mri's done every 6 months....I know they won't prevent the cancer, but they will show lobular so it won't be as large as the last...did you have any node involvement...I did not....a

Hi Connie

I was dxd in July 2004 with ductal cancer in my right breast, had lump rads chemo etc, in Jan 2007 I was dxd with lobular cancer in my left breast, i opted for a bi-lateral mastectomy. Turns out i had a 8cm tumor in left and two 4cm tumors in the right.  Good decision for me i think, but every one is different.  Ive read that lobular cancer is more likely to recur in the other breast.

Good luck with it all

Hi Ladies and thanks for your input here.  For me, it was a tiny 2 mm invasive lobular carcinoma.  Lumpectomy - but the invasive part was removed ironically during the biopsy.  I'm so lucky.  A friend of mine did a bilateral with immediate reconstruction and had her ovaries removed at the same time.  Yikes!  She says she has no regrets.

I feel kinda silly asking this, but what are 'mets'?  Are those the calcifications that show up with ILC?  Thanks