any help appreciated

Hi Kimber-

I was DX with ILC and LCIS last May.  I lost my mother to bc, but I am not BRCA +.  I had 4 ac and 4 taxol and currently doing Herceptin and tamox.  I opted for only a unilat mast and recon.  My surgeon was willing to do both.  I was not.  It is a personal decision.  I mentally, could not do both.  I had an MRI done before my mast and my surgeon said there was an abnormalty on my other breast but was not concerned.  He said that we would redo the MRI in six months to see if it was still there (MRI's have a lot of false positives).  Even knowing all of this, I still could not bare to have a bilat mast.  I beleive we all need to do what we believe deep down we can live with.  Because if you live physically and die mentally, you really still have died.  So, you really need to do what is most comfortable and what you can live with.  My sister is a nurse, and she was very upset that I did not do a bilat.  But women who are not faced with it and research reconstructions, have no idea.  My friends thought--"Hey free boob job"--NO!!!  It isnt a chance for a free boob job.  It is no where NEAR a boob job.  I may not have had the best boobs, but they were mine and I hated to lose them. 

Good luck to you--lots of love.

I'm so sorry you are going through this Kimber. You have seen first hand what the experience of bc is like. Your onc wants re-excision. You are sick of worrying. I wish I could take all these feelings away of worry and fright and uncertainty and stress. Some people try to do anything to escape these feelings. But I can't stop them for you.



I have no personal experience with mast, but hope you have read the Surgical, and, if you are interested in the option, reconstruction forums. Do your own research. Some people find seeing a therapist and/or a significant other can help them come to a decision.



I have a weak family history and LCIS + ALH, and have had 2 biopsies after my original core biopsy and excision. My bs is not interested in further surgery for me. As you can see, women with LCIS are given a wide variety of recommendations.



I wish I could take away the feelings you are having. Unlike our sisters with DCIS/invasive, we have more time to make our decision. Go to whomever and take as much time as you need to make the best decision for YOU.

a simple question, Anne - "In your heart of hearts, at this point in time, with all the info you have now, what do you think you should do? "

femme

Anne, I must tell you that in the last months before my mast.  I experienced exactly the same thoughts that you are experiencing.  Am I overreacting? Is this really necessary? I decided to do an MRI the month before surg. which didn't really show anything of concern.  I had expected to get more bad news and when I didn't I started 2nd guessing myself even more. Of course the MRI didn't take away all the previous dx's but I was scared. Once I started thinking about everything that I had been told by my drs I always came back to the same conclusion. 

After my surgery, I honestly had no regrets. I'm sure it made all the difference to wake up with breasts, but I just felt like I'd made the right choice. I got my path. results last week and there was no cancer present in either breast.  YeaH!!!!! Dr. said that there was a lot of suspicious cell activity in both breasts.  Rt breast had more LCIS, originally only found on left.  She felt that eventually I would have had an invasive cancer and told me that I definetly  made the right choice.  

The hardest part for you in the next few months will be the 2nd guessing and worrying about the actually surgery.  I think its better when you have less time to dwell on everything.  But you'll be busy figthing that ins. company. Don't give up, that's what they're hoping for.

Hang in there...

ophelia,

Thank you so much for your words. I'm up for my six month mammo and MRI in one week. (cuticle biting time!) But I am okay with the decision. Only things to work out are the insurance issues, who and what kind.

Anne