how did you decide between bilateral or single mastecotomy?

Options
mberg
mberg Member Posts: 62
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am still trying to decide whether to have a single or double mastectomy. I am going to have no 4 of 6 chemos next week, and seeing my plastic surgeon for a consult on Friday. I had my brac testing done, it was negative. My right side is the only side affected, but i have lots of calcification's on both sides. Just wondering how everyone else decided? thanks monica

Comments

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #2
    Options
    What did your breast surgeon suggest
    Hi Monica,
    It is a tough decision to make. What did your breast surgeon suggest? Plastic surgeon consultation also should help to make decision. Family history, age, and personal preference. I had a left side radical mastectomy. One side recovery definitely easy then two.
    Hugs
  • JGrim
    JGrim Member Posts: 36
    #3
    Options
    Definitely bilateral for me...
    First of all, I figure if even one tries to kill me, they're probably in cahoots and the other one is sure to follow at some point. If I only had removed one I stood at least a chance of having it become a problem later, but I seldom read about women that had a bilateral and then later wished they'd only taken the one (although I'm sure they're out there... I just saw tons of women that originally only did one and then later did the second or wished they'd done both). Also I'm a bit OCD about matching.

    I don't know if it would help or if you're curious but my entire bilateral mastectomy was photographed and is on my site along with some after photos (the others are actually photos of the entire surgery, which may not be your cup of tea), CancerVacation.com. It's not compared to a single mastectomy, but could maybe at least give you an idea of the procedure and the healing on a double?

    I just never want to think one day, "What if I would have tried _____", you know? On the other hand there are women to whom a breast is very important and those women are probably glad to still have one. Hard to say.
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #4
    Options
    JGrim said:

    Definitely bilateral for me...
    First of all, I figure if even one tries to kill me, they're probably in cahoots and the other one is sure to follow at some point. If I only had removed one I stood at least a chance of having it become a problem later, but I seldom read about women that had a bilateral and then later wished they'd only taken the one (although I'm sure they're out there... I just saw tons of women that originally only did one and then later did the second or wished they'd done both). Also I'm a bit OCD about matching.

    I don't know if it would help or if you're curious but my entire bilateral mastectomy was photographed and is on my site along with some after photos (the others are actually photos of the entire surgery, which may not be your cup of tea), CancerVacation.com. It's not compared to a single mastectomy, but could maybe at least give you an idea of the procedure and the healing on a double?

    I just never want to think one day, "What if I would have tried _____", you know? On the other hand there are women to whom a breast is very important and those women are probably glad to still have one. Hard to say.

    Bilateral
    Monica,
    After I had a second opinion and the team told me that they recommended a mastectomy I asked about a bilateral and they told me that it was my choice. I had DCIS(ductal carcinoma in situ) with invasion and the doctor told me that they can not tell where the invasion was. I opted for a bilateral with tissue expanders at the time-I turned 45 the day of my surgery. I had a strong family history of breast cancer and other cancers-I had the BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing and came out negative.
    I am glad I did a bilateral--it is not for everyone.

    Recovery is different for all--I had surgery on 2/2 and home 2/4 only took only one pain pill on 2/5 and was driving my car on 2/6. I have a high pain tolerance so no pain pills needed after the 5th. I may be out of the norm.

    I took one month off from work but really felt fine the next week but choose to stay home the whole month.

    I will be having my tissue expanders taken out on 11/10 and permanent ones put in.

    Best of luck in your decision.

    Hugs,
    Margo
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #5
    Options
    Hi Monica
    I have to make the same decision in a couple months....I'm stage IIIC with the left side affected. My Braca one came back negative, Braca two showed and unidentified significance, grandma had breast cancer very early. I'll be 38 in Dec. and my kids are 15/20, no need to breast feed.....I don't want to go through this again and I'm currently leaning on bilateral. I too am a little OCD and like things even (lol) but I can see how recovery time and saving a breast can be important to others for many reasons. I personally wrote down the pros and cons of both single and bilateral, bilateral is currently in the lead. Best of luck on your decision, only you can decide :)
    ((((hugs))))
    Keeping the Faith,
    Kari
  • JGrim
    JGrim Member Posts: 36
    #6
    Options
    pinkkari09 said:

    Hi Monica
    I have to make the same decision in a couple months....I'm stage IIIC with the left side affected. My Braca one came back negative, Braca two showed and unidentified significance, grandma had breast cancer very early. I'll be 38 in Dec. and my kids are 15/20, no need to breast feed.....I don't want to go through this again and I'm currently leaning on bilateral. I too am a little OCD and like things even (lol) but I can see how recovery time and saving a breast can be important to others for many reasons. I personally wrote down the pros and cons of both single and bilateral, bilateral is currently in the lead. Best of luck on your decision, only you can decide :)
    ((((hugs))))
    Keeping the Faith,
    Kari

    Personally, while a shorter
    Personally, while a shorter recovery time might be a bonus for me, I don't think I would let it affect a decision about something that would affect the rest of my life. Also, I may be out of the norm as well since I was just fine after my mastectomy except for no reaching above my shoulder for a bit. Didn't take more pain meds than I already take for my arthritis. The expanders were pretty crippling for me, although I hear that others have had no problem with them.
  • jk1952
    jk1952 Member Posts: 613
    #7
    Options
    JGrim said:

    Personally, while a shorter
    Personally, while a shorter recovery time might be a bonus for me, I don't think I would let it affect a decision about something that would affect the rest of my life. Also, I may be out of the norm as well since I was just fine after my mastectomy except for no reaching above my shoulder for a bit. Didn't take more pain meds than I already take for my arthritis. The expanders were pretty crippling for me, although I hear that others have had no problem with them.

    I chose a bilateral for a

    I chose a bilateral for a couple reasons: I had been treated with a lumpectomy and radiation in 2000 when I was diagnosed with a small amount of invasive lobular cancer, DCIS and LCIS. When DCIS was found in the same breast this year, I knew that I would have a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (using DIEP), since that was the only reconstruction that a plastic surgeon would do near me on someone who has had radiation. I had had several sonograms and MRIs on both breasts during the nine years, so I knew that I would probably continue needing them on the other breast. Also, I was told that if I needed to have the other breast removed, I would not be able to have the DIEP surgery again, since they would have discarded all of the extra tummy tissue in the first procedure. I wanted to 'get it over with' and be as much back to normal as possible, as quickly as possible.

    The recovery from the DIEP was long: eight weeks for me. And, my primary complaints were related to my abdomen, not any restrictions due to the mastectomy. But, the breasts seem quite real, they are my own tissue, and they'll age as my normal breasts would. Unless you have to have a short recovery period, for some reason, I wouldn't let that be a determining factor. I considered what would be best in the long term, and I knew that by doing them both at once I would avoid another recovery period, if the othe breast needed to be removed.

    As an aside, I was able to control the pain with Advil within two days of the surgery, and I was able to drive short distances within three weeks. (I think that the restriction on the driving was more due to the tummy tuck than the mastectomy).

    Joyce
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #8
    Options
    I asked if the cancer would
    I asked if the cancer would come back in the other side, which for me is a broad hint of "should it go too". The surgeon insisted it would not. Didn't know enough to ask why. I didn't have anyone to talk to about this and this was my second opinion. So I decided to trust him. I did not have reconstruction. Sometimes it's a pain in the butt because I'm lopsided. I would ask what the chances of getting cancer on the other side is. Then it depends on how you feel about it.
  • Fran1947
    Fran1947 Member Posts: 72
    #9
    Options
    Hard decision!
    Hi Monica,

    I had to make that decision last year. I was very torn. Both my oncologist and my surgeon said it was up to me - and my insurance said they would pay for it. In the end I chose to only do the one - and I've been second guessing myself ever since. Losing a breast is very hard to deal with - but I don't think it would have been any harder losing both - maybe easier even. If you choose to have the double your reconstruction options are clearer cut. In any event, it is a very personal choice, at least when there is no obvious medical necessity. I am very seriously considering having the second mastectomy anyway.

    Let us know - we'll all support you through the whole thing!

    Hugs,

    Fran
  • Wolfi
    Wolfi Member Posts: 425
    #10
    Options
    Decided on bilateral
    I had DCIS on one side but chose to have bilateral because I didn't want to have to go through mastectomy surgery again a year or two down the road if the calcifications on the other side changed into bc. I have no regrets with the decision I made and the radiation certainly seems to be easier without having to deal with one on the other side (I'm sure it could end up being in the way during treatment).

    This choice is VERY individual. All I can tell you is: Figure out what you want and go forward without doubting your decision. As long as YOU are the one deciding (and not someone telling you what you should do) then you will be fine. Good luck and take care!
  • jk1952
    jk1952 Member Posts: 613
    #11
    Options
    Wolfi said:

    Decided on bilateral
    I had DCIS on one side but chose to have bilateral because I didn't want to have to go through mastectomy surgery again a year or two down the road if the calcifications on the other side changed into bc. I have no regrets with the decision I made and the radiation certainly seems to be easier without having to deal with one on the other side (I'm sure it could end up being in the way during treatment).

    This choice is VERY individual. All I can tell you is: Figure out what you want and go forward without doubting your decision. As long as YOU are the one deciding (and not someone telling you what you should do) then you will be fine. Good luck and take care!

    I agree with Wolfi. You

    I agree with Wolfi. You really need to be comfortable with your decision, and your opinion is the important one. Once I had made my decision, I had peace with it. I was just as content with my decision to have a lumpectomy nine years ago. They were both the right decision for that time in my life.

    Joyce
  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    #12
    Options
    its a personal decision...
    its a personal decision... no one can really help you with this because you have to do what is right for you. and what you can live with...

    For me.... bilateral mastectomy was the only choice... I wanted to everything possible to prevent this form recurring.. Yes, I know there is still a chance, but for me I would be angry at myself if it would come back in the other breast...

    You need to sit down a weigh out the pros and cons of both... The what if's... and your personal history...

    Talk to your surgeon and see what his suggestions are... My surgeon was on board with my decision due to my age.. and the aggressive cancer cells I have...
  • chickad52
    chickad52 Member Posts: 497
    #13
    Options
    MONICA
    I'm in the same situation as you. My onc. seems to think it's not necessary to have a double mastectomy. But I will meet with the breast surgeon in 3 weeks to see what she has to say. My BRCA test was also neg, but reprodutive cancer runs on my dads side of the family. Best of Luck to you. Hugs, Diane
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #14
    Options
    chickad52 said:

    MONICA
    I'm in the same situation as you. My onc. seems to think it's not necessary to have a double mastectomy. But I will meet with the breast surgeon in 3 weeks to see what she has to say. My BRCA test was also neg, but reprodutive cancer runs on my dads side of the family. Best of Luck to you. Hugs, Diane

    I want to bring it back
    this is good discussion

Discussion Boards