Recurrence/Oopherectomy/Prophylactic Mastectomy

jfsnowflake

Hi, I am searching for your thoughts and insights.
At 33, I had stage 2 BC with no nodes involved. Mastectomy, chemo and tamoxifen. In 2000,at age 38 4yr.11months out, chest wall recurrence. Chemo and radiation. Now on Zoladex (yippe, I am still premeno.)and Arimidex. I am having an oopherectomy ( ovaries removed), so I woun't have Zoladex shots for 10 more years. Here is where I need you!! My gut is telling me to get rid of the other breast, my implant was removed after the recurrence..I don't like uneven! Also, I want to minimize the chances in the other breast.
Please share your thoughts with me.
Jane

jeancmici

I am much older than you having cancer at 63 - now 65 - finished treatments and began tamoxifen in Sept 2001.

I would have a complete hysterectomy instead of just the ovaries if I understand you correctly.
I think tamoxifen is not as effective in premenopausal women - at least it didn't help you as expected.

As to the breast, I would be thinking along the lines you are - but do not rush into more surgery right after this upcoming one.

I am assuming the chemo and radiation were effective. Some doctors do radiation after a mastectomy - you will never know if that MIGHT have prevented the recurrence.

You sound level-headed and brave - looking back i guess we all wonder how we got thru what we did, but you know the routine by now - it needs to be done and we do it.

Good Luck to you. Hope my thoughts were of some help.
Jean

DeeNY711

This past February, I elected to have the "unaffected" breast removed in addition to the one with lobular carcinoma because the latter never showed on mammogram films every six months for the past 4 years, nor on ultrasound. Post-op, when Pathology examined the tissue from the "unaffected" side, they found small spots of lobular carcinoma. I was really happy with making a good call! I'm also a lot older than you are.....55. My choice was made a little easier by the fact that they were going to remove half of the "unaffected" breast anyway in order to construct something that could be matched with a tram flap, an implant or a prosthesis. We'll all keep you in our prayers, hun. Love, Denise

SweetSue

DeeNY711 said:

This past February, I elected to have the "unaffected" breast removed in addition to the one with lobular carcinoma because the latter never showed on mammogram films every six months for the past 4 years, nor on ultrasound. Post-op, when Pathology examined the tissue from the "unaffected" side, they found small spots of lobular carcinoma. I was really happy with making a good call! I'm also a lot older than you are.....55. My choice was made a little easier by the fact that they were going to remove half of the "unaffected" breast anyway in order to construct something that could be matched with a tram flap, an implant or a prosthesis. We'll all keep you in our prayers, hun. Love, Denise

I am also 55...was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer. I had cancer in one breast , but because of family history and years of breast problems, I decided to have the other breast removed,too. They found atypical cells in the supposedly healthy breast which could have turned cancerous at any time.
The problem is..u can have your breasts removed, but still get breast cancer again.....doesn't seem right.
Sue

SweetSue

DeeNY711 said:

This past February, I elected to have the "unaffected" breast removed in addition to the one with lobular carcinoma because the latter never showed on mammogram films every six months for the past 4 years, nor on ultrasound. Post-op, when Pathology examined the tissue from the "unaffected" side, they found small spots of lobular carcinoma. I was really happy with making a good call! I'm also a lot older than you are.....55. My choice was made a little easier by the fact that they were going to remove half of the "unaffected" breast anyway in order to construct something that could be matched with a tram flap, an implant or a prosthesis. We'll all keep you in our prayers, hun. Love, Denise

Dee,
I read most breast cancer is ductal;only 15% of the breast cancers is lobular.
If you would like to e-mail me, I'd welcome the communication. skerske@comcast.net

SweetSue

Jane,
Please read my first reply to Dee..it was meant for you,too.
Take care,
Sue

Dawn29

I'm 32 and I also had stage 2 BC with no nodes involved diagnosed at 29. I chose a bi-lateral mastectomy. Later I had a bi-lateral oopherectomy. Like another reader here, I would have opted for a complete hysterectomy, but could not find a doctor to do it. I would encourage you to have the other breast removed, if only for peace of mind. It has been a bleesing to me not to have to worry constantly about if or when it might come back and weather or not I might find it in time. You are a wise lady to consider removing the other breast. Good Luck!

bullfrog13

Dear Snowflake,

These decisions we make are so difficult. And I know that you will decide what is best for you with the doctors.

I will tell you this however, If I had known then what I do now, I may have done the prophylactic mast. also. At the time I did not even know it was an option, and it never occured to me.

I have already had one recurrance, but as irony would have it, it was on the same side-so I lost my reconstrution work. REally TICKED me off that I went thought all that recons. surgery for nothing-but I guess I'm over it. It has been almost two years ago.

Much luck and God Bless
Jerilynfrog13@yahoo.com

blossomtime

I am so sorry to hear you are going thru this. My breast cancer was stage IIB and I had chemo and radiation. The radiation oncologist said with the size of my tumor and number of positive nodes that there was a 25% chance of chest wall recurrence. I only got the radiation because I sought 2nd opinion from major cancer treatment center and that is what they recommended, so my oncologist agreed to it. I also never thought about getting other breast removed. It was never even discussed when I was originally diagnosed. I guess I was just doing what I was told I should do. As for the hyst vs oopherectomy since my hormone receptors are negaive that was not an issue for me, but I did have friend who elected to have it all removed. She did have issues with insurance company but she kept at it until it was approved.Cant tell you what to do but I wish you all the luck in making decision that is right for you. Hugs and kisses