prophylactic mastectomy

kdg3
kdg3 Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
has anyone had to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy to PREVENT breast cancer? I have tested positive on genetic testing after stage 3 ovarian and now drs receommending the mastectomy. Have many questions!!

Comments

  • jamilou
    jamilou Member Posts: 200
    #2
    Preventative PBM
    I had a prophylatic breast mastectomy with expanders and reconstruction in March. I too tested positive for the BRCA2 gene and am a stage IIb ovarian cancer survivor. I had the testing done at my oncologist office but he reccommended that I see a genetic counselor to discuss my results. My options were testing twice a year. Once with an MRI and then 6 months later with a mammogram. My other option was taking tamoxifen as a prevention or the PBM. I chose the one that for me would lessen my odds the most. I was told that because of my ovarian cancer and other family history that my odds for breast cancer were as high as 87%. To me those odds were too high. My odds now are less than that of the normal person. There is a webiste for women who are facing PBM called facingourrisk.org. They have a message board that discusses hereditary ovarian and breast cancer. It might help you with your decision.
    Good luck!
    Jami
  • kdg3
    kdg3 Member Posts: 3
    #3
    jamilou said:

    Preventative PBM
    I had a prophylatic breast mastectomy with expanders and reconstruction in March. I too tested positive for the BRCA2 gene and am a stage IIb ovarian cancer survivor. I had the testing done at my oncologist office but he reccommended that I see a genetic counselor to discuss my results. My options were testing twice a year. Once with an MRI and then 6 months later with a mammogram. My other option was taking tamoxifen as a prevention or the PBM. I chose the one that for me would lessen my odds the most. I was told that because of my ovarian cancer and other family history that my odds for breast cancer were as high as 87%. To me those odds were too high. My odds now are less than that of the normal person. There is a webiste for women who are facing PBM called facingourrisk.org. They have a message board that discusses hereditary ovarian and breast cancer. It might help you with your decision.
    Good luck!
    Jami

    thanks Jami!
    Wow! That was so very helpful Jami. Sounds so familiar-my sister and I both have ovarian right now-TOGETHER! and we lost our mother to ovarian in 1993 so the odds are the same as they were for you. How long after your last chemo for ovarian was your surgery and if I may-how difficult was the surgery and recovery?
    thanks so much kdg3
    I am looking up that website right now!
  • jamilou
    jamilou Member Posts: 200
    #4
    kdg3 said:

    thanks Jami!
    Wow! That was so very helpful Jami. Sounds so familiar-my sister and I both have ovarian right now-TOGETHER! and we lost our mother to ovarian in 1993 so the odds are the same as they were for you. How long after your last chemo for ovarian was your surgery and if I may-how difficult was the surgery and recovery?
    thanks so much kdg3
    I am looking up that website right now!

    PBM
    I was diagnosed with ovarian in April 2000. My last chemo was in August of 2000. I tested positive for the BRCA mutation in December 2008 and had my surgery (PBM) March 2009. I would say the surgery is tough but I am 7 weeks out and I feel as normal as possible with these expanders in my chest! I have not been in pain for some time and even though the expanders are not always comfortable they are not horrible. I will have the exchange (implants) in July or August with nipple reconstruction about a month later. I wasn't able to do the Diep (taking fat from the stomach, buttocks or back) because I didn't have enough skin or fat in those areas to make breast. I went into my surgery telling myself that if I could go through surgery for ovarian cancer I could do this...and I was right! Good luck to you and your sister!
    Jami

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