Mascetomy or not?

sistersunite
sistersunite Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Having carsinoma in situ, a non-invasive cancer, all my doctors want me to have a double masectomy. I'm not sure which step to take, any sugestions would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • NorcalJ
    NorcalJ Member Posts: 187
    #2
    Mastectomy
    Did your doctors explain why they want the bilat. Mast? Have you gotten a second opinion? If your not sure how to go about that, ask your Dr. for a reference or go to a nearby university, or NCI (National Cancer Institute). All those are on the internet.

    Any cancer can become invasive, so it's wise to get it before it does. Do they suspect something on the other side? Do you have a strong family history of BC? Have they considered doing a BRCA test for a genetic connection?

    I'd suggest reading all you can and writing down all your questions. Then when you go in, take someone with you who can write all the answers, and maybe even ask something you've forgotten. Bottom line---you are in charge, and the ONLY one who can ultimately make the decision---but the best way to do it is be informed!

    Good luck, we've all been there, and we're all here for you.
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #3
    Your descision....
    Ultimately the descision is yours....I was given a choice and it has been extremely difficult to choose. I am the type of person who would have been better off if they had told me that masectomy would be the best thing for me. Although I am leaning towards double masectomy (I started another thread asking for experiences in here,,,) I still have the lumpectomy tugging at me saying "pick me, pick me". But I do have my handy roll of duct tape ready to shut one of them up!! Its a tough descision I know, but hang in there and you will eventually come to peace with it. I'm sure you will realize what is right for you. :) Pammy
  • sistersunite
    sistersunite Member Posts: 3
    #4
    NorcalJ said:

    Mastectomy
    Did your doctors explain why they want the bilat. Mast? Have you gotten a second opinion? If your not sure how to go about that, ask your Dr. for a reference or go to a nearby university, or NCI (National Cancer Institute). All those are on the internet.

    Any cancer can become invasive, so it's wise to get it before it does. Do they suspect something on the other side? Do you have a strong family history of BC? Have they considered doing a BRCA test for a genetic connection?

    I'd suggest reading all you can and writing down all your questions. Then when you go in, take someone with you who can write all the answers, and maybe even ask something you've forgotten. Bottom line---you are in charge, and the ONLY one who can ultimately make the decision---but the best way to do it is be informed!

    Good luck, we've all been there, and we're all here for you.

    Mastecotomy
    Thanks for all your imput. I have just now started research on this, I have talked with 3 different doctors who all say I'm at a high risk for developing invasive breast cancer, I have had the BRCA test which came back negative for the gene, however I have 3 sister who have all been treated for breast cancer. I will however keep researching my options.
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #5
    Be informed
    I agree, become as well-informed as you can, write down questions and ask, ask, ask! Take someone else along to help you write down answers.
    My own experience:
    Mastectomy on the side with cancer was always the top recommendation. I wanted the other done, thought Drs' said it was not "medically necessary" because I wanted to reduce the worry of recurrence. I know everyone is unique, but my sister had breast cancer, had unilateral mastectomy, and it came back in the other side. she was a survivor for 6 years, suffering a lot the last 2. I know there are no guarantees, but I can at least be sure that cancer will not recur in the other breast.

    You have to make your own decision. Only you know what you will be at peace with.

    Take care, seof.
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #6
    Warm welcome to the group, sistersunite!
    You've found the right place to be, though I'm sorry for the reason. Although we all travel the breast cancer journey, the road is unique for all of us - just as we are each unique.

    My tumor was quite small, and qualified as early detection. My surgeon, a specialist in breast cancer, highly recommended lumpectomy. Out of sheer fear, I asked him to remove the entire breast - in fact, both. He assured me that this was absolutely not necessary, nor recommended. Having medical care you trust and are confident in is half the battle.

    Best wishes to you.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #7
    I have invasive Carsinoma in
    I have invasive Carsinoma in R breast. My surgeon refuses to do a double Mastectomy on me. She will do the right breast,but recomends a lumpectomy. Could check this out with another doctor, that way your sure.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #8
    Why would and did your
    Why would and did your doctors recommend a double mastectomy? I had a very small tumor and chose a lumpectomy and radiation, which I am glad that I did. My oncologist never pushed a mastectomy for me. Ofcourse, she gave me information on it, but, said that the survival rate has been proven to be the same for both, no difference. So, why lose your breasts for nothing to gain, in my opinion, unless there is a good reason to? You need to talk to your oncologist and find out the reason they are recommending it and make a choice for you, and you alone.
  • bfbear
    bfbear Member Posts: 380
    #9
    Noel said:

    Why would and did your
    Why would and did your doctors recommend a double mastectomy? I had a very small tumor and chose a lumpectomy and radiation, which I am glad that I did. My oncologist never pushed a mastectomy for me. Ofcourse, she gave me information on it, but, said that the survival rate has been proven to be the same for both, no difference. So, why lose your breasts for nothing to gain, in my opinion, unless there is a good reason to? You need to talk to your oncologist and find out the reason they are recommending it and make a choice for you, and you alone.

    Check out...
    Check out this thread from today for more information on the same subject: "Mastectomy...happy with results"

    Debi
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #10
    sistersunite said:

    Mastecotomy
    Thanks for all your imput. I have just now started research on this, I have talked with 3 different doctors who all say I'm at a high risk for developing invasive breast cancer, I have had the BRCA test which came back negative for the gene, however I have 3 sister who have all been treated for breast cancer. I will however keep researching my options.

    I am glad to see that you
    I am glad to see that you are researching your choices and options. For a lot of women, a mastectomy is their only choice. For others, a lumpectomy is offered to them as their treatment and it offers you the same results in regards to a recurrence or life expectancy. And, even with a mastectomy, there is still breast tissue left. There is no way they can remove all of it. So, even with a mastectomy, you can get breast cancer. You just need to do your research, as you are, talk to your oncologist, talk to other bc survivors, do whatever is right for YOU! I had a lumpectomy, which was right for me, followed by radiation treatments. I am so thankful as I don't think I could have lived with a mastectomy, but, that is just me. Best of luck to you! I am sure you will do what is best for YOU!
  • jk1952
    jk1952 Member Posts: 613
    #11
    Inquiring Minds...

    As many others have recommended, I think that you really need to find out why all of your doctors are recommending a mastectomy. In 2000, I had in situ cancer and a small amount of invasive cancer (no node involvement) which was treated with a lumpectomy and radiation. I had no family history of cancer of any kind.

    This year, I had a recurrence of the in situ cancer, and in April, I had a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction using the DIEP method (tummy tuck, tissue and fat removed from abdomen, moved to breast area and blood supply reconnected). The DIEP was necessary because I had radiation and the 'normal' reconstruction can't be done after radiation. I chose the bilateral rather than the right breast only because I have had biopsies of the other breast and I knew I could only have the DIEP reconstruction done once. The pathology report showed that there was additional in situ cancer in another place in the affected breast. In other words, it had been foud in three places in the same breast (one in 2000 and two now).

    I'm happy with the route I took, since I wasn't ready emotionally for a mastectomy in 2000, but in situ cancer can spread throughout a breast, and your doctors may be concerned that they won't get it all' with a lumpectomy.

    Joyce

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