to choose or not to choose a bilateral...
k
Comments
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Welcome to our family
I am so sorry to hear of your recurrence. This is a good place to come, although I am sorry about the reason for your presence. Our sisters and brothers here share so much love and wisdom and oodles of history and experience and humor.
When it comes to bilateral mastectomies, it really is a personal decision. I was all for bilateral symmetry and didn't want to go through breast surgery more than once. My surgeon at first thought all I needed was a lumpectomy on my left breast. The cancer turned out to be much more aggressive and extensive. that breast need to be gone! Even though my right breast was fine, I am glad that it is gone as well. Since I needed chemo and radiation, I can't even begin reconstruction for another month and I am on the fence about it still! I'm fairly small and my friends say I just look like one of those small breasted "yoga girls." Who knew? When this all started I weighed 145, now I weigh 105. What a long strange trip it's been. Lynn0 -
Why is your gyn telling you
Why is your gyn telling you what to do? Shouldn't that be your oncologist? My oncologist is the one that set my treatment plan and noone else. I can't help about your decision as to what to do. I had a lumpectomy. But, yours is a very personal decision. Just do what is right and best for you and what you can live with. Good luck!0 -
Hi K.........
I had right breast mastectomy last year. There was also something that was "suspicious" looking in left breast. After MRI guided biopsy, whatever was in the left breast turned out to be benign. so, I just lost the right breast.
It wasn't very long after that that I discovered that many women have both breasts removed and that it is a pretty common thing.
I WISH that I had had both removed at the time of surgery. I WISH I had known then, what I know now.
My surgeon would have done both, but I did NOT want to lose both at the time, and she did not push me to have both removed.
Aside from the "symmetry" factor (if I had had both removed, I would be flat chested, but I would MATCH), I worry constantly about recurrence in the remaining breast.
Nobody can or should make the decision for you about what to do. But that is how I feel, in my particular case. HIndsight on my part is 20/20..............
Hugs,
CR0 -
My perspective:CR1954 said:Hi K.........
I had right breast mastectomy last year. There was also something that was "suspicious" looking in left breast. After MRI guided biopsy, whatever was in the left breast turned out to be benign. so, I just lost the right breast.
It wasn't very long after that that I discovered that many women have both breasts removed and that it is a pretty common thing.
I WISH that I had had both removed at the time of surgery. I WISH I had known then, what I know now.
My surgeon would have done both, but I did NOT want to lose both at the time, and she did not push me to have both removed.
Aside from the "symmetry" factor (if I had had both removed, I would be flat chested, but I would MATCH), I worry constantly about recurrence in the remaining breast.
Nobody can or should make the decision for you about what to do. But that is how I feel, in my particular case. HIndsight on my part is 20/20..............
Hugs,
CR
I lost my right breast in '86. There was no mention of a bilateral by my onco and I was too blind-sided (age 38, no risk factors, etc.) to ask about the pros and cons of bilateral. Had chemo for 10 months. Year and half later...BAM! Left side. Same song, same verse, only this time my onco added rads after surg and chemo, then tamoxifen. I opted to have no recon.
So, hindsight: Dern tootin I wish I had done both at once. My take on the situation is that it is no more traumatic to loose both at once than to just loose one. And I can say for a fact that after loosing the second one it was easier to dress and 'match' and all that than it was during the time I had just one missing.
Also, if recon is done I understand that the 'matching' issue is less of a challenge if both are reconstructed at once.
This is just my non-professional opinion based on my own experience and should not be given more weight than it is due. Gather all the info you can and run this decision past anyone you know who might have a useful opinion or insight (like us
. God bless. 0 -
Check out...zahalene said:My perspective:
I lost my right breast in '86. There was no mention of a bilateral by my onco and I was too blind-sided (age 38, no risk factors, etc.) to ask about the pros and cons of bilateral. Had chemo for 10 months. Year and half later...BAM! Left side. Same song, same verse, only this time my onco added rads after surg and chemo, then tamoxifen. I opted to have no recon.
So, hindsight: Dern tootin I wish I had done both at once. My take on the situation is that it is no more traumatic to loose both at once than to just loose one. And I can say for a fact that after loosing the second one it was easier to dress and 'match' and all that than it was during the time I had just one missing.
Also, if recon is done I understand that the 'matching' issue is less of a challenge if both are reconstructed at once.
This is just my non-professional opinion based on my own experience and should not be given more weight than it is due. Gather all the info you can and run this decision past anyone you know who might have a useful opinion or insight (like us . God bless.
There's a topic that began back on 5/31/09 entitled , "Mastectomy.....happy with results?" I think you'll find the posts there helpful!!
Gentle hugs,
Debi0 -
When I found out I needed a
When I found out I needed a mast. on the right side I asked the doc if she could take the left. She did said it was an option so I decided to do it. I have a family history of BC but my mom's BRAC test was negative. I did not want to have to go through the surgery again. I also wanted symmetry afterwards and figured implants in both sides would look the same but now I find out the radiated side may look different anyway so I am not happy about that. I suggest meeting with a plastic sugeon before the mast. becuase if you decide on implants the expanders can be put in at the same time and it saves you having to go in again for those. I did not have really an option for not getting implants vs the flap. Hope this helps
Kim0 -
YupCR1954 said:Oooh Debi.......
What a great pic! Is that your sweet daughter?!
CR
Yes...that's Xiaoxiao ("show show" as in "shower"). She's my younger daughter...the older, Tracy, is biological and almost 27 yrs.old and has two kids of her own!!!
Xiaoxiao is 10 and going into 5th grade in the fall. Between her and Willow the Puppy, you can see why I'm tired so much....(lol)
Debi0 -
I am sure you will make thejgridley said:to choose or not to choose
I wish I could help with that decision, but I can't. This has to be a tough one for you.
I chose not to have breast removed. Can't remeber why, just didnt.
But I am sure that you will find a lot of support here.
Julie
I am sure you will make the best choice for you. I had a lumpectomy, so, I am not much help about a mastectomy. Good luck!0 -
I'm so sorry you to hear
I'm so sorry you to hear your cancer has returned. You will know what to do, just really listen to yourself! I had a bilat almost a year ago and do not regret it, but I have had issues for many years, but I've only had cancer for a year. Best of luck to you and sending you well wishes!0 -
One or Two?
I had only one breast removed when I had my original cancer and had reconstruction to that site. I was very happy with that decision, though the two sides didn't match exactly especially during weight fluctuations. Also, one breast had a nipple and one didn't for going braless, if you know what I mean. I now have a recurrence in the reconstructed side and will have to have that one removed. I have decided to have the other breast removed at the same time. Due to my age and the extent of the surgery that will be needed, reconstruction will not be an option. However, I think doing them both at the same time would be preferable to having just one done. They will match more as you age: a lot of insurances won't pick up the "boost one side so they match" costs. As one poster mentioned, though, make sure you talk with your plastic surgeon and get all the scenarios. It will help you decide and also give you heads up on what to expect.0 -
Your decision, but...
Of course this is your decision and no one can decide for you, but...
I had a bilateral in October 2008, with immediate reconstruction, and my foobs in on January 23, 2009. My surgeon really felt I only needed a lumpectomy with radiation. I didn't want to go through the stress of worrying about recurrence, and I am small breasted. After my bilateral my surgeon told me more cancer was found in the left breast, and pre-cancer in the right. He said I was smart for pushing for the bilateral.
What it came down to for me was dealing with a recurrence. I just wanted to get this over with! And my new silicone foobs are great! They feel real, and I got to go a little bigger, as well as have them moved closer together. I look good! Also, if you are having reconstruction done I think it is just easier to do them both at the same time so they look right.
Whatever decision you make will be the right one for you.0 -
Good luck with yourBigCinCA said:Your decision, but...
Of course this is your decision and no one can decide for you, but...
I had a bilateral in October 2008, with immediate reconstruction, and my foobs in on January 23, 2009. My surgeon really felt I only needed a lumpectomy with radiation. I didn't want to go through the stress of worrying about recurrence, and I am small breasted. After my bilateral my surgeon told me more cancer was found in the left breast, and pre-cancer in the right. He said I was smart for pushing for the bilateral.
What it came down to for me was dealing with a recurrence. I just wanted to get this over with! And my new silicone foobs are great! They feel real, and I got to go a little bigger, as well as have them moved closer together. I look good! Also, if you are having reconstruction done I think it is just easier to do them both at the same time so they look right.
Whatever decision you make will be the right one for you.
Good luck with your decision. But, just know one thing that bc can come back even if you have a mastectomy. Sometimes it seems bc survivors don't realize that or aren't told by their oncologist. There is no way they can ever get all of the breast tissue, no way. That is why it is proven now that the chance of a recurrence is the same with a mastectomy as it is with a lumpectomy. Good luck to you!0 -
no!DianeBC said:Good luck with your
Good luck with your decision. But, just know one thing that bc can come back even if you have a mastectomy. Sometimes it seems bc survivors don't realize that or aren't told by their oncologist. There is no way they can ever get all of the breast tissue, no way. That is why it is proven now that the chance of a recurrence is the same with a mastectomy as it is with a lumpectomy. Good luck to you!
The chance of recurrence is NOT the same whether you have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy!
You have very, very little breast tissue left if you have a mastectomy, and you have very little chance of recurrence because of that. It can come back, but it's usually right on the skin--where the remaining breast tissue is--easy to see, and easy to remove.
Your chance of dying of this breast cancer are the same whether you do lumpectomy or mastectomy.
Lisa0 -
thanks everyone!!
I am still swimming in a sea of indecision...although my MRI came back negative...that's a good thing!!! I guess my decision is not really based on medical reasons, but rather psychological. Also struggling with which reconstructive prodecure to do.
Has anyone had a previously radiated breast reconstructed with an implant - as I've heard that could potentially be problematic.0 -
I have not had it done yetdancR22 said:thanks everyone!!
I am still swimming in a sea of indecision...although my MRI came back negative...that's a good thing!!! I guess my decision is not really based on medical reasons, but rather psychological. Also struggling with which reconstructive prodecure to do.
Has anyone had a previously radiated breast reconstructed with an implant - as I've heard that could potentially be problematic.
I have not had it done yet but will be. I have tissue expanders in and just started rads on the right side. I can tell you my plastic surgeon is not thrilled about the rads. He said it will make it harder for him. The tissue gets scarred and tightens and he said he may have to put a larger implant in that side to make them look the same. I will probably not have the implants in until December because you have to wait so long, each surgeon has a different time frame it seems from reading posts here. Mine will re-inflate me after rads and then wait 4 months. I am having a hard time with doing rads becuase I really want each side to look the same after reconstruction but am I know that I need the rads and cancer free is more important. I did not have option for something other than implants so I went this route. Good luck with your decision making.
Kim0
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