Will a surgeon listen to my request and take it seriously that i want these boobs gone, i cant go through all this again!!!
1 Like
Hi @claspe. I am sorry you haven’t had a response and I am sorry to hear what you’re going through.
I am sure someone will be able to share their experience with you. In the meantime please know that our nurses are here for you any time, here on the forum on the Ask our Nurses your questions or over the phone 0808 800 6000.
Thinking of you,
Chloe
1 Like
I LOVE your post. You tell 'em!!
Hi hun
I have had my second breast cancer this year after having WLE 5 years ago.
I have had my surgery this time
Mastectomy and horrific chemo again and have asked my surgeon to remove the other breast as psychologically I feel this would help me. As they’ve been referred to a clinical psychologist for him to make a decision about this. This will then be discussed at MDT whether they will provide this or not I know that each Trust is different but I think this is the usual policy One thing my surgeon did say is that he doesn’t feel that this will reduce my risk of recurrence as he thinks it is not likely to recur in the remainingbreast and potentially would occur as a distant, given that I am triple negative this time. I hope you get somewhere with your discussions and sending lots of love.x
1 Like
Thankyou for your reply Im gonna hold out for what i want at the end of the day its my body just cause it has cancer dosent make it theres to choose what i do!!!
3 Likes
Good luck lovely 
1 Like
Thankyou jowels, i dont think its gonna be an easy ride to get what i want but here’s hoping!!
This wait to speak to surgeon is killing me i feel like a trapped in an invisible cage and i cant get out 
1 Like
Hi claspe
My surgeon immediately agreed to my request for a double mastectomy. I had strong family history and was simultaneously diagnosed with lobular in one breast, mucinous in the other. Both stage 2 but small at 11mm and 20mm. Opted to stay flat. (If I want to fill a dress for an evening out, I just pop my falsies on, no drama.) I can honestly say the surgery was absolutely the best part of the whole cancer experience. 3 years later, I remain content with my decision. My brilliant, observant and accommodating surgeon also tidied up my original dog ears when he had to ‘go in’ for a second time to perform axillary clearance on one side where one node was involved (no others were subsequently found). Again I requested surgery rather than relying on ‘blindly zapping’ at my armpit with radiotherapy (although I had that on left chest wall as a follow-up to mastectomy of the worst cancer). I should add I was an unlucky one who quickly went on to develop lymphoedema as a result. Permanent rib tenderness is also probably down to radiotherapy - let’s hope the medics assumption that this is the case is correct ! (They will NOT agree to an MRI.)
Chemotherapy was deemed not particularly beneficial according to my oncotype DX score.
Tried an aromatase inhibitor (hormone suppressant) but decided they were too disruptive to my life so stopped after 10 months.
(Too much info?)
Anyway, I hope your wishes are accommodated.
2 Likes
Thankyou Mistyk
That was a great reply and very informative sorry youve had to go through this just like all of us, i am hoping my surgeon appreciates that i dont want to just wait and see if the other breast becomes cancerous and i think the fact i want to stay on HRT for my mental health plus my physical health safe guarding against all the other shitty things that come to women as we get older, im hoping he’ll remove my breasts to remove the uncertaintiy
Hi claspe
Thank you.
The reason I gave up on AIs is because, with virtually all oestrogen suppressed, so many other body processes failed to function. They don’t walk you through all that when they’re promoting AIs as the wonder drugs !!
Good luck 
2 Likes
Yes ive reasearched the drugs used for hormones after cancer and there are alot of nasty side effects which im not gonna tolerate 
x
I’ve asked for this, too. I had surgery and reconstruction on right breast (perforator flap, fat pulled up into breast and fake areola) for IDC. Two areas of DCIS were found resulting in second surgery to clear margins. This breast did not heal well, and feels like a bag of rocks and very painful. Fat necrosis, I’m told, and hurts badly 3 years later if it’s touched. In September I had my milk ducts removed in left breast due to intermittent bloody discharge. Pathology reported DCIS.
Spoke to my surgeon about double mastectomy and he thought I had valid reasons. My breast unit’s protocol is for me to have psych evaluation, which I am having on Monday. I’ve been led to believe you must show knowledge, clarity, certainty, and understanding of all of your options to pass this eval.
Thankyou katoo, that was very interesting but also terrible for you im sorry you’ve had to go through all that and i will whole heartedly take onboard your advice of being informed and clear on what i need to happen for me. Great to hear from you and i hope all goes well on Monday with evaluation, my surgeon first meeting is on monday xx
Hi claspe,
I went through the same thing and met a LOT of resistance.
I was also told repeatedly that the chances of it happening in the other breast were miniscule. I pointed out that it would be no consolation at all (if it happened again) that it was a rare occurrence, and it was my body so I should choose. They were lovely people trying to do what they thought was right, but I got sick of male surgeons telling me how much I should value my breasts!
They didn’t want to give me a mastectomy for the first tumour despite it being very large (very dense breast tissue) by the time it was found by chance. I refused to sign the consent for a lumpectomy so the MDT finally agreed to the first mastectomy.
They wouldn’t take them both off together and the best compromise was to make the other side smaller during mastectomy #1 and then continue lobbying them for the other one.
In the end, after many meetings and badgering them for ages, it was agreed I’d go flat for 2 years (from my perspective reconstruction was a theoretical bonus while the mastectomies were essential). They were reconstructed together after the skin recovered from radiotherapy 2yrs later.
I was very relieved when I woke up after mastectomy #2 and the first thing I did in recovery was to check it was gone!
I still feel the same 7yrs later and don’t regret it at all. My advice is to try and scare yourself with learning about it and if you still feel the same, give them polite and well-informed hell until they do what you need xx
Awww thankyou for your reply it was very informative and exactly what i needed to hear.
Saw my surgeon yesterday and they were absolutely brilliant, i went armed with all my research into why i need a double mastectomy and why i need to stay on HRT and after they told me all the possible options they booked me in for a double mastectomy on the 3rd December 
1 Like
That’s brilliant, good for you!
All the best for your surgery and healing xx
1 Like
Thankyou so much, i sure i’ll be on here asking questions after surgery and beyond 
1 Like
Hi claspe
So happy to hear you’ve been granted your wish. They probably had to be cautious initially in case it was a knee-jerk reaction to your diagnosis but once you’d convinced them you’d considered the double mastectomy thoroughly, they would have felt more at ease with your choice. I hope it brings you the peace of mind you expect. I was in the same boat. Just remember, anyone who’s faced cancer is bound to have some residual concern about the future, so I would say, just be prepared for that.
The very best of luck. x
Thankyou Mistyk, thats good advice i guess its easy to think it will all be over when i have my breasts off but like you say ive got cancer at the minute and when youve had it I am going to wonder after if it will ever come back 