Hello ladies hope you’re all well.
I was diagnosed a week before Christmas 2013 at 35 mum of 5 children. Had lumpectomy followed by chemo. Fished chemo 4 weeks ago. Due to start rads soon. But I am seeing my surgeon on tues as I am thinking of opting for a double mastectomy mainly for peace of mind as worry about recurrence being triple negative. I had no node involvement. Was wondering if anyone has any advice for me?
Thank you in advance xx
Hello hay578,
I opted for an mx on my left breast as I had lobular cancer which doesn’t show up on mammograms usually, and I’d had 2 of those without anything being spotted. The thought that I could get it again and still not show on mammograms scared me, but once I’d taken advice, thought about it and discussed it with my husband and calmed down a bit, I felt confident in my choice.
I also had 4 WLEs on my right breast some time ago; one was in 2002 and was benign and the other 3 were WLEs one after the other as they didn’t get clear margins; I was offered an mx before the second and third, but just carried on as planned. I had radiotherapy following the third WLE.
My right breast is very small and a poor shape, so I have already discussed having another mx when I’m fully recovered from this one, maybe in a year or so, with my surgeon and the oncologist. This is partly for cosmetic reasons, but also partly because I could get lobular cancer in that breast too, although the oncologist said that being on hormonal treatment lowered the risk by 40%; now, I’m normally a ‘glass half full’ type of person, but that still leaves a 60% chance!
It’s nearly 3 weeks since my mx, and it’s only today that I’m finding I can do all of the exercises on the exercise sheet I was given; up to today, 1 of them was painful, not just a hurt, and 2 were impossible. So I’m making progress there. I’m still tired a lot of the time and haven’t managed to do the grocery shop yet, and I’m so glad my husband is good with the washing machine, basic cooking etc - he’s upstairs at the moment making up our bed with fresh sheets. I won’t be trying to drive for a while yet, even though I have an automatic. There is no way I could have coped without my husband.
I would suggest going on my experience, if you do decide to go for mx, opting for just 1 for now might be best, as you have children - my two are adults and don’t live at home. I’m a lot older than you, and I’ve definitely slowed down over the last 5 years or so, but I know I couldn’t cope with our 3-year old granddaughter staying with us. I’m thinking of offering to have her for a couple of hours as we could manage playing in the garden, reading books together etc, and maybe build up to an overnight stay - it’s me who does most of the childcare and I know I couldn’t lift her etc.
Hope this helps - I’ve told it as it is for me - others might well find it much different. Good luck with your decision.
Take care, Jo x
Hello Hay578
I have just started using the forum and spotted your post. I was diagnosed Feb 13 and had lumpectomy, chemo and radio and then almost exactly 12 months after diagnosis discovered I’m BRCA1 positive which I was tested for because I was triple neg and adopted so no family history. I’m 7 weeks post hysterectomy and seeing breast surgeon on Friday about double mastectomy as I can’t live with the uncertainty of it coming back. I was 48 when diagnosed and coped well with the treatment with a very supportive husband and 12 year old daughter. But I worry that as I get older I would be less able to cope and therefore want to reduce my risk as much as I can. I hope this is helpful and am happy to discuss further if you need or want to.