preventative masectomy
preventative masectomy Last February I was diagnosed with cancer in my right breast, after having a masectomy (along with lymph node removal), chemo and reconstruction all is currently well. The cancer was oestrogen positive and I am now taking Tamoxifen with all the side effects that go along with it, my question is would it not be more sensible to get the other breast removed and therefore there could be no chance of it recurring and having to have chemo again. or is this too simplistic a view. does anyone know if private health care would cover this type of preventative treatment.
Same Question Hi
I asked the surgeon when I was diagnosed with cancer in my left breast to remove the right one to but she said unless it is in the family there is no need for it.
I think if you went private the reasons will still be the same.
Hope this helps
Janet
Interesting. This is a question I will be raising again with my surgeon. I had asked about it last Feb when I was diagnosed. He said we could discuss at a later date but said it was unlikely to recur as it wasn’t a lobular Cancer which I think has a slightly higher risk of recurring in the ‘good’ breast. I know a woman who is adamant she is going to have a prophylactic mastectomy once she has completed Chemo etc and her consultant has been very supportive of her choice. I suggest you discuss it with your surgeon. I can’t see my private health insurance covering it though.
F
Hi I asked to have my ‘good’ breast removed as well, as my cancer was lobular, but my breast surgeon said he wasn’t in the business of removing perfectly healthy breasts. I could have chased around to find a sympathetic surgeon , I suppose, but didn’t have the energy.
Its a very personal decision l chose to have preventitive 2nd mastectomy-had no family history but felt this was best course for me.My surgeon was very sensible-made me go away for 3 mths and see breast care nurse-discuss all implications and saw pictures of what it would look like then as l was still sure he was happy to operate.Have no plans for reconstruction and have never regreted it.was so scared and anxious that this feels totally the best decision for me and been supported by family and proffessionals all the way.
HOWEVER this is such a personal choice and you need to weigh it all up and see what really is right for you and that you are thinking fairly rationally.I had a yr between ops-so had given time to mull it over.
You might find contacting the helpline and asking to speak to a peer support voluteer who had made the decision useful.good luck in whatever you decide.
Thanks everyone for all your comments, my doctor has said that he wouldn’t be happy about removing the breast but they also keeep telling me that the aches and pains I get are not due to the Tamoxifen but if you look at other threads nearly everyone seems to have that as a side effect. Im not sure you can let the doctors have a completely free rein and beleive absolutely everything they say. However they have studied this disease far longer than I have so they should know what they are talking about…
I think I will bring it up again with the breast surgeon, but as my next meet is with the oncologist maybe he will give me his opinion.
Thanks once again to all of you. Sometimes you just need to see it written down in order to get your thoughts straight.
It is interesting that you brought up this topic as when I was diagnosed with a very small tumour in my left breast I chose to have a mastectomy thinking that then I would be through with having to worry about cancer. After 8 years I had a local recurrence and when I questioned the surgeon, she told me that they can never get all of the breast tissue even with a mastectomy so I don’t know is prophylactic surgeries are the answer.
Just had preventative mastectomy Had 1st Mastectomy April last year. Was told I could have partial mastectomy but asked for full. Asked at the time for a double but Doctor said it would be too much for me, but would consider it later. I am triple neg so no safety net. He agreed and had it done 2 weeks ago with no Lymph nodes removed this time and it was so much better. No stiff arm and full movement straight away. Had another tissue expander put in at the same time. back in work 9 days later. Got results yesterday and it was a healthy breast, but it might not have stayed this way, so glad I had it done.
sk.
I was dx last April with Invasive Lobular in the right breast, the size and position leaving no option but a mastectomy. The option of a ‘preventative’ mastectomy on the left side was mentioned somewhere along the line but I can’t remember exactly by whom, Breast Care Nurse I think.
I did a bit of research and met someone who had an occurrence in 2nd breast within 18 mths which helped me finalise the decision. Psychologically I was happy with this and the surgeon was willing to concur, but he checked right up until the last minute (outside the theatre doors) that I had not changed my mind. I got the impression he would have preferred not to do the ‘preventative’ op but he did not ‘dictate’ to me.
I have never regretted having the bilateral, I would have been in a much worse psychological state if I was ‘uneven’. However I am one of the oddbod minority who do not wear a prosthesis and have no intention of asking for reconstruction. I am in my 60’s, so fashion and such does not matter so much to me as to younger women and I realise I am in a minority in this outlook.
Whatever you decide is best for you, hold out for it. Remember your mental state is as important as your physical one, and it doesn’t hurt to remind the medical authorities of this at times too.
Regards
Keruval.