Risk Reducing Mastectomy

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Hi everyone

I haven’t been on here for a while as I have been feeling ok apart from horrid stomach upsets.

I am having a risk reducing mastectomy with immediate dorsi flap reconstruction on 17th November 2011 - almost two years to the day when I had my necessary modfied radical mastectomy.

I am not nervous and am doing this as I don’t want to go through chemotherapy, radiotherapy or herceptin again.

Has anyone else done the same thing?

xxx

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Hi mnc, if it feels right and you’re not nervous then that can only be a good thing.

I was diagnosed with BC eight years ago at 25 and have lived in fear of a recurrence / new cancer ever since. I recently discovered that I am a  BRCA1 gene carrier so have a much higher lifetime risk. After lengthy deliberation, I had decided to proceed with having a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. Sadly, one of the reasons that it took so long to make the decision was because some friends and family members tried to talk me out of doing it in spite of how I felt. 

I was scheduled to have the surgery in the same week as you but following an MRI scan to ensure that they could proceed, I was called back for a core biopsy and diagnosed with a new primary cancer in the other breast last week. In the same week, I also found out that I am pregnant(!) and now have to face treatment while worrying for the safety of our unborn baby.

Needless to say, my one and only regret now is that I didn’t make the decision sooner. I feel that if I had just gone with my gut instinct and not listened to the detractors then I might not be in this situation. Of course hindsight is 20/20 but my point is that you know your body better than anyone else and it is a very good sign for you that you are not nervous. I’m sorry that I can’t offer you any good advice because I haven’t had the procedure but I wish you the very best and I’m sure that you will feel an enormous sense of relief afterwards.

Best wishes,

xx

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Hi mnc,

I had this op at the latter end of Feb this year and due to see surgeon in couple of weeks re tidy up of other side. Definitely have no regrets though and pleased with results. I think too when it is your own muscle that is used there is less chance of complications through the body rejecting other types of implants. Hope all goes well for you though when time comes.

Ray