Aug 27, 2013 06:50AM Starak wrote:

Interesting that "You don't have cancer or even pre-cancer" but they are not only recommending lumpectomy but also radiation.  I admit radiation was a deal breaker for me.

Sep 15, 2013 01:47PM - edited Sep 15, 2013 01:48PM by deafitmom4

I read Bessies suggestions on what to consider when making a decision. I am 41 yrs old, and discovered a lump in my left breast just cuz I felt some soreness, like a bruise, and I knew it couldnt b from doing chest exercises. I have never done a mammogram, no do i do self exams. I got a mammogram done and ultrasound and biopsy, and sure 'nuff biopsy showed DCIS, and hormone sensitive cancer. I went thru the process of meeting with drs from radiation to PS...becuz I have small breasts (size A), and the size of my DCIS and being in different places in my right breast, and the fact that you can feel a lump, and you CANNOT feel DCIS, they all suggested a MX...I will be having surgery soon, and I am still struggling with the decision to do a single or BMX...i was tested BRCA neg and i have no family history of breast cancer. My paternal aunt may or may not have had it, noone in my family can confirm it. I have a very low risk of developing BC in my right side, but the question is...will I b playing the "what if" game for the rest of my life? I am not at peace with either decision, whether I chose a MX or BMX....I am a marathon runner, and physically active. How have any made the decision btwn MX and BMX when there is no history and low risk of recurrence? To save the healthy breast or not? I have only a day or two to make my decision......

Sep 15, 2013 09:29PM beesie.is.out-of-office wrote:

deafitmom4,

I don't see why you only have a day or two to make the decision.  You know that you need to have the MX, so that decision is made for you.  The decision on what you do with your other breast can be made now, or it can be made in a year or in 3 years or 10 years.

If you choose to do nothing now with your 'healthy' breast, then all the options remain open to you for any time in the future. However once you have a MX, there is no going back.  So if you are uncertain about what to do, I believe the better choice is to leave open all your options.  A MX - and particularly a prophylactic MX - is too big a decision to make if you are uncertain. Many women have made the decision to remove their remaining breast a year or 2 after having a single MX.  And many other women have been glad, a year or 2 later, that they made the decision to have a single MX and kept their healthy breast.  

There really should be no reason why you have to make a decision about your healthy breast now. 

Sep 16, 2013 04:33AM Starmusic wrote:

Beesie, thanks for a great tool for us who have to think about lumpectomy or UMX or BMX!!!!
Deafitmom, for me making the decision was the hardest. I did not want MX, but once decided was at peace.....This was my situation:
DCIS, stage 0
lumpectomy + radiation was the plan BUT after LX
No clear margins and the specimen was not oriented (is this really sloppy, or what??????)so there was no way of knowing where to do another LX. (After that 1st surgery, got a 2nd opinion and new surgeon.)
For stage 0, MX seemed way too invasive to me. I have totally changed my diet, talked with macrobiotic 2- time cancer survivor. But that could not promise a cure.....So, I opted for least invasive with still nearly 100% BC clear. One week ago, UMX, no reconstruction. I heard about so many problems with reconstruction, especially from athletes. I am not an athlete, but play violin so I did not want any problems with muscles! Happy flat , one side, my dear husband also VERY happy BC is gone. I met a woman with BMX and rconstruction done by the same surgeons I was scheduled with ( lucky coincidence!) She was very happy 3 years out. She looked really good. But I just really did not like the idea of something fake in my body and all the extra surgery. I guess each one if us has to make a decision we can live with! BTW, there was NO DCIS in the breast they took out......and they didn't know until they took it out....I hope that changes soon, a way to see DCIS during surgery. Sorry to digress from original topic.....Best wishes to all of you and thank you so much!!! All your comments, research, pains and joys have been so helpful in learning how to deal with this. I am so glad I found this discussion!!!!!

Sep 16, 2013 07:55AM lgkgde13 wrote:

I agree with Beesie as well. If you are uncertain about the other breast and not comfortable with it then don't do it.  I had a uni end of July, BRCA negative result helped me in my decision to uni mx.  I am 39 yrs old.  I asked my BS is she felt I was making the right decision about only doing one and she agreed it was a good decision.  She is very upfront with me and said listen, you are young, you just got married it is tough enough to lose one let alone two.  She said if I wanted to do the other one at a later time I could.  I am happy with my decision.  It is a bit of a pain to be lopsided right now while I am getting my fills with TE but amazing products out there to help with that until ready for implant.  On the upside, I can sleep on my right side sometimes :)

I hope you find peace with your decision and don't feel pressured to do both if you aren't feeling it.