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Caroline,
This is a decision that you and only you can make. When I was first diagnosed I decided I wanted a bilateral mastectomy. My reasons were many -- strong history of breast cancer on both sides of family including one of my sisters and both grandmothers, I had very dense fibrocystic breasts and had previously had a lump removed from each breast (benign), and MRI of my left breast after I was diagnosed showed extensive calcifications. All that being said I do not regret my decision. It's been almost a year since my surgery and at this point I have intention of having reconstructive surgery. Good luck to you. Make sure you are comfortable with whatever decision you make.
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Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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