HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Thoughts on removal of opposite healthy breast?

linn65 · 07-23-2013, 08:02 AM

You know in the beginning I was sooo sure I wanted them both off. Then after I had 1 off and now know that it is numb and still has pain when I touch it under the incision I think if chances are small 1% or something then keep my real one. If I would have had them both taken off in the beginning then I would have never known how it would have felt to have one removed. I wanted him to take both off at the same time and my doctor told me NO. He said imagine you have a full plate right now and you have so many things on your plate that we want to do one thing at a time on your plate.

I read last night for the first time that if you have cysts or whatever they are called in your opposite breast that if it is a certain type of lump then it has a higher risk of turning into BC later on down the road. Now, I am thinking well....Crap on a crap stick (lol) if I have Atypical hyperplasia cysts then that is the type that has a higher risk. Well, I don't know which kind I have, so I wrote that in my notes for questions to the doctor.

Also, I know I have enough fat for 1 breast not sure about 2 for the DIEP surgery. I am 36 D and would be fine to go to a C cup.

07-23-2013, 08:02 AM	#4
linn65 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Attica, IN Posts: 371	Re: Thoughts on removal of opposite healthy breast? You know in the beginning I was sooo sure I wanted them both off. Then after I had 1 off and now know that it is numb and still has pain when I touch it under the incision I think if chances are small 1% or something then keep my real one. If I would have had them both taken off in the beginning then I would have never known how it would have felt to have one removed. I wanted him to take both off at the same time and my doctor told me NO. He said imagine you have a full plate right now and you have so many things on your plate that we want to do one thing at a time on your plate. I read last night for the first time that if you have cysts or whatever they are called in your opposite breast that if it is a certain type of lump then it has a higher risk of turning into BC later on down the road. Now, I am thinking well....Crap on a crap stick (lol) if I have Atypical hyperplasia cysts then that is the type that has a higher risk. Well, I don't know which kind I have, so I wrote that in my notes for questions to the doctor. Also, I know I have enough fat for 1 breast not sure about 2 for the DIEP surgery. I am 36 D and would be fine to go to a C cup. __________________ myleftlump.wordpress.com - started blogging my IDC breast cancer 7/2012 diagnosed with multiple solid lesions 7/20/12 biopsy done. ER+ 30 PR -, HER+++,k167 80% Grade 2 9/2012 biopsy on lymph node - showed malignant 9/2012 Pre-adjunctive TCH chemo. 12/6/12 MRI after Pre-adj. Results: Modest Decrease in size of left breast malignancy As well as the associated satellite lesions and auxiliary Adenopathy compared to prior study. Doctors hoped for better but good response it didn't grow. 12/18/2012 left masectomy with axillary nodes Size 3.2 CM, Nottingham score 9/9 Grade 3, no evidence of in situ carcinoma Areas of angiolymphatic are identified Carcinoma is 0.5 cm from inked deep Margin of excision Attached axillary lymph nodes: metastatic Carcinoma in 6 of 8 nodes. Size of largest node 1.5 cm Extracapsular ER + 73%, PR+2%, HER2+ 2/27/13 6 weeks of IMRT radiation finished 2/2013 Started on Tamoxifan 5 years. 8/2013 will take last Herceptin, 17 treatments total every 3 weeks. BRCA1 & BRAC2 - Negative August 28, 2013 DIEP flap on the left breast. February 2014 Nip & Tuck March 14, 2014 nipple reconstruction and removed port. August 14, 2014 lump in lymph nodes under arm and above clavicle. Stage IV August 28, 2014 herceptin And projeta starting and port put back in. 3/18/15 stopped arimidex. 3/18/15 progression....Tdm1