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

jaykay · 07-29-2013, 02:17 PM

I was in a different situation than you and most of the others. This is my 2nd visit from bc.

I was diagnosed with Stage 1a (her2+/er+/pr-) 13 years ago, left breast. Had a lumpectomy, snb, radiation and anti-estrogen therapy (for 10 years). No chemo, no herceptin

Had a new primary (or recurrence?) with same pathology in the other breast last September and decided to wait until my BRCA test results came back before deciding on whether to have another lumpectomy, single mastectomy or bmx.

I then hit myself on the head and asked if I were crazy. I got rid of them both because there was no way I could go through this a third time. I know there are no guarantees but the odds of it coming back in what's left of my breasts are very slim. And I wouldn't have considered leftie healthy.

I'm also 62 (a very young 62 :-) and they don't mean as much to me as they would to someone 20 years younger. I do miss the sensation, though. I have no regrets and can understand what a difficult decision it is for you. And you can always decide later.

Best
Janis

07-29-2013, 02:17 PM	#8
jaykay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 646	Re: Thoughts on removal of opposite healthy breast? I was in a different situation than you and most of the others. This is my 2nd visit from bc. I was diagnosed with Stage 1a (her2+/er+/pr-) 13 years ago, left breast. Had a lumpectomy, snb, radiation and anti-estrogen therapy (for 10 years). No chemo, no herceptin Had a new primary (or recurrence?) with same pathology in the other breast last September and decided to wait until my BRCA test results came back before deciding on whether to have another lumpectomy, single mastectomy or bmx. I then hit myself on the head and asked if I were crazy. I got rid of them both because there was no way I could go through this a third time. I know there are no guarantees but the odds of it coming back in what's left of my breasts are very slim. And I wouldn't have considered leftie healthy. I'm also 62 (a very young 62 :-) and they don't mean as much to me as they would to someone 20 years younger. I do miss the sensation, though. I have no regrets and can understand what a difficult decision it is for you. And you can always decide later. Best Janis __________________ March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010) Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70% BRCA 1 and 2 negative October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks. March 14, 2013: Finished chemo April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x May 22, 2013: Finished rads June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs. July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin December 5, 2013: Port removed Glad this year is over!