HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Have the right breast removed, or do not have it removed, that is the question...

Belinda · 08-04-2007, 05:50 PM

Hi Cheryl

You can prob see from my sig - I had left breast off due to cancer on 10 Jan this yr, then made a decision to have the right off very quickly. My surgeon was a bit hesitant at first - worried I was being over-reactive. But, like others here, my cancer had not shown up on US or mammogram, and when they did find it thought it was a couple of nodes (one finally showed up on mammogram - that's how we knew it was there at all) and a smallish lump - NOT - 4x3.5x3cm, plus a couple of others in another quadrant and 6 nodes. I had been having mammos regularly, so my trust in screening methods availble here was - well - nil. Also, after the axillary dissection - which I found the worst part of the surgery - I was quite clear I didn't want a second LE arm and another dissection.

My surgeon put me through more rigourous screening on the right breast, then agreed that my decision was a sound one, and I had the right off on 1 Feb.

He did say that it is quite common for women, after chemo, to come back and want the other breast off, for all the reasons I had given, PLUS the added desire not to have to do chemo ever again. He was just surprised that I had come to the decision so quickly after my first surgery, before chemo.

I have no regrets at all Cheryl, I am glad not to have the worry of the other breast, and am glad I am not lopsided (my breasts were quite large so it was a pretty marked difference).

My family were all really supportive too, I think it was a relief for them to have one less thing to worry about.

So all round - chances of it coming back in my other breast were prob very low, but for peace of mind it was the right decision for me.

Also - the surgery for my second mastectomy, without the need for axillary dissection, was very very much easier - far less discomfort and by comparison was prett much a breeze.

Good luck in making your decision!

Belindaxx

08-04-2007, 05:50 PM	#10
Belinda Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Posts: 144	Hi Cheryl You can prob see from my sig - I had left breast off due to cancer on 10 Jan this yr, then made a decision to have the right off very quickly. My surgeon was a bit hesitant at first - worried I was being over-reactive. But, like others here, my cancer had not shown up on US or mammogram, and when they did find it thought it was a couple of nodes (one finally showed up on mammogram - that's how we knew it was there at all) and a smallish lump - NOT - 4x3.5x3cm, plus a couple of others in another quadrant and 6 nodes. I had been having mammos regularly, so my trust in screening methods availble here was - well - nil. Also, after the axillary dissection - which I found the worst part of the surgery - I was quite clear I didn't want a second LE arm and another dissection. My surgeon put me through more rigourous screening on the right breast, then agreed that my decision was a sound one, and I had the right off on 1 Feb. He did say that it is quite common for women, after chemo, to come back and want the other breast off, for all the reasons I had given, PLUS the added desire not to have to do chemo ever again. He was just surprised that I had come to the decision so quickly after my first surgery, before chemo. I have no regrets at all Cheryl, I am glad not to have the worry of the other breast, and am glad I am not lopsided (my breasts were quite large so it was a pretty marked difference). My family were all really supportive too, I think it was a relief for them to have one less thing to worry about. So all round - chances of it coming back in my other breast were prob very low, but for peace of mind it was the right decision for me. Also - the surgery for my second mastectomy, without the need for axillary dissection, was very very much easier - far less discomfort and by comparison was prett much a breeze. Good luck in making your decision! Belindaxx __________________ Belinda Diagnosed 3 Jan 2007, Stage IIb, Mastectomy and axillary clearance 10 Jan 07, 6 of 19 nodes affected, multi-focal cancer, HER2 positive. Second mastectomy (prophylactic). Chemo - AC 3 months, Taxol 3 months - then radiation 5 weeks. Aug 2011 - Diagnosed with Stage IV mets to lung, sternum and 12 or so thoracic nodes - Rads to Sternum, then weekly abraxane and herceptin for 12 weeks. May 2012- good scans - all nodes still about normal size, hole in sternum repairing, lung tumour 'obliterated'. Ongoing herceptin every 3 weeks. Bloods still all good! Life good! March 2013 - recurrence - tumours in lungs and mediastinum (coughing up blood) - immediate radiation treatment to right lung and mediastinum, still on Herceptin, and 3 months of Vinoralbine - stable for a little while! Coughing and breathlessness started again September 2013, treated as radiation-induced fibrosis (which can be seen on scans - albeit stable). ie puffers, steroids January 2014 - cough becomes bloody again, scans show big mediastinal tumour wrapped around and choking the life out of my right main bronchus, radiation deemed off limits as my lungs are hypersensitive to radiation (measured by existing damage from 2013) .....................- ie I am in the 5% of people likely to suffer severe radiation damage to the lungs that they warn you about before starting treatment! (so special! :) ) Started chemo Feb 2014 - continuing Herceptin (continuous since Aug 2011), with Carboplatin and Gemcitabine. Discontinued Gemcitabine because of se's. Starting cycle 5 Herc/Carbo 5 May 2014. Meantime.....coughing and breathlessness increased to SCARY levels with racing heartbeat that won't slow down, breath that won't come back, even just walking to the bathroom or up 3 or 4 steps. ICU from May 5 2014, collapsed right lung due to tumour, small pulmonary embolism (left), tumours growing in mediastinum left and right, dvt lower right leg Plan seems to be bronchoscope next week to see if tumour can be lasered and stent inserted in right bronchus to reopen air access to lower parts of right lung. If that is successful might be able to have brachytherapy to worst tumour, otherwise no more options for external radiotherapy.