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jml · 11-05-2007, 08:52 AM

Hi~
I'm Stage IV & have been since my primary dx in May 2002.
I initially had a L lumpectomy for the original primary tumor & weeks-years,actually-of chemo to get to the mets in my liver under control.Finally, after a liver resection, my liver is NED x 2yrs!
I did eventually have a L mastectomy, b/c 8 weeks after my liver resection, a 1cm malignant nodule popped up in my breast again & mammo's showed lots of calcifications again. The last thing I wanted was for that local disease to progress and grow and invade my liver again!
My surgical onc also discouraged me from doing a prophylactic mastectomy on the R b/c 'cutting away healthy tissue wouldn't effect my survival prognosis or prevent the bigger problem of distal met from recurring.'
I know that some BC types (lobular?i think, i really don't know) are more likely than others to occur bilaterally & that might be a just reason to pursue a prophylactic mastec on the unaffected side.
But as a Stage IV'er, I'm far more concerned about my liver & every other distal organ that mets like to live & grow than disease in my breasts!Treating local disease feels far less threatening & scary.
I've even recently had a recurrence to 2 supraclavicular nodes, which is a bummer, but my immediate reaction was "But how's my LIVER!!??"
Also, with all the speculation of how surgery & general anesthesia affects dormant, stable micromets, possibly "waking them up" & causing the disease to grow & progress again, why put yourself at risk?
Ultimately, if you feel a prophylactic mastectomy will provide you more peace of mind, then you must do what you feel compelled to do.

Hope my perspective is helpful to you~
Take good care,
jessica

11-05-2007, 08:52 AM	#5
jml Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 415	I'm Stage IV, too -no prophylactic mastectomy for me either Hi~ I'm Stage IV & have been since my primary dx in May 2002. I initially had a L lumpectomy for the original primary tumor & weeks-years,actually-of chemo to get to the mets in my liver under control.Finally, after a liver resection, my liver is NED x 2yrs! I did eventually have a L mastectomy, b/c 8 weeks after my liver resection, a 1cm malignant nodule popped up in my breast again & mammo's showed lots of calcifications again. The last thing I wanted was for that local disease to progress and grow and invade my liver again! My surgical onc also discouraged me from doing a prophylactic mastectomy on the R b/c 'cutting away healthy tissue wouldn't effect my survival prognosis or prevent the bigger problem of distal met from recurring.' I know that some BC types (lobular?i think, i really don't know) are more likely than others to occur bilaterally & that might be a just reason to pursue a prophylactic mastec on the unaffected side. But as a Stage IV'er, I'm far more concerned about my liver & every other distal organ that mets like to live & grow than disease in my breasts!Treating local disease feels far less threatening & scary. I've even recently had a recurrence to 2 supraclavicular nodes, which is a bummer, but my immediate reaction was "But how's my LIVER!!??" Also, with all the speculation of how surgery & general anesthesia affects dormant, stable micromets, possibly "waking them up" & causing the disease to grow & progress again, why put yourself at risk? Ultimately, if you feel a prophylactic mastectomy will provide you more peace of mind, then you must do what you feel compelled to do. Hope my perspective is helpful to you~ Take good care, jessica