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Cannon · 02-28-2008, 08:29 PM

Hi, I want to let you know that many women do decide to have both breasts removed - I am one of them. My surgeon also tried to discourage me, and I honestly think this is because he is a man, and didn't want to remove a healthy breast. Once I was clear with him that this was my true desire, he said fine. I also was/am not a candidate for reconstruction for a while, and not sure I will want to do that.

My rationale involved the following issues:
1) There was a 1% PER YEAR chance of recurrence in the opposite breast (capping out at about 20%)
2) I had large breasts and would be terribly lopsided with one; did not want to have another surgery later to remove the other
3) I knew I would just worry that much more - I did not want to regret it later
4) While the survival rate may be the same, the recurrence rate is not, and I wanted to reduce my chances of having to go through cancer treatment a second time (well, third if you count my thyroid cancer 2 years prior).

I also requested that my GYN remove my ovaries AT THE SAME TIME as my bilateral - he was willing, but again my breast surgeon was skeptical. It all went beautifully - one anesthesia, one "surgery" to me.

So - it doesn't mean your wife is crazy to want this, and I don't think there's any medical reason for her surgeon to be against it.

Hope this helps you, if not her.

Rebecca

02-28-2008, 08:29 PM	#3
Cannon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 203	Hi, I want to let you know that many women do decide to have both breasts removed - I am one of them. My surgeon also tried to discourage me, and I honestly think this is because he is a man, and didn't want to remove a healthy breast. Once I was clear with him that this was my true desire, he said fine. I also was/am not a candidate for reconstruction for a while, and not sure I will want to do that. My rationale involved the following issues: 1) There was a 1% PER YEAR chance of recurrence in the opposite breast (capping out at about 20%) 2) I had large breasts and would be terribly lopsided with one; did not want to have another surgery later to remove the other 3) I knew I would just worry that much more - I did not want to regret it later 4) While the survival rate may be the same, the recurrence rate is not, and I wanted to reduce my chances of having to go through cancer treatment a second time (well, third if you count my thyroid cancer 2 years prior). I also requested that my GYN remove my ovaries AT THE SAME TIME as my bilateral - he was willing, but again my breast surgeon was skeptical. It all went beautifully - one anesthesia, one "surgery" to me. So - it doesn't mean your wife is crazy to want this, and I don't think there's any medical reason for her surgeon to be against it. Hope this helps you, if not her. Rebecca __________________ Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++ Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense 11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left) Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07 33 Rads Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier) Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family survivor of thyroid cancer also have Crohn's disease CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13 dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35 1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me? 9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years? 4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease 5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year 6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.