[Debbie L.]

This is a personal decision, not really a medical one (most of the time). And many of us have asked it. How about starting a pro/con list and everyone add their thoughts, to help krisvell sort out HER thoughts.

Reasons women don't do bilaterals:

1. Desire to keep a breast that has normal sensation (which reconstructed breasts usually do not) and appearance.
2. Desire to avoid elective, extra surgery.
3. Unable or unwilling to hassle with insurance companies long enough to get approval.

Reasons women do elective bilaterals:

1. Desire for symmetry (whether staying flat or reconstructing).
2. Lack of trust in, or dislike of, surveillance for a new cancer in the other breast.
3. High risk for a second cancer d/t family history or genetic testing results.
4. Major concerns with lymphedema and not wanting to risk having to have node dissection on both sides, if a second cancer happened later on in the other breast.

Your turn!