HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Need Mastectomy

Cannon · 10-04-2009, 06:15 PM

My experience (personally, on this board, and in other cyberforums) is that the people who are inclined to go for the double mast, are very happy with their decision -- and vice versa. Meaning, people who only want to have one removed, even if they have recurrence later, feel they did the right thing at the right time. And really, that's all we can really do - make the best decision for ourselves with what we know at the time.

I have not yet had reconstruction - but I saw a funny tshirt I might wear when/if I do. It says, "Yes, they're fake. The real ones tried to kill me!"

Rebecca

10-04-2009, 06:15 PM	#4
Cannon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 203	Re: Need Mastectomy - Should I do Bilateral? My experience (personally, on this board, and in other cyberforums) is that the people who are inclined to go for the double mast, are very happy with their decision -- and vice versa. Meaning, people who only want to have one removed, even if they have recurrence later, feel they did the right thing at the right time. And really, that's all we can really do - make the best decision for ourselves with what we know at the time. I have not yet had reconstruction - but I saw a funny tshirt I might wear when/if I do. It says, "Yes, they're fake. The real ones tried to kill me!" 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.