[Ginagce]

Hello Skoolmom. First let me say that I am sorry that you have joined our ranks. So many hard decisions to make at the most stressful times of your life. Prayers for you.

I chose to have bilateral mastectomies after being told by my oncology team that a lumpectomy and radiation of my right breast would be the best treatment after a sentinel node biopsy showed no spread to nodes.

I had previously (7 years earlier) had been diagnosed with DCIS in left breast and had lump and radiation at that time. I also had LCIS in both breasts.

So when I was diagnosed with an invasive ductal carcinoma in my right breast last summer, I decided I wanted to be as done with this as I could, hence the bilaterals.

When my oncology surgeon did my mastectomies, thankfully, he decided to do a node biopsy on the "good" side as well. Pathology showed that not only did I have a tumor in that breast that had gone undetected, but that I did indeed have lymph node involvement on my left side. I got lucky because I made the choice to have mastectomies rather than treat the right breast only.

At the end of the day, we live by our choices and I believe as others have stated that you will ultimately make the best decision for you. I thank god every day I listened to my voice within and followed my instincts.

My best wishes to you.