Would you remove both breasts if cancer was found in one?

1. 61

   angel4967posted 11 years ago

   Would you remove both breasts if cancer was found in one?
   
   If you were told you had to lose a breast to cancer, would you have them remove both to lessen the chances you would get it in the other one?

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2. 61

   freecampingaussieposted 11 years ago

   That is something I would have to deal with at the time however I think I would rather have both removed than be worried it would appear again . I am 47 and might have felt diferently if younger.

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   1. 61

      angel4967posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm 45 and know I would have thought differently if I were younger too.

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3. 91

   bankscottageposted 11 years ago

   I believe it depends on the tissue type of the tumor.  Not all breast cancers are alike.  Some carry an increased risk of breast cancer in the other breast, others don't carry that high of risk.
   I know plenty of women that have had only one breast (or even just the lump removed, leaving the rest of the breast).  I also know a few women that have had both breasts removed when there was only cancer found in one (but it was the type that carried an increased risk for cancer in the other breast).
   It would be important to talk to your doctor (hopefully a breast cancer specialist) about this.  I would include a discussion of the implications to other members of your family (sisters, daughters, nieces).

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   1. 61

      angel4967posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for this information, it's things I hadn't thought about.  Do you happen to know if they do reconstructive surgery and you start to lose weight will the new breast lose weight too?

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   2. 91

      bankscottageposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      They can do reconstructive surgery (then or later?).  It can be made with your tissue (a muscle flap).  But would the reconstruction make finding a cancer hard if it reoccurred in a few cells left behind?  Lose weight, don't know what would happen.

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4. 61

   Waldo Numblyposted 11 years ago

   A friend of mine recently went through this.  It was a very difficult decision but she decided to have both breasts removed.

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   1. 61

      angel4967posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So did Christina Applegate  http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainme … st-cancer/    How is your friend doing with the emotional side?

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   2. 61

      Waldo Numblyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      She has great support from her husband.  I think age helps, they are in their 50s and have been married for 30 years.

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5. 73

   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   No. You are only supposed to get rid of the one that has cancer. So I don't see the reasoning behind losing two breasts when you only need to get rid of one.

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   1. 61

      angel4967posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      2 things to consider; 1 wouldn't it be a good preventative from getting cancer in the other breast anyway & 2 could constructive surgery be done well enough to make it like it was?

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   2. 73

      lburmasterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I wouldn't bother with constructive surgery and getting cancer in my other breast would not worry me too much. My grandmother was in the same position and I agree with her choice.

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   3. 91

      bankscottageposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Not to criticize anyone's comments, including mine. But seriously, please do not get your medical advice from HPs.  If you have breast cancer (woman or man, yes man), please seek the advice of a breast cancer specialist for answers specific to you.

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   4. 73

      lburmasterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with that.

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