Scheduled for mid May right now. Every female in my family has either died of BC or Ovarian cancer in the last 3 generations and my identical twin had BC when we were 26. I have been religioous about self and medical screenings. I don't have to worry about the ovarian cancer as I had a complete Hyst 10 years ago. Had a BRCA-1 and 2 test done an it came back positive. On top of that my mommo's have bee indecinct because of very dense tissue all over both breasts. I'm kind of apprehensive and would like to know what to expect. As of right now I don;t plan on having implants. Just FYI I am a DD size. Any words of experience would help, thanks

Kathy

Kathy,
WOW!!! That is a tough call. If I had your family history and like you also tested positive for BRCA-1 and 2 I would probably have the mastectomy. Thats easy for me to say as I am almost 60 years old. I have seen one case of identical twins having breast ca. They were 2 years apart but in the identical area. Have you talked to your doctor about having MRI's due to your dense breast? I must say sometimes MRI's miss thing also but they are great for looking through dense breast. Digital mammography is also SO much better for dense breast than film mammography. I am sorry I can't be of more help to you. Good luck in you decision.
Newfie11

Hi!
I am 47 and had a double mast in Sept. right side had 1.3 cm invasive cancer and so i had the left side removed prophylacticly just in case. i began breast reconstruction at the sme time. so far so good. i just finished me chemo last week and am scheduled to have the tissue expanders replaced with the implants at the end of april. the chemo was much worse than the surgery. i began feeling pretty normal about 8 weeks after the surgery. i had more pain on my side where i had some little fat rolls under my arms. i had about 45 lymph nodes removed also so i think that also played a part in it. the left breast (without the cancer and with no lymph node removal felt much better much sooner). so if you do it before you have cancer i would expect your recovery to go very smoothly. hope this helps.

You've probably found out a lot of info since your posting. I just signed on to this service and saw your question. Were you positive for BRCA 1 or 2? There is a strong association with either breast or ovarian, depending on which one you're positive for.

Hi Kathy,

Sorry to hear about what you are going through. I know how scarey it can be. I have a family history of cancer as well. Not all BC but some. My sister had bilateral BC at the age of 37, she is about to turn 60 this July. Then I have an aunt who at the age of 60 had a lumpectomy for her BC. Another aunt had a double mast somehow related to severe fibrocystic disease. I have a niece (my only sister who had the bilat BC) had some kind of cancer in her leg. Then my sister-in-law (not blood related of course) died from BC because it was not diagnosed until she was way advanced. Her lump started in her 3rd trimester of pregnancy and the doc waved it off as enlarged mammary glad. She then had my niece. When my niece was 3 months old my sister in law called me and described to me what her breast looked like. It was the typical sign of cancer with the por d orange effect (orange peel effect) and i told her to see a surgeon immediately She had a mastectomy on that side that week. when my niece turned 3 her mom was having her second mast the same week my niece what having surgery for cancer...a tumor on her uterus the size of a cantelope, one on her colon and one else where. Her mom is gone but my niece is now 11 yrs old.

Sorry got carried away. There's more but i think you have heard enough. You are brave and I think you are doing the right thing.I think it will be easier on you having it done without the diagnosis of cancer now.

I am getting ready to have the BRCA 1, 2 test. Did you have that with just blood work? For some reason I thought there was more to the genetic study. I am doing it for myself, as well as my 23 year old daughter who just found a lump but the surgeon feels it is "just" fibrocystic disease. If I am positive then I think she has to have the test too, do you know?? If I am positive my surgeon also said I would have to have my ovaries out as I still have both of them, with a history of polycystic ovaries. Do you know how long it is for the test results to come back on the BRCA?? I still want my other breast removed just in case. I too have been what they call "full-figured". I can remember when I was 9 I wanted breasts like Marily Monroe lol. Crazy me.

Thank you for sharing your story. I apologize for such a long post. I wonder if my nieces of my sister in law should have the genetic studies done??? They are part of my brother if that makes sense.

My prayers are with you with the whole ordeal you are going through. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!!

Warmest regards,
Linda

Hi Kathy, I am a 4yr survivor myself..I never did feel any lump, it was found on my routine mammo. I can imagine how difficult this decision must be for you. I can only offer you opinions from my own experience..I had a mast. with no reconstruction..my personal opinion was that I felt my body should heal itself first..I waited 2yrs, and then I decided to go for the reconstruction. I was having a difficult time with my own body image..my wonderful husband was not. I didnt even want to look at myself in the mirror. I decided on what I believed to be the safest way to get back what I had lost to cancer..and that was to have a saline implant..It was not without pain...however with meds it was okay. I have never regretted that decision. It is not my old breast..It does not have feeling, but it is a breast! I had a lift and reduction on the other side to make them look symmetrical..and they do..I went down to a C cup..
Kathy, this is such a personal decision..if you choose not to do it now, you can do it later..its only that you will then have to have an additional surgery.
Please keep in touch,
I have received so much support from others when I have gone through this..I only hope that I can "pay it forward"!
hugs..
cj