elective double mastectomy?
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Anonymous
Before you go saying what you would NEVER EVER do, maybe you should actually know something about what you're talking about. This is a very real thing and many women struggle with a very tough choice. My friend was given an 80% chance of developing breast cancer and a 50% chance of developing ovarian cancer, which is even more likely to be deadly. Those are not good odds, and yes the tests are accurate. My friend is not a mom yet but I can't fathom thinking my boobs or even ovaries are more important than seeing my kids graduate high school or get married. I don't think you can ever say what you would do in this situation unless you are in it. |
is this serious?
Anonymous
See if you can get an appointment with Dr. Russell Seneca or anyone in this practice, (in Virginia) breast surgeon and was chief of surgery at Fairfax hospital. I went to him when I found a lump and told him that there was no history of breast cancer in my family going back 5 generations. He told me that 95 percent os his patients had no fmily history of breast cancer. Get a couple of opinions before making such a drastic move. |
Anonymous
| There was a TV movie called "Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy" which was interesting, starring the woman from Scrubs. It was on Lifetime (my guilty pleasure). |
Anonymous
That's a pretty ignorant post. |
Anonymous
You don't even know me to tell me what I would do or not do. I've lost almost all the immediate women around me to cancer (aunts, grandmas, nieces) and I will tell you: Unless I develop the disease there's no way on Earth I'd do a full mastectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy (or any sort of hysterectomy) based on tests. Doctors have messed up with me before and I'll wait until I feel or see it to believe. |
Anonymous
EXTREMELY ignorant. |
Anonymous
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OP, do you know if your insurance will cover it? And who is your insurance carrier (if they will)?
My mother developed breast cancer in her late 40s, her sister had it, my grandmother, and my grandmother's sister. I'm likely going to get the genetic test, because like you I would be totally fine with an elective double masectomy. However, I am a little worried about two things: 1. If I test positive for the gene, that will be a "preexisting condition" and I could lose potential insurance coverage for it in the future, should the freaking Republicans repeal the health care law making those practices illegal 2. Covering the cost of the surgery, if my insurance declines it because it is elective. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on these issues, since it sounds like you've given this a lot of thought already. |
Anonymous
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OP here.
Thank you so much to all of you who have offered kind words and recommendations of medical professionals you trust. I do not know the ins and outs of the insurance laws, and/or if they would change if the Republicans have their way. I am afraid of that, and would seek advice from the genetic counseling center *before* finding out if I have the genes. Thanks for the Fisher Center name---I had forgotten about them, so I'm glad to be reminded of this place. Please continue with recommendations, and stories. It is inspiring to hear how brave everyone is! |
Anonymous
| I am BRCA2+ and have had a prophylactic double mastectomy and oopherectomy (ovaries removed) and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. My mother passed away from breast cancer when she was 44 and I was 18. I am 42 right now and my children are only 9. I still feel like I have missed a ton losing my mom at 18. I couldn't imagine what my children would go through if they lost me at 10. When the BRCA test first came out, I didn't have kids yet. My ob-gyn told me to wait to take the test until I was (i) close to the age of my mother's diagnosis, (ii) through having children and (iii) ready to actually take action if the test came back positive. When I was 39 I took the test with a geneticist in another state (where I lived at the time). The genetic counselor told me my odds of testing positive were low (based on the family history I gave her). But I had a feeling I was going to test positive. When the results came back positive for BRCA2, I have to admit that I was actually relieved. I hated going for my yearly mammograms (I had been going since 30) and didn't want to have to keep going until I got the bad results that I always felt were going to come one day. I was happy that I could do something proactive about this -- I guess maybe have some control over it in the way I never did when my mom was sick. As other posters have said, people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 are also at risk for ovarian cancer, and, after getting the positive results, the geneticist and genetic counselor more or less told me to leave their office and go get my ovaries removed. They didn't want me to wait a long time for that surgery. At the end, my timing was: April - BRCA2+ result, May - Breast MRI - normal (bought me a little time on the mastectomies), August - prophylactic oopherectomy, November -- prophylactic double mastectomies with start of reconstruction, Jan - final reconstructive surgery. No one should judge what anyone else does. This is a very personal decision and OP, you have to do what is right for you. All I can tell you is that before my surgery I used to worry every day about breast cancer. Now I feel that I could still get hit by a bus and die at 44. But I am not going to die of breast cancer. Best of luck to you. |
Anonymous
And that's fine for YOU. For many women in a high risk class, including myself, prophylactic breast surgery is is wonderful. That sword of "breast cancer" is lifted. We no longer need mammograms and our risk of cancer is reduced over 90%. My mother died at 29 of breast cancer and my sister was diagnosed at 45. I was sick of this beast following me. I had the surgery in my forties and was happy when I woke up on the table. My new chest looks great. Reconstructive techniques these days are much better than in years past. A woman has to do what is right for her. Some women don't want to live under the day-to-day fear of breast cancer. |
Anonymous
| 90% I don't believe you! |
Anonymous
Probably the best in the area is the Susan Komen foundation. Someone there can help you as well as the Breast cancer Ceter AT Georgetown Univ. Hosp. Good luck to you. |
Anonymous
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I know I don't add much value here bc I don't have breast cancer in my family, but I know with 100% certainty I would elect the surgery if it meant even a small reduction in the risks. I actually think about this quite often. I am a mid40s mom to 3 kids. It is a no brainer to me.
FWIW |
Anonymous
I'm sorry that you have lost so many relatives, but it was clear from the tone of your initial post that you have no clue what you are talking about on this topic. (Clearly you've now done some googling, which is a great place to start.) But I don't care who you are, you can't say for sure what you would do if given an 80-90% chance of developing a condition that may not be found until it is already killing you. It's good to be skeptical of the medical community, but if the gene really is a possibility for you I'd recommend doing your own research to weight the risks and benefits of getting tested rather than relying on your emotional response to some bad experience you had in the past with doctors. I respect your right not to find out your own status, but I can't respect your ignorance about the whole process while you belittle those who are struggling with a very difficult decision. In any case, I hope at the very very least you get regular mammograms. Yes that's a medical test but if you're waiting to "feel or see" cancer, you've got little chance of catching it early enough to save your life. |
Anonymous
Yes. 90%. Read up on prophylactic mastectomy. Even an 80% reduction was enough for me, but it's higher than that. |