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Double mastectomy help prevent reoccurrence?
I have triple negative breast cancer in the left breast. The doctor said that I could have a double mastectomy, but she did not recommend it. They would monitor me closely. What should I do?
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I did a double mastectomy. I had a paravertebral block to avoid pain meds and it went smoothly. I "went flat" with no reconstruction. We have a legal right to symmetry and my surgeon agreed. My non-cancer breast had some atypical dysplasia in it so I was glad I did it. Does having triple negative affect your decision?
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1 Reaction@kedisaacs,
Welcome to Mayo Connect, I hope you get support and advice from others who have been in your situation.
With so many factors to consider when choosing the right treatment / surgical approach for you, it can be a difficult decision to make.
I found this website that talks frankly about the decisions and does have statistics about reoccurrence. Your chance of reoccurrences also depends on other treatments planned, chemo, radiation and medications. Each additional treatment is done to reduce chance of reoccurrence
Mastectomy - One side of Both
https://www.breastcancercourse.org/mastectomy-one-side-or-both/.
I see you have posted in the declining chemo discussion also, You mention provider is not recommending a double mastectomy, but did not say what they are suggesting.
Do you care to share what treatment plan your provider is recommending?
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3 ReactionsThank you for the link "Mastectomy- One side of Both". The doctor is waiting to prescribe the treatment plan until after surgery. They will make sure it is not in the lymph glands. They will decide about chemo after they are sure of the size of the cancer. Thoughts?
@kedisaacs breastcancer.org has an excellent forum.
My understanding and experience is that during a mastectomy the surgeon usually takes a sentinel lymph node which is the gateway node to others. If that is positive, they take more. If negative, only the sentinel node is checked.
If your tumor is ER+ and HER2- they do an Oncotyype DX test which gives risk with and without hormonal meds and info on whether chemo is of benefit. These days, that test and others like it (Mammaprint for example) determine treatment along with other info from pathology.
As an example, I had a grade 3 cancer, the worst grade, with lymphovascular invasion, but a low Oncotype, so I did not do chemo.