Hello @lisamgee
Sorry you're joining the Breast Cancer Club (sigh) but it looks like you've caught it early and that's a very good thing. The reason for my choice to go with a bi lateral mastectomy was this..... I had been diagnosed with Stage 0, Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (or a pre cancer basically) on my left side/breast two years prior to my Stage 1 diagnosis, which happened to be in my right breast. I had lobular cancer in both breasts by the time I made my decision. Where Ductal Breast Cancer tends to be in one breast, lobular can show up in both over time. I had already had a lumpectomy of my left breast when they found the invasive cancer in the right. I decided that if it was going to be in both breasts it was only a matter of time before the invasive cancer might show up in the left breast. I could have opted for the lumpectomy of the right breast and that would have been a very reasonable choice. Post bi lateral mastectomy they do tests on all of the breast tissue and I had all kinds of scary stuff in both breasts so in my case...a good choice. Whether those cancers in situ would have evolved to more invasive cancers, I'll never know but.....my second reason for wanting to do the bi lateral mastectomy were these: 1. I'm not good at handling stress and didn't want to worry about it anymore, no breasts - less risk over time. 2. My breasts were a wreck (very saggy and unattractive) and I didn't get reconstruction and I liked the idea of the freedom of no bras or issues with breasts (but I do look a lot like a walking pear with no breasts and dressing can be tricky) - although I do have a prosthetic, which I've never worn, but could and might some day, ha ha. 3. I am married and my husband didn't care whether I had breasts and also I was in my mid 50's (now 65) and was comfortable with my physical appearance without breasts...so my age played a factor. My choice did bring a problem however - during my surgery there was a surgical error and I developed lymphadema, which is pretty severe for me, so that has caused me some unwanted stress and medical intervention I don't enjoy! I only had one lymph node removed on the side where I developed lymphadema and that's very rare (again an error by the surgeon). I remain cancer free 8 years post mastectomy and 10 years from my first diagnosis. I didn't have any radiation or chemo, just the surgery - another consideration for me. I preferred not to have radiation or chemo if possible. I hope this helps. It's a big decision and either lumpectomy or mastectomy are reasonable choices. In any case, good consistent follow up is extremely important, so if you're willing and feel good about your doctors - a lumpectomy would be a fine choice. Mastectomy isn't very painful but it is a major surgery and process for sure. Keep me posted if you like on your decision and best of everything to you. Hugs.