I'm not very good at this site and so once again I'm jumping in (like a bad conversationalist at a cocktail party). I chose a bi lateral mastectomy (at Stage 1) because I'd had a lumpectomy at Stage 0. My Stage 0 was in my left breast and Stage 1 was in the right. Because lobular like to hit both sides I just decided to remove my breasts to avoid future tests and lumpectomies. I could have had just a lumpectomy, that was an option. I have low tolerance for worry (I am a very good worrier) and I knew that I wanted to reduce my risk as much as possible. I am now at pretty low risk and that's good because I can't take the aromatase drugs - I get the worst of the worst side effects, but I still worry about cancer coming back (we all do of course). I turned 58 a few days after my bi lateral and really don't miss my breasts at all, so that was another factor for me. I also found that the surgery was not that much more involved or painful than the lumpectomies I had done....so if that becomes a decision you might have to make, most women are in agreement it's not so bad. BUT, I have opted for the most extreme care for emotional reasons and I don't think research shows that a mastectomy increases longevity much more than lumpectomy in many cases. Hope this helps. No matter what decisions we make.....it's hard not to question the choices. Someday they'll have this figured out and we can all look back and see how our decisions pan out.

Thanks. Your information was very helpful.