preventative mastectomy

[March2017]

Good afternoon,

Not been on here for a while , I was wondering if anyone here with the BRCA gene has had a preventative mastectomy, if so how was your experience? Did you have any regrets? We’re you happy with the surgery? What type ,if any reconstruction did you have?

I was diagnosed with BRCA2 in November 2017.

I was diagnosed with stage 3a ovarian cancer March 2017, still NED to date!

I’ve now been told I have early emphysema, no symptoms to date and on no medication, picked up on a routine CT scan, Ive wanted a mastectomy for a long time and feel the time is right.

I’ve an appointment with the Breast Surgery clinic Monday, any advice would be very much appreciated 😀

[Zssu]

Hi March, I discovered I was brca1 after having my 2nd breast cancer diagnosed. I opted immediately to have a double mastectomy. Would you believe that I then went on to have a bilateral oophorectomy and they discovered OC in my fallopian tubes! I am so pleased I had the mastectomy as I no longer worry. I told my surgeon to remove every scrap of breast tissue! A bit extreme but I can see my ribs and am so pleased that there is little chance something would appear without me noticing. I had an amazing surgeon, he made two curved incisions below my breasts along the rib line. The scars have disappeared. I have no puckering tissue and my breast looks almost like it did when I was 10. Except I am nearly 70! I sunbathe topless!! I am confident about being flat and hope that I encourage other women that it is not the end of your allure as a woman. In fact a lot of models have virtually no breast tissue and no one berates them! Take courage you will potentially cut out a risk you do not need. And who likes losing their hair, I have been there 3 times now!

Good luck, Zssu

[Pumpkininja]

Hello March2017 hope all good.When I was in remission from ovarian cancer stage 4, bcra1 mutation from 2017 to 2022 was going 100% for a preventive mastectomy with reconstruction ( hybrid reconstruction even if I'm quite skinny).However had to drop the plans as cancer cameback and will never go away on my case.

With cancer : prevention is key.

All the best on your journey ***

[Goodgirl98 in reply to Pumpkininja]

Hi pumpkinninja, can you share why you say the cancer will not go away on recurrence for you? I hope I misunderstood you and wish you the best to heal and get into remission again.

[Pumpkininja in reply to Goodgirl98]

Hello Goodgirl98 hope all good, I'm with stage IV ovarian cancer mestatic .the 1st reocurrence 2022,came in lymph nodes of collarbone .The doctors told me after the 6 months chemo carbo/ taxol/ avastin, cancer was in remission however there was microscopy cancer, so they called it " chronic cancer" and told the target therapy only could slow down progression of disease.Indeed was whatepened, started to return in Jan 23 in lymph nodes of the AMS root of the pancreas , then colon and peritoneal area(lower pelvis).

Are very small lesions ( not big tumours) so surgery is not an option in my case.

I have Hope maybe a trial after Caelyx that will start on 18/12, if I live until then could do something more permanent then chemo.Chemo seems only making my cancer coming more aggressive.

Please note we are all different, some patients might be in remission for many many years after the first reocurrence etc or even stay NED depending of the stage they were diagnosed the first time.

Hope it helps

All the best***

[Goodgirl98 in reply to Pumpkininja]

Wishing you the very best for the trials and beating this! Will keep an eye out for your updates.