Re: another newbie introduction/ multiple surgeries

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann. I had bilateral mastectomy (no reconstruction) and

oophrectomy at the same time 11/06. My BRCA was negative, however,

there is a lot of cancer in my family, I was premenopausal, and I

had to have the affected breast removed anyway. So I did a

prophylactic on the other breast and had the ovaries removed

laporoscopically - they were not sure they would be able to do that

since I have had multiple abdominal surgeries before. I had to PUSH

to get them to do the ovaries at the same time -- I think their

concern was about length of surgery. The recovery was SOO easy

(compared to other abdominal surgeries, and even to the mastectomy,

which is not terrible but I could barely feel anything from the

laparascopy).

One of my surgeons later said he liked patients like me, who knew

what they wanted.

, 43

er+, pr+, her2+

stage III

4 A/C, surgery, currently 12 taxol + herceptin, to be followed by

RADs

>

> I am 54 years old, long divorced, no children.

>

> I had my official diagnosis of DCIS (stage 0) and IDC (min stage

1),

> Type III (unfortunately aggressive) in the left breast on Jan 2,

and

> the surgeon told me I need to have a mastectomy of that breast. I

had

> been hoping to have a lumpectomy of the IDC and radiation of the

DCIS.

> However. That is the least of my worries.

>

> I was not surprised by my breast cancer diagnosis because I have a

> strong family history: father's sister and first cousin died from

it 45

> years ago, my father and my older sister were diagnosed 9 and 7

years

> ago respectively. My father and sister are still alive (and my

father

> just had his second surgery for larynx cancer this morning - heavy

> smoker for 20 years). I admit I was hoping the diagnosis would

have

> been 15-20 years from now. But it's not. OK.

>

> However, my main concerns now is what happens if the result of the

> BRCA1/2 tests turn out to be positive. My surgeon is recommending

at

> least an oophorectomy because of the high chance of ovarian

cancer,

> with no good screening for it. The plastic surgeon I talked about

for

> reconstruction (which I decided against finally as both painful

and

> medically unncessary for me, be it implant or redistributing body

> tissue) recommended bilateral mastectomy at the same time. I have

not

> had the surgery yet because I have had this miserable cold and

cough

> since Christmas Day, and doctors are afraid of pneumonia. This has

> given me the luxury of time to get genetic results and all my

ducks

> lined up.

>

> So - my question is, if bilateral mastectomy is done at the same

time

> to prevent recurrence in the other breast, do they do the

oophorectomy

> (ovaries removed) at the same time? Or do I have a choice of

mastectomy

> of the breast with cancer and the oophorectomy? Does anyone have

any

> experience with that? It seems to me that if they were willing to

the

> horrible amount of surgery removing muscle and fat from my belly

to my

> chest for a bilateral reconstruction, that an oophorectomy could

be an

> option if I decide against the reconstruction?

>

> And how long does it take to recover from single and/or bilateral?

>

> My father had a mastectomy, but we live in different states so I

never

> got to see how long it took him. I also haven't told my 80+ year

old

> parents yet because they are under enough stress on the recurrence

of

> the larynx cancer. My sister had a lumpectomy and complained of

> swelling and told me I'd have a very hard time getting the

strength to

> throw pottery again.

>

> Any sharing of experiences with any of this with anyone familiar

with

> the BRCA1/2 addition to the BC treatment buffet would be greatly

> appreciated.

>

> Ann

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thank you for the information. This is what I was looking for. I am

somewhat fearful of the BRCA1/2 because my sister, unlike you, was

er-, pr-, her2-, as well as Type III, which is usually associated

with having BRCA1 mutation. My father, however, was er+. I don't

remember the other stats. Last I looked there weren't very many

studies on male breast cancer, although I did something about an

association there with BRCA2.

The questions I have regarding recovery are more practical. I live

alone. My family is 2000 miles away. Will I *need* to have someone

with me for a day or two, or will I at least be able to cook (on a

stove, not just microwave), walk around, dress myself easily, etc.?

If not, I want to line up some friends who'll give me a hand for

however long it takes until I can be independent again. So when you

say the recovery was easy, does that mean you could be relatively

independent in doing basic things for yourself right away?

I assume I'll at least have to have someone drive me home, since the

hospital insisted on that even for the biopsies. I thought in my

case that was over-cautious.

Thank you again for the information.

Ann

> >

> > I am 54 years old, long divorced, no children.

> >

> > I had my official diagnosis of DCIS (stage 0) and IDC (min stage

> 1),

> > Type III (unfortunately aggressive) in the left breast on Jan 2,

> and

> > the surgeon told me I need to have a mastectomy of that breast.

I

> had

> > been hoping to have a lumpectomy of the IDC and radiation of the

> DCIS.

> > However. That is the least of my worries.

> >

> > I was not surprised by my breast cancer diagnosis because I have

a

> > strong family history: father's sister and first cousin died

from

> it 45

> > years ago, my father and my older sister were diagnosed 9 and 7

> years

> > ago respectively. My father and sister are still alive (and my

> father

> > just had his second surgery for larynx cancer this morning -

heavy

> > smoker for 20 years). I admit I was hoping the diagnosis would

> have

> > been 15-20 years from now. But it's not. OK.

> >

> > However, my main concerns now is what happens if the result of

the

> > BRCA1/2 tests turn out to be positive. My surgeon is

recommending

> at

> > least an oophorectomy because of the high chance of ovarian

> cancer,

> > with no good screening for it. The plastic surgeon I talked

about

> for

> > reconstruction (which I decided against finally as both painful

> and

> > medically unncessary for me, be it implant or redistributing

body

> > tissue) recommended bilateral mastectomy at the same time. I

have

> not

> > had the surgery yet because I have had this miserable cold and

> cough

> > since Christmas Day, and doctors are afraid of pneumonia. This

has

> > given me the luxury of time to get genetic results and all my

> ducks

> > lined up.

> >

> > So - my question is, if bilateral mastectomy is done at the same

> time

> > to prevent recurrence in the other breast, do they do the

> oophorectomy

> > (ovaries removed) at the same time? Or do I have a choice of

> mastectomy

> > of the breast with cancer and the oophorectomy? Does anyone have

> any

> > experience with that? It seems to me that if they were willing

to

> the

> > horrible amount of surgery removing muscle and fat from my belly

> to my

> > chest for a bilateral reconstruction, that an oophorectomy could

> be an

> > option if I decide against the reconstruction?

> >

> > And how long does it take to recover from single and/or

bilateral?

> >

> > My father had a mastectomy, but we live in different states so I

> never

> > got to see how long it took him. I also haven't told my 80+ year

> old

> > parents yet because they are under enough stress on the

recurrence

> of

> > the larynx cancer. My sister had a lumpectomy and complained of

> > swelling and told me I'd have a very hard time getting the

> strength to

> > throw pottery again.

> >

> > Any sharing of experiences with any of this with anyone familiar

> with

> > the BRCA1/2 addition to the BC treatment buffet would be greatly

> > appreciated.

> >

> > Ann

> >

>