Wednesday, Oct 07th 2009

Prophylactic Mastectomy: Why This Woman Chose It

This being breast cancer awareness month, I'm even more hyper-aware of anything in the news that has to do with the subject. So, when I received an email from a reader, I felt it is too important - as well as pertinent - not to share.

Isabelle M., writes this: "I've been reading about more and more women opting to have their healthy breast(s) removed. I made that decision years after a mastectomy on my other breast, and I'd like to share my experience with you".

Isabelle goes on to write that she is a registered nurse, and has made her decision with full knowledge of all the facts. Although experts say there's no proof that the procedure extends the life expectancy of cancer patients, the rate of women choosing to have their healthy breast removed after they've had cancer in the other breast is growing. Though still rather uncommon, the rate of contralateral mastectomy (removal of the opposite breast) has more than doubled in ten years.

In recent years, more and more doctors are recommending that their patients with breast cancer consider having their opposite (or unaffected) breast also removed - especially if they're relatively young at the time of diagnosis. Yet there are always other doctors who are outraged by a woman's choice to any healthy tissue removed, arguing that there's no scientific data to back up that decision.

There are also women who choose prophylactic mastectomy before they've even received a cancer diagnosis; most of these women are at high risk for developing breast cancer and want to do all they can to avoid it.

That decision, of course, should be a choice - and up to the woman, not the doctor, I think. While it might not be a medical necessity (some types of cancers are likely to occur as a mirror image in the opposite breast or there may be a strong family history of breast cancer), the choice - and it should be a choice - can most certainly be a psychological necessity. After all, how can the need to feel safe, not fearful, be ignored?

Here's Isabelle's account of her experience:
"After a mastectomy and failed reconstruction at age 44, I found myself with a single double- D sized, two- pound breast on one side and an ugly scar from the rejected implant on the other.

I plugged along for a few years, wearing a breast prosthesis in a specially designed bra, until one hot and humid summer when the bra got in the way of gardening and swimming, I could not stand it for another second.

At the same time, the fear of getting diagnosed with a new cancer in the remaining breast occupied my thoughts - a lot. Within a few months after visiting a few surgeons, I had a preventive mastectomy.

After the surgery I learned that the biopsy on the breast tissue that was removed was negative for cancer. Needless to say, I was so relieved, knowing that the breast tissue that betrayed my health earlier has been removed. I have no regrets whatsoever about my decision.

Today, I prefer being symmetrically flat-chested to wearing a heavy prosthesis and being left with one breast. It's worth the peace of mind.

You might also like to read:
Another reason to exercise - it's not just about the fat.
Taking care of yourself.
What is prophylactic mastectomy?