Elective mastectomy of healthy breast

FE1 5 days ago

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I finished verzinio at the end of October 24 and now on letrizole for the next eight years. My treatment started three years ago with a routine mammogram finding calcification then a biopsy found lobular grade 2 invasive. Radical mastectomy, chemotherapy. Radiotherapy and targeted treatment followed. I've tried so many different things to keep going and mentally get through this and I am pretty exhausted with all the treatment. I recently had two scares after I found a cyst in my remaining breast and most recent I was recalled from a mammogram for a urgent ultrasound as they found a shadow that now looks like it was a lymph node

I struggle with trauma of the last three years and bouts of depression. I have asked a couple of times for a elective mastectomy of removing my right breast but have been told no. I feel like I can't move on and I am constantly having bad dreams about recurrence. Has anyone had a mastectomy and paid privately as a result of similar fears

Cloudier 4 days ago

Hello, I’m sorry to read that you are in a scary place. Unfortunately it is a place that a lot of us can relate to.

I had a second mastectomy (healthy tissue that time) but it was on the NHS. I was lucky that my surgeon agreed to it, but I know that other surgeons do not. However, I have replied so that your post is placed at the top of the listings again, just incase someone can answer your query.

Rozalia 4 days ago in reply to Cloudier

Hi
A very different situation (see my profile). I had a double mastectomy and think it preferable to a single if you can't have reconstruction. Initially, I was to have reconstruction plus reduction on the good side but for various reasons that was off the table. I was then left with a single mastectomy, no reconstruction and a reduction on the other. What would have been the point? COVID situation and the relative ease of a double compared to single +reduction was why I got it.
I wrote to my MP, hospital chief executive and to PALs and was clear about why I wanted a double. I suggest you do similar and also ask for a second opinion. If you can do some research to see if some surgeons are more amenable.
The decision should after listening to advice be yours. I find being flat quite convenient and I rarely except for swimming wear a prosthesis. Bras are not particularly comfortable. But I am in my 70s and so what I look like is less important. If I had been younger I would have been less sanguine. But the choice should be yours x

FE1 3 days ago in reply to Cloudier

Thanks very much for replying and helping my post. I really appreciate it

FE1 3 days ago in reply to Rozalia

Thanks very much for replying. It was interesting to read your message. Thanks for the advice about getting MP and hospital executive involved. I'm thinking of going along the mental health route if they will accept it.

My counsellor has suggested I have a trauma response to the last few years and recently this has increased with the cyst and mammogram finding something.

I am hopeful that my surgeon will reconsider.

I am 55 and no longer interested in having both breasts as I was quite small chested before.

Many thanks for your help and kindness x

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Elective mastectomy of healthy breast