MY OUTERBODY ISNT ME

I am 39 years old, and a lesbian. Cancer has taken lives on both maternal and paternal sides of the family. My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer and beat it thank God, my question is, Iwant to have a double mastectomy, with all breast tissue removed, and have pec implants. This would kill two birds with one stone for me, Im paranoid about cancer, and I HATE the fact that I have breasts. I do not have the funds to accomplish what I so desperately want, so is there help for me? Can I obtain this procedure? Probono?

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

Certainly, bilateral mastectomies have been performed for transgender patients.  Much less certain is securing this procedure at no charge, even with a positive family history of breast cancer.  It might be appropriate to see if the BRCA gene test is appropriate for you.  I would consult at the nearest university teaching hospital with both a general surgery and plastic surgery training program (and one that has a transgender surgical program).