breast cancer reaccurrance

[LILAINA]

I had breast cancer 17 years ago with 6 months of chemo.  I had latissimus flap reconstruction a year later.  I have now been diagnosed with it in my other breast.  I am at a loss to what to do.  Is mastectomy a better option than a lumpectomy.  I don't want it reacurring again. I'm 55 years old now.  What type of reconstruction would you recommend?  The cancer is 4 mil and no biopsy for another 3 days,


Please help.  If I was told then it could come back in the other I would have had a double mastectomy at the time

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
There is always a risk of development of contralateral breast cancer from a unilateral breast cancer.  The relative risk of developing a contralateral breast cancer is about 1.4 to 4.5 times the risk in the normal population.
From what you posted, there is a breast mass in your other breast and biopsy will be done in 3 days. So there is a possibility that this breast mass is benign, unless proven otherwise by biopsy.  Were there any other examinations done on you?  It would be best to undergo biopsy first and see if there is indeed a malignancy in your contralateral breast.
Please do post your updates.
Good luck.

[lhughes]

This is from a person with a much bigger lump, so my opinion is based off that....get the mastectomy, get a tram flap with the tummy tuck.  It's a pretty option.  I didn't want a tram to start with, but I am glad I went through with it.  I didn't much have a choice on the mastectomy versus lumpectomy.  My mom, on the other hand, had Stage 1 DCIS and opted for the mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy.  That was 8+ years ago.  She did not have a double, though.

How did your lat flap do?  I haven't seen one of those or knew of anyone that did that.

Best of luck on the test, may you come out of all this healthy again.

Lisa