Mastectomy Questions. Girls opinions please?

Question

To make a long story shot all the women in my family (in the last 4 generations at least) have had breast cancer. (great gma, grandma, grandmas sister, mom, moms two sisters) Once my mom was rid of the cancer we went in for some genetic testing and the doctor pretty much said that when I am older I am most likely going to get it. SO there are two options. One is to have all my kids before I am 30, sooner would be better and go on a chemo type pill to fight it before it starts or have a mastectomy, which removes all breast tissue and I would never get it. However once having kids I wouldn’t be able to breast feed. I would also be getting implants if I chose that rout.

Now I am wondering what your opinion on it is? What would you choose if it were you? Also if you know anything about the procedure like would insurance cover it? It covered my moms but she had already had cancer, but I was wondering if I had proof like the tests we had done and stuff if most insurances would cover it? If not how much would the procedure run?

Answer 1

I have heard of people in your situation before. If you already have insurance I doubt it would cover pre-emptive treatment, but would cover if it did come up and need treatment. Something in me screams - what if you got lucky??? I'd hate to see a woman have a double mastectomy and implants needlessly. But that is a decision you are the only one that can decide it's worth going through. Since you have the first-hand experience seein all these women you know and love go through all that, you are the best one to say for yourself.

Answer 2

That's tough. Firsthand know that kids who are not breastfed still turn out to be healthy children. I was not breastfed nor was my child and even though I do have a few health problems, it has nothing to do with not being breast fed. It's hard to say "20 years from now" I may have cancer. They may find a vaccine that prevents that or helps. The world may end. You don't want to do something that you will later regret. I had a hysterectomy and I thought it was the right thing to do. I hate myself everyday for that because I wanted more children. There is a GREAT chance you will also have cancer but you can't see the future so think carefully before you make that decision.

Answer 3

Oh my, where to start? I have a girlfriend that lives in the L.A. area. 2 years ago she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. The doctors wanted to aggressively treat the disease. She wanted to attempt an holistic approach to her cancer, (she's always been that way). The doctors didn't like it, but ultimately told her that it was her decision.

She went on a Macrobiotic diet, (whole grains, organic veggies, cooked fruit occasionally, fish - no meat at all, no processed grains or sugar of any kind). She also drank special teas each morning and evening to facilitate her healing process. She was to eat in this manner for several months (it takes 7 years to completely rejuvenate the human body's cells). At the end of 6 months, she was cancer free. She will continue to eat this way not just because it's healthy and she loves it, but she says she feels clean inside. And her depression has lifted. She lost 32 pounds (she was tiny to begin with) and can now fit into clothes that she wore in high school!

During this time, she also attended a Macrobiotic Cancer support group and was amazed at the stories that she heard of people waylaying Parkinson's disease, helping to slow the progression of Alzheimer patients and cancer survivors. This diet functions on a blood level to heal, and so it works for many diseases that are prevalent in our society today.

My point here is, don't believe EVERYTHING that your doctors say. I realize that they have valid points and concerns and they should be heard. You are the ultimate decision maker and how you choose to handle your disease is up to you. Your choices in how you eat could affect everything and you not have to ever deal with breast cancer. There is a lot of room for choices. Cancer comes not just from heredity, but the way we are taught to eat. Fats and sugars are highly injurious to the bodies tissues and hardened fats and sugars cause lumps and eventually cancerous growths. By the way, milk products are one of the greatest contributors to cancerous growths in females over the age of 18. To make a life changing decision like this, based solely on medical advice and not on your own women's intuition would be a crime against your "self".

Good luck, no matter what course you choose!