Pros & Cons of Breast removal for cancer?

Question

Good friend may have breast cancer (still testing), it runs in her family, she's post-menopausal, says her "girls" are going south anyway and starting to get in her way. She's secure in her femaleness, breasts don't define who she is. We know women who have had their breasts rebuilt after cancer removal but what are the pros and cons of having your breasts removed completely or at least severely reduced (other than the normal pain and rehab after such radical surgery)? (To balance them, both would be equally reduced.)

Answer 1

if you leave tissue behind it may recur... not wise, if she got it, get rid of it...

Answer 2

pros: surgery can remove all of the cancerous cells present in the breast, only if the whole breast if being removed(for more serious cases)
for less serious cases, part of the breast may be removed.

cons: for serious cases, the whole breast will be removed and an artificial one will have to be inserted to replace the removed breast. both cases does not give you 100% cure, as there might have been a recurrence(in which the cancerous cells grow back). You will also not feel good if you find something being removed.

Answer 3

My mom had a radical mastectomy when she had breast cancer. She went for a while without a reconstruction, but got tired of having to put the external prosthetic breast in her bra every day. She then had a silicone implant put in (this was back in the early 1980s). In the early 1990s she decided to have the silicone implant taken out, and have a natural reconstruction done. She did not have a problem with her femininity, but she was always concerned about what other people would think of her.

I would suggest that your friend contact the local cancer society. They have have a program called Reach to Recovery, which is a sort of mentoring program for people recently diagnosed with breast cancer. My mom has volunteered with them for years. That way, your friend will be able to talk to somebody who has been there, and learn about the various surgeries and reconstructive options.

Answer 4

My mum has been diagnosed recently. She had the option of a partial masectomy or full masectomy. As we live in a hot and humid climate, the doctor recommended partial. Apparently, sweat glands are also removed and that can cause great discomfort in hot weather.

The decision is for your friend to make, just a bit of information that may come in handy.

Answer 5

well if they say yes she has it she should have them removed it's the best i know a few woman who have had to deal with this and it turned out to be the best thing I hope it all turns out ok for your friend good luck