Would you have your breasts removed?

DaizyMay22 · May 2013

Angelina Jolie's has had a double masectomy due to the BRCA gene mutation. I think it's awesome the awareness she is bringing to this. The gene runs in my family and while I haven't been tested yet, I'm going to do it soon. If I am positive I will be having a hysterectomy right away since we are done having kids and then I would do the double masectomy a couple years down the road. If you had the gene why would you do?

Sept07b2b · May 2013

My DH and I were having this exact discussion this morning after hearing the same news. He finds it absolutely crazy that a woman would do this and thinks it's very bad medicine to permit/encourage this. That those who have the mutation should just get screened more frequently. He said that just because his father had prostate cancer does not mean he will run out and have his prostate surgically removed. That there are risks to these kinds of procedures and the hormonal issues are real. I will note that my DH is not really a breast man, so I really don't think his comments are coming from a "pig-ish" place.

I feel torn on the issue. I think he brings up some very good points, especially with respect to the risks/hormonal implications a double masectomy could have. I think if there is a decent chance that I will get breast cancer, and there is a way I can prevent that from happening, I will take that chance. I am not particularly attached to my breasts. It is not the same as having my penis removed (which I think is what my DH thinks is analogous). Plastic surgery offers wonderful reconstruction, and I imagine there are hormone replacement therapies that can be offered.

I think it's a very interesting issue, that I hope I don't have to deal with, but I definitely think its one of those "to each his own" kind of things. Definitely a personal decision for each woman.

Mar5195 · May 2013

I have to wonder Brad Pitt called Angelina a "Hero". I'm starting to feel like that word is overused (like bullying). Do you think she's a hero for doing what she did? Or was she just making a prudent decision for his family?

Lena122 · May 2013

Having your breasts removed so you don't get cancer does not make you a hero. Saving a child from a burning building makes you a hero. Risking your life to save another makes you a hero. Serving your country makes you a hero.

If money wasn't an object I'd have the test done to check for the gene. If there was more than 50% chance I'd get breast cancer (and again money was no object) I'd do the same thing she did.

kittyh8r · May 2013

I think she is a hero for her children. She has 6. Knowing that she has an 87% chance of getting breast cancer she decided to be proactive. My mom died from breast cancer and I watched her suffer for years. This mutation of the cancer is stronger and comes on quicker. While it makes sense to get checked more often, it makes MORE sense to me to not get cancer at all. This subject is really close to me because I had to watch my mom suffer, when she was in remission she was so hopeful, then she got it again. THEN she died. I don't think it's bad medicine at all to to get a double mastectomy to prevent yourself from ever getting an aggressive form of breast cancer. Some women go as far as having a hysterectomy as well. When we're done having children, I will be tested for the gene. If I have it, it's a no brainer to me, I will have my breasts removed. I do not want Emma to grow up without a mom like I did.

DaizyMay22 · May 2013

I agree that the word hero is a little strong for this situation, although I do agree that she is a hero to her children and I think that is what Brad Pitt was referring to when he said that and I think the media ran with it.

hizah05 · May 2013

Yes I would. I lost my mom, grandma, and 2 aunts (all on my mother's side) to breast cancer. Also on my mother's side I have 2 surviving aunts with breast cancer. My my was one of 6 so yes, four sisters and their mother ended up with breast cancer. This is very close to my heart. My mom refused the test but my aunt is positive for BRCA2. It is wonderful that this technology is available.

That said, I was tested for the BRCA1 and 2 genes last summer. The majority of the cost was covered by my insurance due to family history. I was fully ready to be faced with the same decision and had come to terms with having the double mastectomy and hysterectomy after our next child. I was sure I had the gene. My test was negative. I'm still a little shocked and a little paranoid given my family history but it was a relief.

Edit: Typo

jja0812 · May 2013

Ainslie325:
If I had the gene? Absolutely and without hesitation. My breasts don't define me, and anything I can do to increase the chance of my being here for my kids and husband, I will.nbsp;If her husband views her as a hero for making the decision to go under the knife to increase the odds of her long term survival, why shouldn't he? Heroism isn't objective. He can have whatever heroes he chooses for whatever reasons. nbsp;He sees her actions as selfless for their children, for him, for other women who might be afraid to get tested and act aggressively. She doesn't have to leap in front of a train to be a hero to her family.

Very well said.

kayladay · May 2013

Ainslie325:
If I had the gene? Absolutely and without hesitation. My breasts don't define me, and anything I can do to increase the chance of my being here for my kids and husband, I will. If her husband views her as a hero for making the decision to go under the knife to increase the odds of her long term survival, why shouldn't he? Heroism isn't objective. He can have whatever heroes he chooses for whatever reasons. He sees her actions as selfless-- for their children, for him, for other women who might be afraid to get tested and act aggressively. She doesn't have to leap in front of a train to be a hero to her family.

I agree!

jmccall79 · May 2013

I'm really not trying to be insensitive here, but just because you have your breasts removed, does not mean you won't get breast cancer...or so it's my understanding. My Aunt had breast cancer, she had a mastectomy, lymph nodes removed, under went chemo and radiation. She was cancer free...for a few years. It came back, not in her other breasts, and not in the lymph nodes that were left on one side, but in the lymph nodes on the other side. So, again, just because this or that is removed, if those 'pre-cancer' cells are already there you can still get 'that' cancer.

I would not do it. I'm not one to live my life on "what ifs". If I did, I'd live in a bubble out of fear. I've actually got some health issues going on right now and a little bit of scare that could potentially cause me to end up with a hysterectomy over time, or possibly cause me to get cancer. This has been going on for a little bit and yes it scared the hell out of me at first and I cried a lot. However, life has to go on. It's still a little unknown and I'm being monitored(more paps than usual). Am I living my life in fear that I'm going to end up with cervical cancer and running out and having it all taken out because I "might" get cancer? No! Because it might not be cancer...might not ever turn into cancer. And what if I, out of fear, ran out and got a hysterectomy because I thought it might have been cancer. If that were the case, I would not be here on this board with you all as I would not have my son!!! So, on that concept, no I would not get a mastectomy on the off chances that I might get breast cancer.

kittyh8r · May 2013

jmccall79:
I'm really not trying to be insensitive here, but just because you have your breasts removed, does not mean you won't get breast cancer...or so it's my understanding. My Aunt had breast cancer, she had a mastectomy, lymph nodes removed, under went chemo and radiation. She was cancer free...for a few years. It came back, not in her other breasts, and not in the lymph nodes that were left on one side, but in the lymph nodes on the other side. So, again, just because this or that is removed, if those 'pre-cancer' cells are already there you can still get 'that' cancer.

I would not do it. I'm not one to live my life on "what ifs". If I did, I'd live in a bubble out of fear. I've actually got some health issues going on right now and a little bit of scare that could potentially cause me to end up with a hysterectomy over time, or possibly cause me to get cancer. This has been going on for a little bit and yes it scared the hell out of me at first and I cried a lot. However, life has to go on. It's still a little unknown and I'm being monitored(more paps than usual). Am I living my life in fear that I'm going to end up with cervical cancer and running out and having it all taken out because I "might" get cancer? No! Because it might not be cancer...might not ever turn into cancer. And what if I, out of fear, ran out and got a hysterectomy because I thought it might have been cancer. If that were the case, I would not be here on this board with you all as I would not have my son!!! So, on that concept, no I would not get a mastectomy on the off chances that I might get breast cancer.

From what I understand, this mutation of breast cancer is incredibly aggressive. For Angelina Jolie, her chances of getting this type of breast cancer were 87%! That's extremely high chances. If my chances were anything over 50%, I would jump all over it. Since I saw what my mom went thru, and remembering how it affected me, I would never want Emma to witness something so horrific, or grow up with out a mom. To me, taking preventative measures to make sure you don't get this aggressive form of breast cancer is a no brainer. It just makes sense to me. I think everyone should get tested, not to have your breasts removed, but at least to have mammograms more often if you test positive for either mutation.

jmccall79 · May 2013

EmmaBoBemma:
From what I understand, this mutation of breast cancer is incredibly aggressive. For Angelina Jolie, her chances of getting this type of breast cancer were 87%! That's extremely high chances. If my chances were anything over 50%, I would jump all over it. Since I saw what my mom went thru, and remembering how it affected me, I would never want Emma to witness something so horrific, or grow up with out a mom. To me, taking preventative measures to make sure you don't get this aggressive form of breast cancer is a no brainer. It just makes sense to me. I think everyone should get tested, not to have your breasts removed, but at least to have mammograms more often if you test positive for either mutation.

And I agree with taking preventative measures and getting tested. I have paps every 6 mo because of "what might be" but I'm not going to run out and get a hysterectomy on the off chance that this "MIGHT" turn into cancer. Going on 3 years now, it hasn't. And to each their own with this...I think everyone sees and handles things differently and I'm perfectly ok with that. But for me, I just wouldn't(or I already would've had surgery already).

DaizyMay22 · May 2013

jmccall79:
I'm really not trying to be insensitive here, but just because you have your breasts removed, does not mean you won't get breast cancer...or so it's my understanding. My Aunt had breast cancer, she had a mastectomy, lymph nodes removed, under went chemo and radiation. She was cancer free...for a few years. It came back, not in her other breasts, and not in the lymph nodes that were left on one side, but in the lymph nodes on the other side. So, again, just because this or that is removed, if those 'pre-cancer' cells are already there you can still get 'that' cancer.

I would not do it. I'm not one to live my life on "what ifs". If I did, I'd live in a bubble out of fear. I've actually got some health issues going on right now and a little bit of scare that could potentially cause me to end up with a hysterectomy over time, or possibly cause me to get cancer. This has been going on for a little bit and yes it scared the hell out of me at first and I cried a lot. However, life has to go on. It's still a little unknown and I'm being monitored(more paps than usual). Am I living my life in fear that I'm going to end up with cervical cancer and running out and having it all taken out because I "might" get cancer? No! Because it might not be cancer...might not ever turn into cancer. And what if I, out of fear, ran out and got a hysterectomy because I thought it might have been cancer. If that were the case, I would not be here on this board with you all as I would not have my son!!! So, on that concept, no I would not get a mastectomy on the off chances that I might get breast cancer.

I totally get where you're coming from, you are right in the fact that you cannot live your life in fear. Emma is also correct that this gene the cancer is more aggressive and depending upon your genetics depends upon how great the chances are of you developing ovarian or breast cancer. The decision for me to have hystorectomy and a double mastectomy if I am positive for this gene have not been taken lightly. Before you even have the test done you sit down with a team of Doctors and genetic counslers to discuss it all. If I knew I wasnt done having children these surgeries would not be option right now. You shouldnt live your life in fear but when my odds of breast cancer can be dropped from 87% to 5% then I am willing to take preventative measures.Because of this gene I have lost a grandmother to breast cancer, an aunt to ovarian and I have two cousins that the breast cancer was caught early enough to fight it. That shows me that this gene isnt just a fear, it is a reality.

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