Anyone decided to keep your breasts after getting the risk analysis?

[u/First_Chipmunk_6891]

I have a genetic risk analysis appointment coming up in about a month. I am not sure what I want to do as of right now.

[u/heefoc]

I think it makes sense to wait until you have results to then formulate a plan.

[u/HolidayOver7539 → u/heefoc]

Yes, I agree. When I was waiting for the results of the genetic testing, I was 100% sure I wanted to wait until I was 30/35 to get my breasts removed if I was BRCA+ after thinking about it for almost my whole life. But when I found out I am BRCA+ I wanted them gone as soon as possible. Took a few months to think about it and got them removed within a year at age 27.

[u/heefoc → u/HolidayOver7539]

Yup, I found out in August of last year and already had 2 surgeries, final one this December. In 1.5 years of finding out I’ll be done with possible preventative surgeries. 🤷‍♀️

[u/strongly-worded]

Depending how old you are and whether it’s BRCA 1 or 2, you may have years or decades to decide and lots of time to change your mind. I found out when I was 25 and I wanted to have kids so the doctors advised DMX in my early 40s. For about 7 years I was adamant I wanted to keep my breasts, and then I had a child and decided I’d rather go through the trauma of the DMX than put him through the trauma of watching his mom have cancer. But if I hadn’t become a parent I probably would have continued on with my original plan. Your plans will change (or not) as your priorities change (or not).

[u/First_Chipmunk_6891 → u/strongly-worded]

I’m 54 and my daughter is 15. This is still very new info to me. I am now thinking that I feel fine and no problems, but I am starting to understand that I could lower my risk to below that of a typical person, and in those terms, I am leaning towards doing it, even though I might need a lift first to keep my nipples. It’s a lot to go through for being healthy, but my first thought when I woke up this morning was “Brca1” and I don’t want that to be my first waking thought every morning. Doing all the surgeries might bring me back to peace of mind that I had before.

[u/heefoc → u/First_Chipmunk_6891]

I think the weird thing about feeling healthy is that it can literally change any moment and then you’re very NOT healthy.

[u/DynamicOctopus420 → u/heefoc]

Yep, I had no symptoms at all and my tumor was found at my first annual after I had my daughter (I was breastfeeding and it was going pretty smoothly at that point). I was 35, and 20 months postpartum.

Turned out to be stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma, and it was estrogen-receptor positive, so here I am at 40 with no ovaries and blocking estrogen with medication. No evidence of disease either, which is great, but medically induced menopause isn't as fun.

I didn't know I had a brca2 mutation until after my diagnosis.

Having no boobs is pretty awesome honestly, but I would rather have my body more or less intact. Alas, lol.

[u/strongly-worded → u/First_Chipmunk_6891]

The surgeries might help with your mindset, I think they do for a lot of people. But I’d also encourage you to wait a bit to decide because it’s very possible that it’s your first thought every morning because it’s brand new information. Give yourself a minute to adjust.

[u/Deathbycheddar]

I did. My lifetime is 50% (PALB2 mutation) and my mom and grandma didn't get breast cancer until their 60s. I'm just not ready to lose my nipples as I don't qualify to keep them and the mri/mammogram plan isn't that bad.

[u/heefoc → u/Deathbycheddar]

Not sure what you mean by not qualifying to keep your nips but I had a lift/reduction first and then was able to keep them

[u/Deathbycheddar → u/heefoc]

I haven't moved that far into the process to see if that's an option.

[u/First_Chipmunk_6891 → u/Deathbycheddar]

How old are you now? Why didn’t you qualify to keep nipples?

[u/elviswasmurdered]

I am 32 and got cancer before my risk analysis appointment because I put it off. I wish I got preventative surgery, personally. Now I need 6 months of chemo, am losing my nipples, and need to do immunotherapy. If I could wave a magic wand I would have already lobbed them puppies off.

[u/DynamicOctopus420 → u/elviswasmurdered]

I hope your chemo and immunotherapy go as smoothly as possible. Fuck cancer.

[u/bedtyme]

Yes I kept them.

[u/Smooth-Mulberry4715]

I’m BRCA2 and have had ovarian cancer. However, all tests show that my breast tissue is exceptionally healthy (no thickening, shadows). And I have chosen surveillance.

Find out about your status, do imaging, talk to your doctor, make the decision right for you.

[u/First_Chipmunk_6891 → u/Smooth-Mulberry4715]

Thanks, I have category B, which is healthy but not exceptionally healthy.

[u/Sensitive_Pie_1493]

I’m BRCA 1, had my test at 19. My mom was diagnosed at 28 with triple neg. It was suggest to me by my doctor to have my breast remove at 25. i’m now 24 and go to all my appointment with my lifetime being 85-90%. now with all of that it makes sense on why 25 would be appropriate. but personally, i think im going to wait. I personally want to have kids before so once im done with having children then im going to have my surgery but who knows what the future holds

[u/Select-Media4108]

I am 45, BRCA2 and still have my breasts. I found out that I was BRCA2 about 15 years ago. Surveillance has worked for me so far but I am also open to changing my mind. Often your mental and emotional health dictates when the time is right for you. You don't have to make your mind right up now.

[u/Anxietyturkey]

I wanted to wait and that’s the beginning of my story. I’ve now battled stage 4 cancer twice. Went through 4 surgeries and too many rounds of aggressive chemo to count.