I had a double mastectomy do to cancer in my left breast. I did not want recon surgery done. I've heard too many bad stories on recon. It's been 4 months. I'm 68. I had gone for my yearly checkup and the mamo found something. The next thing I was having a double biopsy on my left breast. My husband was in NY at the time so I went through it all alone. I received a call from the nurse telling me I had stage 2 invasive breast cancer and gave me the names of two breast cancer surgeons to call. I was very blessed that I didn't have to have chemo or radiation do to the wonderful new Oncotype DX test which gave me a score of 13 out of 100 so I just have to take Tamoxifen for 5 years and see my Dr. every 3 months. I do still have pain around my chest like there are 10 ace bandaged on me. It beats going through Chemo and Radiation any day. I am so very blessed the Dr. got it all. God speed to anyone that is going through this nasty cancer.

I have been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in my right breast. My mother died of breast cancer and my aunt (her sister) has had it also.

I'm undergoing a prophylactic skin sparing total mastectomy because I'm BRCA 2+. I do not have breast cancer, and by having this surgery decrease my chance of getting it from 95% down to 2%.

I have cancer in the milk duct of left breast. It is encapsulated and I have been recommended for lumpectomy, followed by radiation. I talked to plastic surgeon about having both breast removed with expanders and implants. He said I would not require radiation if it was done in this manner. I am thinking about doing this. I have large breast and needless to say they are a strain on my back. I am also 70 years old.

I received a letter from my insurance company suggesting that it was time for a mammogram screening. I already had an appointment for my annual physical and my family doctor also recommended a mammogram screening. The mammogram was scheduled and when I went I was told there were new microcalcifications that had not been observed two years prior at my last screening. I was then sent for diagnostic mammograms of the right breast. I was then sent for an ultrasound. Then I was referred to a surgeon who performed a biopsy which came back positive for invasive ductal carcinoma which is estrogen and progesterone positive but HER2 negative. I was then sent for an MRI. On the ultrasound and MRI another area was found. I went for a second opinion and it was decided to biopsy the second area. A biopsy was performed and it too was positive for invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen and progesterone positive but HER2 negative. Since the two cancerous areas were in different quadrants, I chose to have a mastectomy and to begin reconstructive surgery at the same time with a back muscle flap. My surgery was on March 22. I see an oncologist tomorrow, April 5. I believe the cancer was classified as Stage 1. I am just beginning my journey.

In Feb. of 2008 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Went through lumpectomy, chemo and 30 days of radiation. I am now a week away from a total mastectomy due to recurrence in my left breast. Wish I had it all to do over, I would have chosen mastectomy for sure. Don't know yet if anything else is involved, but am praying for the best while preparing for the worst, but I am just being realistic. Good luck and many prayers go out to anyone in the same spot.