Question:
WLS SURGERY WITH A HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER?

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER IN 2000. HAD A LUMECTOMY, 8 ROUNDS OF CHEMOTHERAPY, AND 5 WEEKS OF RADIATION. IN READING ABOUT WLS I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A RECURRENCE SINCE RAPID WEIGHT LOSS CAUSES HIGH LEVELS OF ESTROGEN. MY TUMOR WAS HORMONE RECEPTOR NEGITIVE WHICH MEANS I CANNOT TAKE HORMONE THERAPY TO HELP WITH MENOPAUSE. I'M THINKING WLS COULD PLACE ME AT HIGH RISK. IF ANYONE HAS HAD BREAST CANCER AND IS CONSIDERING OR HAS HAD WLS PLEASE HELP ME OUT!!    — RHONDA C. (posted on August 1, 2002)

August 1, 2002
I too had breast cancer in 1998. I had bilateral mastectomy, high dose chemo and a stem cell transplant and radiation. That is the main reason that I am having this surgery. Before I got sick, I pretty much did what I wanted, ate what I wanted,etc. During my treatment, I promised myself that I would take better care of myself, exercise more , eat better. Well that was 4 years a go. Now I am 70 lbs heavier even though I have been trying. I believe that there is a lot we can do to help ourselves stay healthy. This surgery is going to be a tool to help do that. I believe obesity puts me at a higher risk for cancer recurrence than estrogen. This is only my opinion from what I have read over the last few years. Trish RNY Aug 8
   — Patricia D.