Mastectomy

Our king-size bed used to be such a symbol of fun for me, and not just for the reason you might think. My husband of 18 years and I would randomly hide silly objects -- tissue boxes, books, even alarm clocks -- on each other's side of the bed, smoothing pillows and blankets to hide the bulge from the intended victim. There was no greater thrill than hearing a surprised yelp followed by, "Nice one!"

Christina Applegate is taking the long view of her battle with breast cancer -- the really long view. Speaking on ABC News' "Good Morning America" in her first interview since announcing her diagnosis earlier this month, the "Samantha Who?" star said she had a double mastectomy three weeks ago. She'll undergo reconstructive surgery over the next eight months. "I'm going to have cute boobs 'til I'm 90, so there's that," she joked in the interview, which aired Tuesday. The 36-year-old actress elected to remove both breasts even though the disease was contained in one breast.

A growing number of women with early-stage breast cancer seem to be choosing to have the whole breast removed instead of just the cancerous lump, a Mayo Clinic study of about 5,500 women found. Mastectomies were standard treatment until 1990, when studies showed that women whose cancers were small and confined to the breast did just as well if they had less radical surgery followed by radiation. Researchers are not sure what is responsible for the new trend, but speculate that newer tests like MRI scans are finding more cancers, or flagging so many suspicious spots that women want the breast removed for peace of mind.

The number of women having both breasts removed after a tumor is found in one increased by 150% over a five-year period, despite a lack of evidence that double mastectomies increase survival in most women, researchers reported Monday. Current guidelines for treatment of a localized breast cancer call only for removal of the tumor and not for a mastectomy, much less a double mastectomy.

seoul -- A South Korean court on Friday ordered the military to reinstate one of its first female helicopter pilots, discharged after she had a double mastectomy to treat breast cancer. The case has been a rallying point for women's rights activists and cancer groups who said she was the victim of antiquated and biased regulations. The Seoul Administrative Court ordered the Defense Ministry to reinstate retired Col. Pi Woo-jin.

When she heard the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma, Darrie Eason had but one thought: Please don't let me die. Four months and a double mastectomy later, doctors told Eason that her tissue sample had been mislabeled, and that she never had cancer. "I didn't know what to believe," said Eason, a 35-year-old single mother from Long Beach, N.Y. "They told me I had cancer, and now they're telling me I didn't.

When Maureen Lutz had her mastectomy, the doctor did a great job performing the surgery. But everybody seemed to forget about the little things afterward -- such as her arm being too sore to reach the water cup on the hospital bed tray. Or that her lips would be dry and cracked, and her feet might swell, making it difficult to wear anything but slippers home from the hospital. Lutz had prepared for her hospital stay. She brought nightgowns, books and audiotapes to keep her busy.

"Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy," a Lifetime docudrama, Oct. 23. The premise: Geralyn Lucas is just beginning a job when she's diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 27. The non-invasive cancer has an extensive intraductal component involving three separate areas of her breast. After debating whether to have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, she chooses the latter, with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery Monday at Danbury Hospital, less than a week after previously undisclosed tests confirmed a diagnosis of breast cancer. Because the cancer was detected early and had not spread to her lymph nodes, the governor was not expected to follow the breast-removal surgery with radiation or chemotherapy, said spokesman Rich Harris. "Doctors say the procedure went very well, and she is resting comfortably," Harris said.

The state's attorney general, who is also the front-running Democratic candidate for governor, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy, a spokesman said Friday. Christine Gregoire, 56, underwent surgery Thursday and was released from a hospital Friday, said attorney general spokesman Fred Olson. A lump was found in Gregoire's left breast during a recent mammogram and the breast was removed by surgeons.