bctn surgery first or chemo

I have ellected to have chemo first before I have a double mastecomy.  My tumor is only 1.9 cm and is only in one breast but I want to reduce my chances the most so I have decided to remove both after my chemo.  Has any one else chose this path.

When my ILC (with lymphnode involvement) was diagnosed in January 2010 at S3, my course of treatment would be 8 chemo treatments, mastectomy, radiation.  Negative margins were the concern with doing surgery first, which is traditional.  At the time of my mastectomy (double), 24 additional lymphnodes were removed - all clean! - I, too, chose to have the healthy breast removed.  My ILC is undetectible with mamogram (I had annually for the last 10 years) and the thought of annual breast MRIs and the 20% probability the cancer would eventually show up in the other breast confirmed my decision.  My breast surgeon did not want to remove a healthy breast, and never brought up the option, but went along with my decision.  I just couldn't imagine putting myself through the treatment process again as well as the fear of the occurrence in the other breast.

3 1/2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with ILC.  A PET scan is scheduled to be done this week.  I did come across a study at MD Anderson that suggested ILC (as opposed to Ductal carcinomas) usually do not shrink with preoperative chemo.  

I found a lump with self exam - the follow-up mammogram was not conclusive; a sonogram & biopsy were required.

For the same reasons you stated -- an increased probability (with ILC) of being found in the other breast; the complications with later/future reconstruction; and my own genealogy, I too am opting for a double mastectomy.  My surgeon was very thorough in instructing me, re my options.  But like you, I do not want to imagine myself walking through this again any time soon. I feel this is the best option for me.  Thanks for sharing.  Hope you are doing great!