Bilateral Mastectomy and no further treatment

Geordie

Just wondering if there is anyone out there who has had either a mastectomy or bilateral mastectomy who then didn't need any further treatment at all?
I had this earlier this year but everywhere I look everyone talks about treatment following surgery.Mine required none which is fabulous but I have this feeling I don't quite fit anywhere.
It seems there was this sudden rush of activity after diagnosis, a quick surgery and then a sudden stop it all. I was never sick, another thing to celebrate.

Blossom1961

@Geordie Sounds marvellous. Well done on catching it early enough not to need any extra treatment. We welcome everyone on here, from supporters to those who have had BC and to those who currently have BC. We love to celebrate with those who have overcome.

Afraser

It seems mad to describe someone who has had breast cancer as lucky, but you know what I mean! Most people feel perfectly well before diagnosis, then not at all well while they have treatment so surgery alone is a good outcome. I had one affected lymph node and was HER positive so chemo, herceptin and hormonal therapy were recommended - I could have said no, but decided that doing all I could to nobble the thing seemed the best idea. No regrets. Glad you had a swift decisive course of action! Best wishes. 

Jwrenn

My cousin had a mastectomy and then only treatment was hormone therapy so not everyone goes on to have chemo and radiation or as myself only radiation. So you are very lucky to have dodged a bullet 

primek

Wonderful. Yes the face of cancer if chemo and radiotherapy but many women if picked up early do not require either.

Geordie

Thanks everyone. Good to know there are other people like me out there.
Lucky to have dodged the chemo and radiotherapy bullet

FLClover

Hello @Geordie

I was told if I had a double mastectomy that I probably wouldn’t need any other treatment, apart from hormone therapy. I got really happy and agreed. I still ended up having to have radiation, but luckily avoided chemo. Surgery is the best treatment for cancer and has the least side effects, so if you can get away with just that I think it’s fantastic. Other treatment has too many side effects, and still with no guarantee. So good on you for not needing more 😊☺️

Mon Xx

Pennylee

Hiya @Geordie

Yes I also am in the same boat.  I have recently had a mastectomy and thankfully and gratefully avoided any further treatment other that hormone therapy.  I feel exactly the same as you described, and it's a very hard feeling to put into words to get others to understand.  We have definitely dodged that bullet.   xxx

Blossom1961

@Pennylee I imagine it is like survivors guilt. I made it through but my BC buddy didn’t. I didn’t understand my feelings until one of the lovelies on here explained it to me. Makes sense.

Pennylee

@Blossom1961 Theres a name for it !? I'm going to have to look into that a little more. Its so bitter sweet all at once. Im so sorry to hear of your buddy. xx

Vallerina

Hi @Geordie.
I had single mx and implant recon 3 years ago and no other treatment. Not even hormone treatment.  I know what you mean i felt like id been in a cyclone..... then nothing. And there was always lots of discussions that i couldnt relate to. I felt like a bit of a fraud lurking here  when id got off so lightly. Had it really been real or necessary. ?? These days i dont think too much about it at all. Except how lucky i am. Best  of luck with your recovery. 

Vallerina

Come to think of it i do remember having a few fears around recurrence and whether no further treatment left me more susceptible. 

iserbrown

Pleasing to read!

Jwrenn

@Vallerina that’s a good way of putting it, feeling like a fraud.  I’ve joined in a couple of zoom meetings and felt like that because I “only had a lumpectomy and then radiation “ not a mastectomy or chemo. It was my feeling like that probably and not them saying anything. 

Vallerina

@Jwrenn yes my fraudulence was definitely in my own perception.
To this day most of my friends have no idea about what happened to me. Because by the time i could bring myself to talk about it it was too far in the past and i wanted to leave it there . I felt like mayb noone would believe Id had cancer because i looked so well  and No visible evidence. I feel lucky to have 'only' had a mastectomy but i sometimes feel it was pretty drastic. But hey 3 years clear and lucky me they routinely MRI my remaining breast each year so i know im all good. My granddaughter was born a week after my recon which helped me smile again. My fake boob looks great in lingerie or swimmers so i can do everything like b4
I had a huge 7 cm DCIS that hadnt spread at all and clear nodes so thats why no more treatment. 

Xenta

Hi,

I'm with you. I also had a huge DCIS with no spread and clear nodes. So all I had was one-side mastectomy and no other treatment. I thought that I was living a nightmare for a last couple of months since I've been diagnosed. But after reading the stories of other amazing women who are fighting BC, I realized that it was nothing compared to what they are faced to. I agree that it was like a tornado, which turned all my life upside down, and then ...nothing. I fear recurrence, so now regular check ups, genetic testing and I would definitely consider removing my second breast if it is positive. (Especially I'm starting to like the look of my new boob, I won't mind the second one looking the same  ) 

I realize how incredibly lucky I was to get out of it so easily. Now I want to leave all this behind and go back to normal life.

Xxx