Breast surgery and reconstruction

This sounds exactly like my story!  Initially was talked out of wanting a double mastectomy, my surgeon also reckoned it was unnecessary so I ended up doing the one only.  Then after my gene diagnosis, she decided the remaining healthy breast had to go.  I was so upset because that was what I wanted initially and hence why I always recommend other woman to go with their gut and demand what they think is right.  But yes, there is no point in going back to 'what should have' or 'what could have'.  In the end the surgeons don't want to just hack away at our bodies or healthy parts and approach it all less invasively unless they absolutely have to.  In my case my surgeon told me before my surgery that she would like me to be gene tested after my mastectomy (I was a bit baffled by 'why after' and why not before?).  If I had been gene tested as step one, then step two would have automatically been double mastectomy straight away....but in my case it was 1. mastectomy of sick breast 2. gene testing 3. positive result = hysterectomy 3. second mastectomy on remaining breast....  A bit silly really that they just didn't test my genes first.

But what is done is done.  We have to trust the system sometimes and there is really no point in working ourselves up over it (talking to myself...lol).  I have learned to roll with the punches and take one day at a time, one surgery at a time and focus on healing from each step because lets face it this is a marathon and not a sprint.

You will be ok, and you will manage every day as it presents itself.  We are all here for you for support and to vent, talk, ask, laugh, cry together when your family and friends don't always understand.  Don't be too hard on them x

Keep us posted on your progress x 

Thank you so much to everyone who responded to my post. It was wonderful to read the responses from women who have experienced this journey.

My family and friends have been amazing since my diagnosis. But though they try as hard as they can to understand what is going on for me sometimes I feel as though I can't really tell them how I feel or express the questions and concerns that I have as I need to be strong for them. If I am strong then so are they. After I had my original diagnosis I told the surgeon that I wanted a full mastectomy but allowed myself to be talked out of it because she didn't believe it was necessary and a lumpectomy was the most appropriate way to go. When I had the review after my surgery and was told that I would need a mastectomy I was devastated. Even though I am trying to let it go, I feel that if I had have stood my ground with her initially I would not now be looking at further surgery. Intellectually I realise that this is not the way to go as I can't change anything now but emotionally I am finding this a challenge as these thoughts keeps pushing their way to the surface. I know it's not healthy and that I am just adding to the stress that I'm feeling about the decisions that need to be made about my mastectomy surgery and possible later breast reconstruction.

I guess also I am wondering why I am finding it more challenging to be as strong and positive as I have been. I know my outcome will be so much better if I can stay strong but at the moment I seem to be a bit overwhelmed and at times can't stop allowing myself to let things get the better of me.

Sorry not a great way to start by going off into a big sooky la la. Time for a bit of sock pulling up but thanks for the opportunity to be a bit self indulgent :-)