My first post and so confused...
This discussion was created from comments split from: DCIS.
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Hello @Annie79. Making these decisions is just dreadful eh? So much to process, under pressure, with everyone's emotional investment and your own distress.
Firstly, there is no need to make a hurried decision. As others have said above, keep asking questions, get a second opinion and keep going until you're satisfied. You can talk to your breast care nurse, call BCNA's hotline on 1800 500 258, or speak to someone at the Cancer Council.
I had a wide local excision, and a week later a re-excision for margins. Subsequently, for a variety of reasons, I had a double mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. I had chemo between the first two operations and the third and it gave me a lot of thinking and questioning time. I have no regrets about my decision. Sadness, but no regrets. It was my decision.
I asked a lot of the medical people what they'd do in my position, and the answers were mixed. However each question asked slowly bought clarification.
Most importantly, most importantly, was listening to my gut. If you need time to step away to listen to yours, make it. It's your body. Odds are you'll be living in it for another 40 or 50 years. You know what you're prepared to do to feel comfortable and happy in the future. You don't want regrets or if onlys, no matter what you decide. Listen to everyone, but mostly listen to yourself. I truly believe you know this instinctively. You just have to be able to hear it.
Big hug, K xox
Firstly, there is no need to make a hurried decision. As others have said above, keep asking questions, get a second opinion and keep going until you're satisfied. You can talk to your breast care nurse, call BCNA's hotline on 1800 500 258, or speak to someone at the Cancer Council.
I had a wide local excision, and a week later a re-excision for margins. Subsequently, for a variety of reasons, I had a double mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. I had chemo between the first two operations and the third and it gave me a lot of thinking and questioning time. I have no regrets about my decision. Sadness, but no regrets. It was my decision.
I asked a lot of the medical people what they'd do in my position, and the answers were mixed. However each question asked slowly bought clarification.
Most importantly, most importantly, was listening to my gut. If you need time to step away to listen to yours, make it. It's your body. Odds are you'll be living in it for another 40 or 50 years. You know what you're prepared to do to feel comfortable and happy in the future. You don't want regrets or if onlys, no matter what you decide. Listen to everyone, but mostly listen to yourself. I truly believe you know this instinctively. You just have to be able to hear it.
Big hug, K xox