Single or double mastectomy
Since being diagnosed with Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer in March I have been pretty clear that I want “a double mastectomy, no reconstruction and fab tattoos”. My breast surgeon is actually the ...
Forum Discussion
Hi there @Belgrave14. I had triple neg bc may 2016 left breast stage 2a grade 3 aged 43. 8 rounds of chemo, no lymph nodes involved and scans clear. I had cysty dense b cup boobs and was never told having dense boobs could increase my risk until after treatment. I had the left boob off as I was told if I did I would only need chemo and no radiation so that was a no brainer for me. I had this done in the public system. This meant Less treatment plus avoided the logistical nightmare and costs of getting to and from the Royal brisbane.
I took the other boob off as my guts told me too as a private patient in the public system with the same surgeon as he does both public and private which cost me $350 from memory for the bed for the night and the rest was mostly bulk billed just a small out of pocket for the surgeon and I only had to pay the gap, nothing up front for him or the anaesthetist
. I haven’t had a recon, did consider it but decided I just simply didn’t want more surgery and I would have to have four lots to get a good result and I am more than happy being flat and fabulous. I have no regrets with my decision.
I work as a nurse and I never wear my prosthetics as I’m more than comfortable without them. Only pop them in if I’m going out somewhere. My surgeon said it’s not necessary either to have a double but he also respected my decision. I would always be stressing about the cysts etc. and wanted to avoid bloody mammograms. I have a yearly chest wall and auxiliary ultrasound which I’m more than happy to do. This is my decision and was the right one for me. My advice is trust your guts no matter what. All the best with whatever you decide. Big hug. Margie 💕
I took the other boob off as my guts told me too as a private patient in the public system with the same surgeon as he does both public and private which cost me $350 from memory for the bed for the night and the rest was mostly bulk billed just a small out of pocket for the surgeon and I only had to pay the gap, nothing up front for him or the anaesthetist
. I haven’t had a recon, did consider it but decided I just simply didn’t want more surgery and I would have to have four lots to get a good result and I am more than happy being flat and fabulous. I have no regrets with my decision.
I work as a nurse and I never wear my prosthetics as I’m more than comfortable without them. Only pop them in if I’m going out somewhere. My surgeon said it’s not necessary either to have a double but he also respected my decision. I would always be stressing about the cysts etc. and wanted to avoid bloody mammograms. I have a yearly chest wall and auxiliary ultrasound which I’m more than happy to do. This is my decision and was the right one for me. My advice is trust your guts no matter what. All the best with whatever you decide. Big hug. Margie 💕