Forum Discussion
Just need to talk to someone
I’m 59yo and newly diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m really not sure I get what is going on either because I’m just slow or it’s just not all clear yet so I feel confused, in total panic and th...
I guess that on an intellectual level I understand that there is a reason to cut out a cancer but emotionally the conversation “hello, you’ve got cancer and I’m going to chop off your breast…”. It feels like the dark ages of medicine when the only option is to reach for a knife and hack away 😳 we are being forced to mutilate our bodies and I don’t know how to come to terms with that 😢
I really hope that a day comes in the future when women can be told they have cancer and there are choices other than mastectomy.
i know it has to be done and i will get brave like so many others before me but for me it is a struggle right now
Dear CrazyDogLady67
I know it's just a manner of speaking but let's hope no breast surgeon is about to hack or chop in this day and age. Among all the other things to thnk about, you might want to discuss your current thinking about reconstruction. If you were absolutely certain you didn't want it, you might want to talk to your surgeon about a neat, flat closure. If you're not sure and want to wait a bit, that's useful information too - I wasn't at all sure about it so my surgeon left sufficient skin to assist in reconstruction later. Of course, you may want to do an immediate reconstruction in which case you will need to talk of options available to you.
My surgeon has become an old friend - nearly 14 years after my mastectomy, he still does a biennial check, has removed a number of little skin things (all quite benign, but best gone), given good advice and bears no ill will that I never did do that reconstruction! I trust your surgeon will prove as good and as useful.