Mastectomy

Hi there, 

@kmaree I can just imagine how your feeling right now & how overwhelming this must all be & it’s normal to be feeling the way you are. Everything happens so quickly, but I found for me it was the best way for it. I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer at the end of November 2021, in my right breast.  My surgeon performed a lumpectomy, 3 lymph nodes removed & a wide local excision, to form a clear margin. Thankfully it didn’t spread into my lymph nodes, but it did show DCIS - this had been detected in two procedures that he had done. I was then left with another big decision - to have another wide local excision or to have a mastectomy, as I was also told if I was to have a wide local excision & it did show DCIS, I have no choice but to have a mastectomy done. So I chose to have a single mastectomy & reconstruction done. I’m so thankful I chose to have the mastectomy done & my breast surgeon to decided it’s best to remove my nipple.  I’m so thankful for my breast surgeon & that we had these discussions together & that he chose to do what he did, as the results showed after my mastectomy that I had an undetected tumor hiding behind my nipple & my breast was covered with DCIS. What really helped for me was my medical team my breast surgeon, plastics surgeon & breast care nurses ( I also have type 1 Diabetes so my Endocrinologist was also in these discussions) as they put things into perspective for me & the type of reconstruction to have. I was very confident to have the mastectomy done ( which I had done just recently in March)  but I’m so thankful that I got it done & I don’t regret it. As I don’t have enough fat on my body, I had to go with the breast expander put in. I had good conversations with my plastics surgeon about this & they gave me there best advice through it all & continue on doing this. 

I wish you all the love and luck in your decision cause I know it’s not easy. But ultimately discuss it with your surgeons and you support team. Also remember we’re all here for you too.