Surgery decisions
@Sheeba original post copied from the activity section. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast hormone positive breast cancer in august 2021. The surgeon said because of the size of my breasts in rel...
Forum Discussion
Hi @Sheeba. I just wanted to reach out and wish you all the best for your surgery and recovery.
A breast cancer diagnosis and making decisions about what to do about it can be so overwhelming. I faced the decision re whether to have a lumpectomy and radiation following a recent diagnosis of a stage 1, node negative ductal carcinoma or to have a double mastectomy. The issue for me was that it was my third diagnosis in 27 years, I had had a lumpectomy in the other breast with radiation 7 years prior.
I chose the double mastectomy, because I wasn’t convinced it wouldn’t happen again, and I also chose to go with a DIEP flap reconstruction at the same time. I was terrified at the thought of such a long and involved operation, and had second thoughts about it all the way up to the surgery, but at 5 weeks post op now, I am so glad I went through it.
My pathology results following the mastectomy revealed a rather large area of DCIS with some LCIS in the same breast where the tumour was AND another stage 2 ductal carcinoma 11 mm in the other breast (the one that I had had radiation therapy on 7 years ago). Neither had been picked up on the scans I had had in September. The mastectomy was definitely the right call for me.
I have to say I never imagined I would be seeing a Plastic Surgeon for anything, let alone talking about breast reconstruction, but reading more about it in the Choosing Breast Reconstruction group and also accessing some of the other BCNA resources helped so much. It’s actually amazing what they can do and how normal they can make you look and feel with all the different methods they use.
I would suggest that if you are not happy with how things look after this surgery, go and see a good Plastic Surgeon (your Breast Surgeon will know of a few) and have a consultation just so you know what your options are. And definitely reach out here if you have any questions. There is so much collective experience and wisdom right here in this forum and many generous women at the ready to respond.
Best Wishes for the Operation and beyond. 🤗
A breast cancer diagnosis and making decisions about what to do about it can be so overwhelming. I faced the decision re whether to have a lumpectomy and radiation following a recent diagnosis of a stage 1, node negative ductal carcinoma or to have a double mastectomy. The issue for me was that it was my third diagnosis in 27 years, I had had a lumpectomy in the other breast with radiation 7 years prior.
I chose the double mastectomy, because I wasn’t convinced it wouldn’t happen again, and I also chose to go with a DIEP flap reconstruction at the same time. I was terrified at the thought of such a long and involved operation, and had second thoughts about it all the way up to the surgery, but at 5 weeks post op now, I am so glad I went through it.
My pathology results following the mastectomy revealed a rather large area of DCIS with some LCIS in the same breast where the tumour was AND another stage 2 ductal carcinoma 11 mm in the other breast (the one that I had had radiation therapy on 7 years ago). Neither had been picked up on the scans I had had in September. The mastectomy was definitely the right call for me.
I have to say I never imagined I would be seeing a Plastic Surgeon for anything, let alone talking about breast reconstruction, but reading more about it in the Choosing Breast Reconstruction group and also accessing some of the other BCNA resources helped so much. It’s actually amazing what they can do and how normal they can make you look and feel with all the different methods they use.
I would suggest that if you are not happy with how things look after this surgery, go and see a good Plastic Surgeon (your Breast Surgeon will know of a few) and have a consultation just so you know what your options are. And definitely reach out here if you have any questions. There is so much collective experience and wisdom right here in this forum and many generous women at the ready to respond.
Best Wishes for the Operation and beyond. 🤗