Day 3

Hi Annie,

So, breaking the news to the people in your life.  It is harder than we think because it's hard enough to think the words let alone say them again and again and again.  I highly recommend you tell a few good friends and family and let them spread the word around for you.  Take it from me, I spent a whole day phoning friends (as most of my friends are not connected to each other), and by the end of the day I had lost my voice and was completely overwhelmed. 

One of my friends started a private Facebook group for me and I added everyone who was dear to me and who I wanted to keep updated and I just posted in that rather than having to say the same news 60 times over. 

Because you are breaking difficult news to the people that love you, their reactions of shock and upset can make you feel guilty, and that is the very last thing you need right now.  So let others do that for you.  Let people be your strength, your comfort and your eyes and ears.  Allow yourself to be vulnerable to the people you trust.  This is the time for that.

Much love and big hugs for you.  This waiting game sucks bigtime, but try to learn to live in the moment.  It takes the edge off.  Do something you love to do, or go somewhere that comforts you.  For me it was Acland Street in St Kilda.  Nothing like a bit of retail therapy!  Seriously!

You are in my thoughts.

Love Jo xxx

Expanders - the saline bags they fill a little at a time are common after mastectomy to stretch the skin out to make room for reconstruction.

I had immediate silicone implants put in and I love them - they look natural, feel weird to start with because they are under the chest muscel but this is best as it stops the old - pimple on a pumpkin look of implants -these look natural and feel good too :o)

I had a single mastectomy at the time of surgery but had already arranged with my surgeon at that time that he would take my other breast off once I was over treatment as a preventative mastectomy doing the same surgery with implant - of course this time it can be a full nipple and skin sparing surgery as they dosn't need to remove some of the skin like they did in the first one becasue the cancer was puckering the skin, therfore could have been close to the skin so we cut that skin out. He has agreed to that and in September when I see him again (after I finish chemo - I am not having radiation) I am going on the public waiting list to have this done (having amammogram and ultrasound of the remaining breasdt first for check up and planning purposes). AS I wont need the sentinel node biopsy side of it I will have no risk (or very little) risk of lymphodema in that arm so that arm should still be ol for Ivs and blood tests etc.

Good Luck and talk to your surgeons, don't let them push aside your questions like about the nipple, at least your plastic surgeon gave you the reason, and when you hear that your cancer is too close of has infiltrated your niplle, you go - OK don't want  it now anyway - but if they just laugh and ignore the question you think - well why can't I have it done, it is my body...

Expanders - the saline bags they fill a little at a time are common after mastectomy to stretch the skin out to make room for reconstruction.

I had immediate silicone implants put in and I love them - they look natural, feel weird to start with because they are under the chest muscel but this is best as it stops the old - pimple on a pumpkin look of implants -these look natural and feel good too :o)

I had a single mastectomy at the time of surgery but had already arranged with my surgeon at that time that he would take my other breast off once I was over treatment as a preventative mastectomy doing the same surgery with implant - of course this time it can be a full nipple and skin sparing surgery as they dosn't need to remove some of the skin like they did in the first one becasue the cancer was puckering the skin, therfore could have been close to the skin so we cut that skin out. He has agreed to that and in September when I see him again (after I finish chemo - I am not having radiation) I am going on the public waiting list to have this done (having amammogram and ultrasound of the remaining breasdt first for check up and planning purposes). AS I wont need the sentinel node biopsy side of it I will have no risk (or very little) risk of lymphodema in that arm so that arm should still be ol for Ivs and blood tests etc.

Good Luck and talk to your surgeons, don't let them push aside your questions like about the nipple, at least your plastic surgeon gave you the reason, and when you hear that your cancer is too close of has infiltrated your niplle, you go - OK don't want  it now anyway - but if they just laugh and ignore the question you think - well why can't I have it done, it is my body...

HI Annie,

You probably won't read this before your appointment with plastics, but maybe ask your breast surgeon the next time you meet with them.

I understand COMPLETELY how you feel about your surgical appointment.  I was also initially told that a lumpectomy was possible, then found out that a mastectomy was my only option.  Having a family history of BC quickly put a double mastectomy on the table.  And all of this freaked me out!

BUT I had a very open conversation with my plastic surgeon when I met him for the first time.  I voiced my concerns about what my breast would look like, and he talked about my options with relation to reconstruction.  I was also advised to speak to my breast surgeon in relation to 'nipple sparing'.  My result - a nipple sparing double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.

Speak to your team.  Be honest and open and I hope that your options improve with a frank conversation with your team.

Take care,

Mon :)

HI Annie,

You probably won't read this before your appointment with plastics, but maybe ask your breast surgeon the next time you meet with them.

I understand COMPLETELY how you feel about your surgical appointment.  I was also initially told that a lumpectomy was possible, then found out that a mastectomy was my only option.  Having a family history of BC quickly put a double mastectomy on the table.  And all of this freaked me out!

BUT I had a very open conversation with my plastic surgeon when I met him for the first time.  I voiced my concerns about what my breast would look like, and he talked about my options with relation to reconstruction.  I was also advised to speak to my breast surgeon in relation to 'nipple sparing'.  My result - a nipple sparing double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.

Speak to your team.  Be honest and open and I hope that your options improve with a frank conversation with your team.

Take care,

Mon :)