Last Tuesday I had my lumpectomy (wide incision). Yesterday I got my results. Well the are was bigger than first thought and a few of the convicts had escaped (now its invasive) and they aren't happy with the margins on the superior side. The goods news is that it looks like they got all the convicts in the procedure, but now the discussion will be further treatment. Because of the margins they want to go back cut out some more and do a first node biopsy. I have asked for a scan (MRI) so they can get a better picture hopefully, I am deciding do I just bite the bullet and get a mastectomy or just go in for my surgery and hope that this time they got it all and that no more little convicts are out and about. I know they plan to do radiation after, and that this will get the convicts if this is the case.Has anyone had a similar experience to me, is a mastectomy an overkill? Is having the MRI worth it does it really show if there are any more areas especially if its as small as they say it is, should I just go straight to surgery?

Hi @Blister For what it's worth, no-one is going to stare or ask questions. I know it's something we all worry about, but in my experience it just doesn't happen. People stare at ginormous boobs on full display, but if that is not your usual presentation you won't find life any different, regardless of what option you take. I've got the rattiest set of 'foobs' ever, and in 15 years of public change rooms at pools and gyms no-one has ever commented. Not once. Mxx

Well my surgeon phoned, even though the MRI and ultrasound suggests the nodes are clear she wants to do the sentinel node biopsy, I have told her I want the mastectomy, I don’t want to have another wide excision with the possibility more has to go, and I don’t want to wait and see what the 2 other areas do in 6 months time. I’m happy with my decision, will wait and do the reconstruction next year, as there is still a possibility of me having to have radiation therapy.so next week I’m booked in

@Blister. I think if we have been diagnosed with DCIS we are by far the 'luckier' group of ladies as the rotten sod did not venture too far around our body and a mastectomy, whilst not the prettiest, does mean that they can quickly get the blighter off and away. Like @Fraser I have only one boob and as droopy as she is I have no set plans to go through more surgery to have a matching set as she'd also need a nip and tuck. I prefer to count my blessings and get on with my life. No-one seems to notice even when I am braless and throughout a recent long stay in the sunnier climate of Qld I just seemed to be one of a crowd. I agree with the comment by @Zoffiel that unless you want to have them on display then just go with what feels right for you. Good luck with your decisions and surgery.

@Blister I had one node removed on left side, and two on right side as my cancer was bilateral. It wasn’t a prophylactic double mastectomy. I don’t feel major changes, except for some numbness in my armpits, but it’s already getting better. Now, I just need to say that at the age of 60 you are still very young. And regardless of age, you have every right under the sun to want to have nice looking, even breasts that will allow you to wear what you want and look pretty and be comfortable. These are all your rights as a human and as a woman. Especially after having gone through bc. It is NOT vain, and you deserve it. Women have breast augmentation just for self confidence, well imagine us, after having our poor breasts cut in pieces or cut away completely! We deserve it more than anyone I think. And having bc can make you feel like you’re not woman enough and it can also make you feel very unattractive, so you end up thinking why should I bother. I know because that’s how I felt after my diagnosis. But after some work on my mental and emotional health I feel and think differently. I now believe I am deserving of all the beautiful things this world has to offer, including nice breasts, and so should you! 👊🏻👌🏻. Partial reconstruction is possible, as is mammoplasty, so that might be a good option for you. If you’re in Sydney, I can give you the name of my surgeon who is fantastic at it. Let me know and good luck 😊❤️

I agree with @Zoffiel - it’s entirely up to each individual to do what they most want, go for it, but as someone who didn’t do any reconstruction at all over her missing boob, no-one has ever mentioned it. I look perfectly normal dressed, wear whatever clothes I choose, get changed in change rooms and have stripped off entirely in a shared Icelandic hot pot shower room, without anyone batting an eyelid. We tend to worry about it far more than anyone else, and once you stop doing that, it’s a non thing! Best wishes.

DCIS treatments | Online Network

FLClover
Member
5 years ago
Hi @Blister
I had an MRI before my surgery, and it showed more changes than they initially had thought. However, it didn’t show if all
those changes were cancerous. I ended up having a double mastectomy, and afterwards pathology showed the changes were DCIS. So an MRI does not necessarily show what you need to know.
Having another wide excision plus radiation might be enough. If you have a mastectomy, think about whether you’d like to go flat, or go for reconstruction, and if you do, what kind of reconstruction. These things might help you decide.
Good luck! Xx
Blister
Member
5 years ago
Thank you @FLClover, its a lot to think about, will speak to her about my options if the go back and do another wide incision as this the advice I'm getting from the Breast Care Nurse, if its possible to do a partial reconstruction if there is such a thing, as the breast the cancer is in of course the smaller of the 2 breasts and having had one wide excision where they took enough area to find a 3cm DCIS with invasion, to go back and take more, will make it difficult to fit clothes and togs, will do some research on that. I don't want to come across as well you know, I don't have a lot of confidence in myself as it is and I know I'm 60 but I do want to look at myself and feel comfortable and not have people stare or ask questions, as the only people who know whats going on are close family and people here

But at least I'm prepared now that it may show suspicious areas and end up having a node removed, can you tell me have you had any issues having only one node removed, I'm going with the attitude being prepared for all outcomes
FLClover
Member
5 years ago
@Blister I had one node removed on left side, and two on right side as my cancer was bilateral. It wasn’t a prophylactic double mastectomy. I don’t feel major changes, except for some numbness in my armpits, but it’s already getting better.
Now, I just need to say that at the age of 60 you are still very young. And regardless of age, you have every right under the sun to want to have nice looking, even breasts that will allow you to wear what you want and look pretty and be comfortable. These are all your rights as a human and as a woman. Especially after having gone through bc. It is NOT vain, and you deserve it. Women have breast augmentation just for self confidence, well imagine us, after having our poor breasts cut in pieces or cut away completely! We deserve it more than anyone I think. And having bc can make you feel like you’re not woman enough and it can also make you feel very unattractive, so you end up thinking why should I bother. I know because that’s how I felt after my diagnosis. But after some work on my mental and emotional health I feel and think differently. I now believe I am deserving of all the beautiful things this world has to offer, including nice breasts, and so should you! 👊🏻👌🏻.
Partial reconstruction is possible, as is mammoplasty, so that might be a good option for you. If you’re in Sydney, I can give you the name of my surgeon who is fantastic at it. Let me know and good luck 😊❤️
Blister
Member
5 years ago
@FLClover thank you for that, I live in Brisbane and I think my surgeon also specializes in that as well, or could have read her info wrong, but after a mistake on their end with my appointment I’m finally seeing her tomorrow for my post op visit and to arrange the next step I will ask her for info about it.

Wish you all the best and thanks for your insight and help
Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago
Hi @Blister For what it's worth, no-one is going to stare or ask questions. I know it's something we all worry about, but in my experience it just doesn't happen. People stare at ginormous boobs on full display, but if that is not your usual presentation you won't find life any different, regardless of what option you take. I've got the rattiest set of 'foobs' ever, and in 15 years of public change rooms at pools and gyms no-one has ever commented. Not once.

Mxx
Afraser
Member
5 years ago
I agree with @Zoffiel - it’s entirely up to each individual to do what they most want, go for it, but as someone who didn’t do any reconstruction at all over her missing boob, no-one has ever mentioned it. I look perfectly normal dressed, wear whatever clothes I choose, get changed in change rooms and have stripped off entirely in a shared Icelandic hot pot shower room, without anyone batting an eyelid. We tend to worry about it far more than anyone else, and once you stop doing that, it’s a non thing! Best wishes.
Blister
Member
5 years ago
thank you @Zoffiel and @Afraser
BlackWidow
Member
5 years ago
@Blister. I think if we have been diagnosed with DCIS we are by far the 'luckier' group of ladies as the rotten sod did not venture too far around our body and a mastectomy, whilst not the prettiest, does mean that they can quickly get the blighter off and away. Like @Fraser I have only one boob and as droopy as she is I have no set plans to go through more surgery to have a matching set as she'd also need a nip and tuck. I prefer to count my blessings and get on with my life. No-one seems to notice even when I am braless and throughout a recent long stay in the sunnier climate of Qld I just seemed to be one of a crowd. I agree with the comment by @Zoffiel that unless you want to have them on display then just go with what feels right for you. Good luck with your decisions and surgery.
Blister
Member
5 years ago
@BlackWidow yes agreed I am one of the lucky ones
FLClover
Member
5 years ago
I agree that going flat is perfectly fine, and you would still feel very feminine and be beautiful. Women don’t need breasts to be feminine and beautiful and self confident. And people definitely wouldn’t stare or notice. Even if they did, stuff them. But they wouldn’t. It wouldn’t be that noticeable.
But I don’t think getting them reconstructed is a bad thing either. And it’s not just if you want to have them on display. I’m well known amongst family and friends for covering my breasts and never having a cleavage. Yet I still had expanders put in and will get implants if my skin is ok cos I had both sides irradiated. My breasts were a part of me, and after the initial period of being petrified and just wanting them gone, I now actually miss them a lot. They were never sexual for me. But they were a part of me, a very important part. They fed my daughter for 2 years. I also loved cupping them whenever I felt bad as they brought me comfort. They were soft, warm and snuggly. So wanting to have them redone to even slightly resemble what I had is, in my opinion, quite a normal reaction and would help me feel a little of the old me. It has nothing to do with having them on display, or vanity. It’s about keeping a part of me that is very special ♥️.