Decisions... Help and Advice Please
I was diagnosed with a high grade DCIS on 22/3/2011 and had a lumpectomy last Wednesday 6 April. Prior to the surgery I had "wires" inserted. It took almost an hour and a half for the procedure and...
Forum Discussion
Hi Anne-Marie
Well done on making your decision. As a lot of people have said here, it is a very personal one to make. I was diagnosed with DCIS in 2003 at the age of 35 and it showed on the mammogram as 6cm. I was advised to have a mastectomy from the start due to the size of the area that was being removed - the doctor thought that there would be such a large defect in the breast that I would probably need some sort of reconstruction anyway if I didn't want to look odd. When I had my surgery it ended up being a 9cm area, one of the most extensive that the surgeon had ever seen. I didn't have any lumps and had no idea that it was there other than from what showed up on the mammogram!
Seven years later in 2010 I was once again diagnosed with BC in the other breast and once again had a mastectomy. This time I had chemo as well.
My husband misses my boobs but I have had two really good reconstructions and, although there is no feeling there, they look great (and they will still be perky when I'm 80!!). He was really supportive through the whole process and the decision was really left up to me and the recommendations of the surgeons.
I don't regret having the mastectomies at all as for me it was peace of mind, however my surgeons really didn't advise me NOT having the mastectomies. Good luck for the rest of your journey and sorry I didn't reply to this post earlier....I've been off-line for about a week!
Louise :)