Emotional

Thank you all for your replies. There are so many things I hadn't thought of and it's really helpful to hear other experiences. I guess although we have individual journeys to take, there are so many things learned along the way which may help someone else so I really appreciate that you have taken the time to share your experience with me.

I have a lot to think about and I guess one benefit of not being able to have radiotherapy is that I can have implant expander put in at the time of mastectomy and start reconstruction straight away. I will have my sentienal nodes removed and possibly the rest depending on the frozen section results. I am concerned about the cosmetic results too, and I feel very upset thinking about being lopsided, so I do need to be reminded the primary goal is to be rid of the cancer first.  

I will get the chance to do some nice things ahead of the operation. I have a couple more days at work before Christmas and my husband and I will be able to spend some time together over the holidays.

best wishes xx

Thank you all for your replies. There are so many things I hadn't thought of and it's really helpful to hear other experiences. I guess although we have individual journeys to take, there are so many things learned along the way which may help someone else so I really appreciate that you have taken the time to share your experience with me.

I have a lot to think about and I guess one benefit of not being able to have radiotherapy is that I can have implant expander put in at the time of mastectomy and start reconstruction straight away. I will have my sentienal nodes removed and possibly the rest depending on the frozen section results. I am concerned about the cosmetic results too, and I feel very upset thinking about being lopsided, so I do need to be reminded the primary goal is to be rid of the cancer first.  

I will get the chance to do some nice things ahead of the operation. I have a couple more days at work before Christmas and my husband and I will be able to spend some time together over the holidays.

best wishes xx

Sorry this happened to you too.  It seems to be a huge emotional rollercoaster ride.

I was recently diagnosed also and had a single right mastectomy almost two weeks ago.  I asked the surgeon to do a bilateral because I was worried about the costmetic look of a single but he would not do it.  His reasoning was that I would recover more quickly from a single and I needed to get to chemo and radio as quickly as possible.  Costmetics will come later.  I was more devastated about that than the idea of the operation.  I've come to accept it quite quickly though.  After the mastectomy, I was actually really glad I only had one because it was/is enough to deal with physically.  Not sure if you are having all the lymph out too but that underarm area is mighty sore and it's good to have a comfortable opposite arm to be able to do things. I was disappointed as well when I was told I won't be a candidate for reconstruction for two years because of the extensive nature of my scar and the chance of recurrence there.  Oh well.  I'm alive and have a pretty good chance of staying that way.  

I felt grief over the idea of losing my breast too, but the funny thing was that when I came out of the aneastetic I cried with relief that the cancer was gone not with grief over the breast.  The scar takes some adjustment but only two weeks later and I can look at it and I don't think it's that bad.  It's not something I feel that I have to hide from my husband or family.  They love me not my breast.  

Take care of yourself.  I found it helpful to have some treats planned in the lead-up to surgery.  It helped distract me and I found I could have a few nice days doing things where I wasn't crying all the time.  One day my husband took me to Australia Zoo for the day - just the two of us.  I like taking photos  so I spent all day on my camera and now I have a disc full of raw photos that I can work on at times when I'm not feeling strong enough for other things.  Another day I spent at the beach because I wanted to float in the ocean while I could still wear a bathing suit comfortably.  By the way, since then I've seen the beautiful range of swimsuits you can buy that will take a prosthetic breast and I think in a few months I'll be floating in the ocean again.   I am constantly amazed by how many women that I speak to who tell me they have the same thing.  We are not alone.  There seems to be a crowd of us out there.  

Take care and just get through the surgery.  It feels a lot better on the other side.  :)

 

Sorry this happened to you too.  It seems to be a huge emotional rollercoaster ride.

I was recently diagnosed also and had a single right mastectomy almost two weeks ago.  I asked the surgeon to do a bilateral because I was worried about the costmetic look of a single but he would not do it.  His reasoning was that I would recover more quickly from a single and I needed to get to chemo and radio as quickly as possible.  Costmetics will come later.  I was more devastated about that than the idea of the operation.  I've come to accept it quite quickly though.  After the mastectomy, I was actually really glad I only had one because it was/is enough to deal with physically.  Not sure if you are having all the lymph out too but that underarm area is mighty sore and it's good to have a comfortable opposite arm to be able to do things. I was disappointed as well when I was told I won't be a candidate for reconstruction for two years because of the extensive nature of my scar and the chance of recurrence there.  Oh well.  I'm alive and have a pretty good chance of staying that way.  

I felt grief over the idea of losing my breast too, but the funny thing was that when I came out of the aneastetic I cried with relief that the cancer was gone not with grief over the breast.  The scar takes some adjustment but only two weeks later and I can look at it and I don't think it's that bad.  It's not something I feel that I have to hide from my husband or family.  They love me not my breast.  

Take care of yourself.  I found it helpful to have some treats planned in the lead-up to surgery.  It helped distract me and I found I could have a few nice days doing things where I wasn't crying all the time.  One day my husband took me to Australia Zoo for the day - just the two of us.  I like taking photos  so I spent all day on my camera and now I have a disc full of raw photos that I can work on at times when I'm not feeling strong enough for other things.  Another day I spent at the beach because I wanted to float in the ocean while I could still wear a bathing suit comfortably.  By the way, since then I've seen the beautiful range of swimsuits you can buy that will take a prosthetic breast and I think in a few months I'll be floating in the ocean again.   I am constantly amazed by how many women that I speak to who tell me they have the same thing.  We are not alone.  There seems to be a crowd of us out there.  

Take care and just get through the surgery.  It feels a lot better on the other side.  :)

 

Welcome to the online network:) This is the best place to find support and advice,and you can come here 24/7 and there is always someone to chat with.I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma,just over a year ago.I had a single mastectomy,and then chemo.I finished my chemo 9 days before Xmas last year.Looking back,and with how I feel now,I wish I had opted for a bi lateral mastectomy,but purely for cosmetic reasons,because I don't like my prosthesis,and I am sick of looking lop sided!!!But remember,that the Cancer in your single Breast,can't recur in the other Breast.It would have to be a new primary cancer,which is VERY rare.When breast cancer spreads,it goes to other parts of the body not the other breast.As for the mastectomy itself,it is a fairly pain free procedure.Lots of ladies told me this,and they were right.I came home only taking Panadol.Try to take things one day at a time.Lean on the people that truly love and support you,and don't worry too much about the others.There are always people whose reactions are not what we expected,and who knows for what reasons.Please stay in touch.Cheers xoxRobyn

I am so grateful to you for your reply. I am finding this so hard some days and hearing about your experience has given me a little more confidence in my thoughts towards bi-lateral mastectomy and implant reconstruction. Thanks so much for sharing your story with me.

best wishes, Ali xx

 

 

Hi Aliskin,

 

Sorry to hear that you have this terrible disease....  It's perfectly okay to feel what ever feelings you want to have right about now.

At first I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in my right side breast, when I had the meeting with the surgeon they go through the options that are available to you.  I decided to have a Bi-Lateral Mastectomy and I was a public patient on the Gold Coast so you can ask for a Bi-Lateral one if you feel strongly about it. 

I'm so glad that I did opt for this procedure as I got my results back on Thursday... I had a 2cm Lobular Carcinoma In Situ which I have been told that you have a 20% chance of having this cancer as it isn't common.

Talk to the surgeon and discuss what you want and tell them, they won't not do it in the public system as the choice is left up to you and your the one in charge of your journey.

 

I hope this has helped and you can vent all you like... Your allowed and never let anyone tell you otherwise

 

Hang in there we are all here for you

Leisa xxx

Hi Aliskin,

 

Sorry to hear that you have this terrible disease....  It's perfectly okay to feel what ever feelings you want to have right about now.

At first I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in my right side breast, when I had the meeting with the surgeon they go through the options that are available to you.  I decided to have a Bi-Lateral Mastectomy and I was a public patient on the Gold Coast so you can ask for a Bi-Lateral one if you feel strongly about it. 

I'm so glad that I did opt for this procedure as I got my results back on Thursday... I had a 2cm Lobular Carcinoma In Situ which I have been told that you have a 20% chance of having this cancer as it isn't common.

Talk to the surgeon and discuss what you want and tell them, they won't not do it in the public system as the choice is left up to you and your the one in charge of your journey.

 

I hope this has helped and you can vent all you like... Your allowed and never let anyone tell you otherwise

 

Hang in there we are all here for you

Leisa xxx