I havent posted since before my surgery
This discussion was created from comments split from: bilateral mastectomy then immediate reconstruction results.
Forum Discussion
Hi Everyone
I haven't posted since before my surgery in May. ( Bilateral nipple and skin sparing mastectomy and implants). Surgery was long and detailed . Unfortunately the tumour was larger then first thought (not 3cm but 9cm) and 3 positive nodes. The implants have been fine once I recovered from the initial surgery. The expected numbness is present and feels weird. But everything has healed well. I am currently about a third of the way through chemo therapy. Unfortunately I will need to have further surgery as the skin and nipple were not cleared of cancer in the first operation. Now I have to decide if I have a total right mastectomy with the option for reconstruction later. Or go with just one breast. The idea of reconstruction surgery after all the cancer treatment seems exhausting just to think about and I think I will need a break before venturing into more surgery. I am thinking of keeping my options open and delay reconstruction so I can take a break. I might just decide not to do the reconstruction at all. This journey with breast cancer seems never ending. (Surgery, Chemo, more surgery, Radiotherapy, hormone therapy, ongoing surveillance and maybe more surgery). I am lucky to be well supported by my husband and family and many great friends and I keep the goal of being cancer free in the forefront of my mind but sometimes I wish there was a shortcut to the end.
I haven't posted since before my surgery in May. ( Bilateral nipple and skin sparing mastectomy and implants). Surgery was long and detailed . Unfortunately the tumour was larger then first thought (not 3cm but 9cm) and 3 positive nodes. The implants have been fine once I recovered from the initial surgery. The expected numbness is present and feels weird. But everything has healed well. I am currently about a third of the way through chemo therapy. Unfortunately I will need to have further surgery as the skin and nipple were not cleared of cancer in the first operation. Now I have to decide if I have a total right mastectomy with the option for reconstruction later. Or go with just one breast. The idea of reconstruction surgery after all the cancer treatment seems exhausting just to think about and I think I will need a break before venturing into more surgery. I am thinking of keeping my options open and delay reconstruction so I can take a break. I might just decide not to do the reconstruction at all. This journey with breast cancer seems never ending. (Surgery, Chemo, more surgery, Radiotherapy, hormone therapy, ongoing surveillance and maybe more surgery). I am lucky to be well supported by my husband and family and many great friends and I keep the goal of being cancer free in the forefront of my mind but sometimes I wish there was a shortcut to the end.