Latest results - decisions to make

Hi Louise

Thanks so much for your detailed response and apologies for my late reply as I started weekly chemo a few weeks ago and have been feeling yuck!

I'm seeing the plastic surgeon on Monday and will see what my options are with tissue reconstruction.  I have a fairly flat stomach as my last child birth was 19 years ago, and am worried there would only be enough for one breast (even though I'm only small) and also worried about losing my core strength and the long recovery time.

I was fortunate enough to have 4 women show the results of tissue reconstruction at a support group last month and they did look good and it was soft and more natural than implants.

I'm almost certain I will do the bilateral mastectomy as I don't want to be worrying all the time about it coming back.

As I'm triple positive for hormones I don't have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, although I did attend a talk on genetics recently at The Mater Hospital at Nth Sydney.  A Genetic Counsellor from the Royal North Shore Hospital Familial Cancer Service presented and I am now following up with her regarding possible genetic kidney cancer in our family.  My grandfather (age 56), father (age 37), second cousin (age 27) all had kidney cancer, all male with two under 50.  I have 3 children, one daughter and two sons, with one about to turn 23 and nearing the age of my second cousin.  It's definitely helping me take my mind off chemo and impending mastectomy.

I'll definitely listen to the plastic surgeon on Monday and consider tissue (if possible).

I really appreciate the time you have taken to respond.

Tracey xoxo