New Diagnosis

Good Luck to you too Joey (NOt that you will need it either) for your surgery on Thursday.

Of course it is a hard decision to make (I made the same decision and had my mastectomy on 3rd Feb 2012) your boobs have been a part of you for 37 years, but like you said there isn't a whole lot of options (2-3 really -

Ignore it (Not a good option, because we know where that will lead),

Lumpectomy (if offered, and depending on more factors - I was given this as an option but I wanted my boob GONE, if it was gone it couldn't try to kill me, and Ibelive that the more that is gone the less likely it is to come back), and

Mastectomy (again I believe the more that is taken the less likely it is to come back or cause more complications, like repeat surgeries, and the like).

You can have a reconstruction, if you want one (sometimes at time of surgery, and sometimes later) and believe me they look GREAT - I had an immediate silicone implant reconstruction when I had my mastectomy, and  I LOVE it. I am having my other breast removed and reconstucted when I finish chemo etc as I am at high risk due to family history etc (and am awaiting genetic testing for the genes, because breast cancer is in both sides of my family).

There is lots of help and support out there for you, your husband, family and kids (and in explaining things to the kids etc), so if you need it take advantage of it (if you need help, talk to your surgeon, breast care nurse, or the Cancer council etc and they should be able to put you in contact with any services you might need), also online groups like here can help you (and your family) a lot too, as can the litriature out there (I was given so much reading material, my head nearly exploded, but it helped, and I still go back and look through it as new things pop up).

Again Good Luck - not that you will need it, and I will be thinking of you (and Hayley) as you have your surgery on Thursday.