OLLIE the ostrich

Hindsight is a great thing isn't it.However,my belief is do your research then go with what feels right for you at the time and then have no regrets.I was only 47 at the time of my first diagnosis in 2003.My surgeon gave me the choice of lumpectomy or mastectomy but steered me towards lumpectomy. There was no discussion of recon and my odds of getting bc again in the affected breast was 8%.I was horrified at losing a breast at that age so opted for lumpectomy.I took my 8% chance but I was unlucky.I guess I got used to losing my breast bit by bit. It was never the same after radiation- very hard and uncomfortable but hey,it filled a bra.7 years later,I was more accepting of a mastectomy when bc came back.I had no choice anyway.I have since met so many women in my position that I would question that figure of 8% chance of recurrence.Because of radiation,I am limited with the type of recon I can have should I decide to go down that path later.Being lopsided does have it's drawbacks.I wear a prosthesis and can only wear higher necklines - my scar area is abit of a mess.So clothes shopping has it's challenges.I no longer do"naked'in bed-but that's just me.You know,it's a really hard decision to make and much of it depends on your age,your views and your pathology.I had no family history and my bc was not aggressive or in the lymph nodes so I had every reason to think it would be a'one off'- hence the lumpectomy.I probably should have had a mastectomy in hindsight but I don't have any regrets.Mind you,doing the crap journey twice was no picnic!! Hope I haven't confused you too much. Tonya xx