One Lump or Two?

I'm so glad you decided to go with the Bilateral mastectomy and that that decision was right for you :)  I wish I had had the courage to do it when I was first diagnosed!

Good to hear that the op went well too.  The expander replacement surgery is a breeze compared to the mastectomy so I'm sure you will sail through it.

Keep in touch,

Louise :)

Have had a bilateral mastectomy as I had hoped to do.  All went well and the expanders had quite a bit of saline in them when I woke up- almost the size my mini A cup had been.  Worst part was the drains- one took a full two weeks until it could be removed.  Four weeks after the surgery I went back to the PS and he did a fill.  I am now a good B cup after only one fill and will stop at this size. I may never sleep on my side again!  Surgery is next month to exchange expenders for silicone.  No messing around eh!

The likelihood of lack of symmetry (which would have really bothered me) plus the chance of BC in the healthy breast were both issues for me.  I am very happy I went with the bilteral.

Helen

 

Have had a bilateral mastectomy as I had hoped to do.  All went well and the expanders had quite a bit of saline in them when I woke up- almost the size my mini A cup had been.  Worst part was the drains- one took a full two weeks until it could be removed.  Four weeks after the surgery I went back to the PS and he did a fill.  I am now a good B cup after only one fill and will stop at this size. I may never sleep on my side again!  Surgery is next month to exchange expenders for silicone.  No messing around eh!

The likelihood of lack of symmetry (which would have really bothered me) plus the chance of BC in the healthy breast were both issues for me.  I am very happy I went with the bilteral.

Helen

 

Hi Dot,

Thanks for sharing your experience.  With the exception of the not driving it sounds OK to me.  Can't imagine having to go through all of this a second time and am very keen to do both sides- hope the surgeon agrees.

Good luck with the final stage of treatment.

Helen 

Hi Louise

It seems unfair to be going through all of that when it could have been avoided.  That  second diagnosis must have been a shattering moment. 

I really am not keen to be checking for lumps and bumps for the rest of my life as I have fibrosystic breasts anyway and they always feel odd and lumpy!

Thanks for sharing and best of luck for the chemo and bring on the stubble (my hair should fall out next week).

Helen

Hi Louise

It seems unfair to be going through all of that when it could have been avoided.  That  second diagnosis must have been a shattering moment. 

I really am not keen to be checking for lumps and bumps for the rest of my life as I have fibrosystic breasts anyway and they always feel odd and lumpy!

Thanks for sharing and best of luck for the chemo and bring on the stubble (my hair should fall out next week).

Helen

Hi Helen, I have posted this under your questions in mixed emotions, but thought I will put it under your blog as well for you. 

I had to have a double masectomy because I had two separate breast cancers, one in each breasts.  Yes I know what is the likelyhood of getting breast cancer twice at the same time.  Both my cancers were close to the nipples, so I was going to lose them anyway.  Plus with a strong family history I am the 4th person.  I would most probably had to have a double masectomy.

In regards to my recovery, its three months since I had my masectomy, centinel node removal on both sides and had tissue expanders put in straight away.  Except for the side effects of chemo, I am back to normal, doing all my previous activities without any soreness.  I have loss sensations to most of my breasts, (since mine were removed I guess its really my chest muscle lol).  I still have 2 more surgeries, one to insert the implants then the next one to make the nipples.  Then if I wish I can have the nipples tatoo.

The first couple of weeks are the hardest as you cant do much.  As each week goes by it picks up.  The hardest was not being allowed to drive for over a month. This is safety reason said surgeon in case you land in an accident you don't have the strength in your arms to steer yourself.  I hate having to wait for anyone to take me anywhere. I am grateful, I just like being able to go anywhere when I want to.

In regards to size, I am only a B cup. I have chosen for my reconstruction to remain the same size.  I have lots of friends with bigger breasts who complain of their size, I am happy with my size.  Plus I did not want to have to change all my clothes to accommodate bigger boobs. 

The process with the tissue expanders, on the operation they were half full.  Then I had to wait 5 - 6 weeks for the scar to heal. This time was painful for me, for about 2 weeks but this was because I took a alergic reaction to the glue on the bandages. Then I only had a couple weeks before chemo to be expanded.  So I was expanded quite quickly in a short time, as my hospital will not do any expansions during chemo.  The first expansion, after being almost flat chested, I felt quite full and top heavy, had to adjust to the extra weight.  Otherwise now its been quite okay. 

I hope this was helpful any other questions feel free to ask.

Good luck

Dot

Hi Helen,

I hope you get your 'wish' to have both breasts removed.  I'm sure you are making the right decision.  Like you said above - maybe it is Medicare related or just maybe.........the surgeon just couldnt be bothered spending the time required to take off a healthy??? breast!

Good luck

Di  :)

Hi tonya

Counting the days before my hair falls.  I am with you- feels like that will be a big deal for me.  I will save many many hours over the next while that would have been spent on stying my long hair!

Cheers Helen