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Susan_Schuback's avatar
Susan_Schuback
Member
14 years ago

surgery!

Hello to all my pink sister's, it's been a while since i've written on this was as i've been recovering from my last chemo and preparing for my bi-lateral mastectomy!  I had my consultation with my surgeon last thursday on the 20th & I must say I came out of there a little bewildered at what my life expectany is going to be.....I shall tell you why......  It all started of in the surgeons office with himself present plus an intern which I didn't mind and the breast care nurse.....It started off with them trying to talk me out of my dicision but I would not be moved as I had my information from the  familial clinic.  The breast care nurse continued to badger me with the fact that it would not change my life expectancy with the current tumour that I already had....so I asked her what was she saying I would live 5 yrs or 10 yrs what.....her reply....we don't know if you fall into the 50% group or the 99% group even though I had no spread to my nodes at all but she said perhaps there's a small fragmant of the cancer floating about ready to settle on my lungs or liver  :-0  at this point I was still unmoved on my decission to use my tummy muscles for my new breast tissue....after about 35 minutes of this finally the surgeon accepts my decission and calls the plastic surgeon & thankfully the plactic surgeon said he would do the op in one go instead of putting me through several ops....the story goes on with a lot more involved but it seems to long to type atm...........but all I can say to any women who are being badgered by their breast care nurse, stick to your guns and shoot if nessessary like I did.   I have to have the operation within the next 8 to 10 weeks as I'm not having radiotherapy so i'm hoping for next month...I should know within the next week fingers X

Anyway I wish you all Brightest Blessings,  Susan  xxx

8 Replies

  • Chris's avatar
    Chris
    Member
    14 years ago
    Hi Ladies, I'm now 4 weeks post op from having the preventative mastectomy and bilateral insertion of tissue expanders. Even with my recent complication of surgical removal of a massive 800ml blood clot in Perth, ( I live in Sydney), I do not have any regrets about making this decision. My chance of getting a second BC was no greater than anyone elses, but I didn't want to take that chance, and my surgeon was happy to do the procedure. From this site alone I have come across many, many women who have ended up with a second breast cancer. With my first one not showing on a mammogram, it was always going to haunt me. I spent many months researching all options, and all cancers and recurrences, and in the end the decision was easy. I agree with Tonya, the Drs want to make sure you are Well imformed, and have done your homework. 2 of the 3 plastic surgeons I consulted thought I was being very radical to remove a healthy breast. You have to do what is right for you. Another breast cancer scare that I had after booking my second mastectomy, convinved me completely that for me it was the right thing to do. Good luck, and stick to your guns. Love Chris xx
  • jo1234's avatar
    jo1234
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Tonya,Sorry for the delay but  i will get back to you regarding something hopefully to easy these hot flushes we experience once I've been to the menopause/cancer clinic i am attending.I needed to re-schedule my appointment until 9th Nov due to radiation times.

    Tonya you must have been devastated the second time around knowing that a mastectomy and chemo were the only choice after all your fears of loosing your breasts. Scary time

    Cheers Joxx

  • jo1234's avatar
    jo1234
    Member
    14 years ago

    I understand why they are probably quizzing you., maybe  to see if you have thoroughly thought about everything, as it is a very big decision that needed to be made.Maybe they have to do it like that to see how determined you really are.

    So many people choose to have their breasts removed and yes it is their own choice and often do so because they don't want to have to worry that the cancer may return to the breasts at a later stage.

    Mine, i am the opposite, there was no advantage in having a mastectomy for me.  i took their advice and chose not to have  one  or chemo for that matter. That is because it frightens me just as much in loosing my boobs and becoming so sick with the chemo as it does in getting cancer again in the other boob. I was really terrified . Everyone has there own views and that should be respected.

    You did well in sticking to what you want  and not letting them change your mind. Good luck with everything and hope they leave you alone now.

    Cheers Joxx

  • jo1234's avatar
    jo1234
    Member
    14 years ago

    I understand why they are probably quizzing you., maybe  to see if you have thoroughly thought about everything, as it is a very big decision that needed to be made.Maybe they have to do it like that to see how determined you really are.

    So many people choose to have their breasts removed and yes it is their own choice and often do so because they don't want to have to worry that the cancer may return to the breasts at a later stage.

    Mine, i am the opposite, there was no advantage in having a mastectomy for me.  i took their advice and chose not to have  one  or chemo for that matter. That is because it frightens me just as much in loosing my boobs and becoming so sick with the chemo as it does in getting cancer again in the other boob. I was really terrified . Everyone has there own views and that should be respected.

    You did well in sticking to what you want  and not letting them change your mind. Good luck with everything and hope they leave you alone now.

    Cheers Joxx

  • Al's avatar
    Al
    Member
    14 years ago

    Something you don't need atm!!  What a lot of two-ing and fro-ing! glad you stuck to your guns and made the decision that was right for you.

    Take care and let us know how you get on and like Tonya I to hope you don't have to wait too long -  seems to be too much of this with BC.

    Thinking of of you,

    Alison xxx

  • Al's avatar
    Al
    Member
    14 years ago

    Something you don't need atm!!  What a lot of two-ing and fro-ing! glad you stuck to your guns and made the decision that was right for you.

    Take care and let us know how you get on and like Tonya I to hope you don't have to wait too long -  seems to be too much of this with BC.

    Thinking of of you,

    Alison xxx

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    14 years ago

    Gosh that consultation sounds like a real downer!Were they trying to talk you out of a double mastectomy or the reconstruction?What's with the 50% and 99% ?I am getting to really hate statistics.Good for you for sticking to your guns.At the end of the day it is our body and we have the right to make a choice.I hope you don't have to wait too long for plastic surgery.Take care.

                                               Tonya xx

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    14 years ago

    Gosh that consultation sounds like a real downer!Were they trying to talk you out of a double mastectomy or the reconstruction?What's with the 50% and 99% ?I am getting to really hate statistics.Good for you for sticking to your guns.At the end of the day it is our body and we have the right to make a choice.I hope you don't have to wait too long for plastic surgery.Take care.

                                               Tonya xx