Jacqui

Hi Jacqui,

Jo's right ,you need all the facts laid out before you decide.Infact you may not get a choice.I've had both ops.I had a lumpectomy and full aux.node clearance and then radiation for 5wks back in 2003.I was given a choice cos it was just the 1 lump(2cm).I was 47yrs old and not ready to lose a breast.After radio.my breast was never quite the same-always discomfort.It was just for filling my bra really.I thought that was the end of it but 7yrs later cancer came back in the same spot.Apparently I was in the unlucky 8% who get it back despite radiation.So last year I had to have a mastectomy then chemo.I am 55 and whether it's my age or maybe cos I'd already lost abit of boob,I was surprisingly ok about it.Psychologically it's harder looking at my chest scar but once I'm dressed with my prothesis in my bra then I forget about it.I had to alter some clothes-no more cleavage.But that's ok. Chemo was by far the hardest of all the treatments.I didn't handle it very well at all.And I have been so upset about losing my hair.It takes sooo long to grow back.So in hindsight should I have had a mastectomy in the first place?Probably, cos I may have been spared chemo and radiation.But I did what I thought felt right for me at the time.And that's all you can do really.

                                           Tonya