I really appreciate you taking the time to contact me and share your insight. The BCNA site has been my "go-to" since being diagnosed (which happened via a phone call from the Cairns Breast Screen Doctor on a Friday -with a very loooong weekend of many questions and no answers following) .. and I have scoured it's pages and blogs many times over. In fact, I had already read the "Five things I wish someone had told me about a double mastectomy" only yesterday - and appreciated the candid responses.
I am most grateful for your sharing of the fact that "the decision is not determined by the system, but by the patient and the surgeon" .... this is what I had very much hoped would be the case ... that there would not be a catagorical "no" served to me - but that my reasoning, understanding, evaluating and personal circumstances would all play a role in the selection of the best option.
Before my diagnosis was officially confirmed (by core biopsy) I spent hours and days being tested; going from mammogram to ultrasound and back to mammogram again because my dense breast tissue just could not visualise the tumour in its entirely via ultrasound, for the biopsy to be done. There was never any ducking into the clinic to have this or that done, to save my family from unnecessary worry ... no, I would have to close my business (and the farm gate) and organise someone to attend to my children's school pick up and drop off (no public transport up here) and travel down to the "city" for each and every procedure - only to return at day's end with a cloud of uncertainty looming overhead. Yes, it was all very necessary AND it was all felt by each member of my family - we were all aware, right from the outset, that "something was wrong with mum".
It was at this time, that it was gently implied to me that the outcome was "concerning" and the "c" word spoken for the very first time. So, we (my husband and I) have had a good deal of time to "visit" each surgical and medical option - and this is why we feel so very strongly that the bilateral mastectomy is the right surgery for me, for us as a couple, and for our family.
As for reconstruction - that is something I do not feel the need to rush into .... instead I would willingly grace the healing with time and adjustment ... and peace of mind.
Thank you again Louise xx
