Bilateral Mastectomy and no further treatment

Yes i feel reassured too!!

Hi Poodle_Lady55 
Yes I have mixed feelings of being a fake cancer survivor (large DCIS and told pre-cancer but needed mastectomy chose bilateral which I am very happy with) and feeling guilty too. 
Until I was told no further treatment I had never heard of anyone not needing further treatment, and it's not mentioned anywhere I could see. Reassuring to know I'm not some odd bod thank you for your support.

Hi @Geordie I feel the same. Recently had bilateral mastectomy, no lymph node removal because it was early and no chemo or radiotheraphy.  All so quickly done thankfully but a bit of a whirlwind.  I feel lucky it was found but guilty that others have to go through so much more treatment so maybe it is a bit like survivors guilt. I'm sure though that everyone is welcome here to support each other whatever their breast cancer experience. I'm still trying to process it all. Best wishes x

Hi,

I'm with you. I also had a huge DCIS with no spread and clear nodes. So all I had was one-side mastectomy and no other treatment. I thought that I was living a nightmare for a last couple of months since I've been diagnosed. But after reading the stories of other amazing women who are fighting BC, I realized that it was nothing compared to what they are faced to. I agree that it was like a tornado, which turned all my life upside down, and then ...nothing. I fear recurrence, so now regular check ups, genetic testing and I would definitely consider removing my second breast if it is positive. (Especially I'm starting to like the look of my new boob, I won't mind the second one looking the same  :D ) 

I realize how incredibly lucky I was to get out of it so easily. Now I want to leave all this behind and go back to normal life.

Xxx

@Jwrenn yes my fraudulence was definitely in my own perception.
To this day most of my friends have no idea about what happened to me. Because by the time i could bring myself to talk about it it was too far in the past and i wanted to leave it there . I felt like mayb noone would believe Id had cancer because i looked so well  and No visible evidence. I feel lucky to have 'only' had a mastectomy but i sometimes feel it was pretty drastic. But hey 3 years clear and lucky me they routinely MRI my remaining breast each year so i know im all good. My granddaughter was born a week after my recon which helped me smile again. My fake boob looks great in lingerie or swimmers so i can do everything like b4
I had a huge 7 cm DCIS that hadnt spread at all and clear nodes so thats why no more treatment. 

@Vallerina that’s a good way of putting it, feeling like a fraud.  I’ve joined in a couple of zoom meetings and felt like that because I “only had a lumpectomy and then radiation “ not a mastectomy or chemo. It was my feeling like that probably and not them saying anything. 

Pleasing to read!

Come to think of it i do remember having a few fears around recurrence and whether no further treatment left me more susceptible. 

Hi @Geordie.
I had single mx and implant recon 3 years ago and no other treatment. Not even hormone treatment.  I know what you mean i felt like id been in a cyclone..... then nothing. And there was always lots of discussions that i couldnt relate to. I felt like a bit of a fraud lurking here  when id got off so lightly. Had it really been real or necessary. ?? These days i dont think too much about it at all. Except how lucky i am. Best  of luck with your recovery. 

@Blossom1961 Theres a name for it !? I'm going to have to look into that a little more. Its so bitter sweet all at once. Im so sorry to hear of your buddy. xx