Profilatic mascetomy

Thanks Chris and Heather. I appreciate your advice and agree wholeheartedly! I too need to stop wasting my time stressing about. Enjoy your trip heather and gd luck with your exams! Xxx

Hi Everyone,

I am nervous about my upcoming surgery too, but I have got to the point where I need to stop asking any more questions (I have been doing so for 6 months!) and just trust the surgeon. It is a lot of money and big recovery, but someone said to me early on (perhaps one of the nurses or a physio) that the reason women have reconstructive surgery is so that we don't need to think about our breasts any more. They go from being something you think about everytime u look in the mirror, decide what to wear, play sport etc back to being just 'there'! I think that's a great reason to go ahead with the surgery, think how much more brain space I will have to think of other much more wonderful things!

I've got three exams to do in the next two weeks, then a two week holiday in Vanuatu with my hubby (and no kids!). I'm going to enjoy myself and try not to think any more!

All the best, Heather

Hi ladies, I can understand exactly what you are saying. I too felt that maybe I shouldn't be reconstructing, that maybe it was frivolous or a waste of money, as really I shoukd just be thankful that my cancer appears to be gone, blah blah and blah. Yes, we had no choices about the first op, so we just do what we need to do. Once there is a choice though, it becomes harder i took months to decide, but I am so glad that I did decide to go ahead with it. I knew the prophylactic mastectomy was the right way to go as soon as I had the second scare with the lump that was found on my check up ultrasound. The truth is, I just have trouble with decisions, all decisions. It has taken me 9 months to arrange a bathroom renovation, and forever to choose anything. I am always worried that my choice will be the wrong choice. My husband on the other hand makes decisions easily, and if they are wrong, he deals with them. If new boobs will make you feel better, then you should go with them, and be happy. You know, what an anaesthetic is like, and how it affects you, so that scarey bit is a known now. Even when I had to go back to theatre to have my blood clot drained, I surprises myself by not blaming myself for going ahead with this procedure. Now that everything is healed, this prophylactic side that had the blood clot looks really good, and even better than the other side. Love Chris xx

I feel a bit the same Kellie. My op is booked for 11 sept so I too have a wait but I'm feeling anxious already and started worrying that maybe I shouldn't do the recon. I feel definite bout the prophylactic left mastectomy as I am worried bout it returning. But am not convinced I want the recon yet...ahhh, the worry is stressful. I hope you can recover some confidence about your surgery, let me know how you do if you achieve it!! Love Sam xxx

Hi girls :) firstly Liz I tried to private message you last week with my gmail address, I'm not sure if it worked but if you let me know that would be good.Ann I bet your glad your nearly finished? Can I ask is it what you didn't like about your recon. I'm guessing is it they are harder than b4 or the scars, shape? Do u think nipples will make you feel better once they r done? Unfortunately I had lovely boobs and now boob :/ so I'm hoping for a good result. The oly thing I've requested is to not have them as big as they were b4. I've gotta say my anxiety about the op is increasing and although I'm very busy, it's in the nights when I go to bed and start dreaming. When I woke that night I actually thought to myself I need to cancel the op. I just don't know, if I cancel I will be frustrated with myself but I can feel the tension in my body building . I guess it's because unlike the first op where u don't have a choice, this is by choice . And having to wake 16wks has been hard. I'm kind of back where I was just after my opbwhen I said I wouldn't b doing any of this again but yet here I am. I'm sure it will pass . Just got to keep breathing. Xx

Hi Girls, We seem to be all following each other, Chris is leading the herd . Thanks Chris for always giving great advice.

Kelli, I had tissue expanders on 14 Feb 2012. (My sons birthday). I had 2 expansions and then had them exchanged for implants on 30th May. Bandages off Friday. Sunday now and they dont look as awful. it was just a delayed shock I think.

 Interesting that you have a son with diabetes. I have a friend who is a BC liason lady, aged early 30's , 2 sons, one of which has diabetes. He would be same age as your son I think. Her name is Tracy Bald and she is on here and facebook. Fabulous lady who packs a lot into life. She had her breast cancer when she was inb her 20's.She would be great to talk too if you need help.

Sam, Thankyou so much for telling me what Dr Cooter said. He didnt tell me that bit, but then I was very anxious about the whole deal and may not have heard. My husband and I both liked Bill, straight to the point, and great by the bedside. He didnt charge me a gap both times he operated on me, but  we rewarded him with Johnny Walker Blue.

Im hoping that over time my boobs will be OK. I have put on 10 kilos in the last year (too much cake) and if I loose some of that the boobs will look better. Next on the agenda is to get fitter. As for nipples etc, maybe one day but I just need to get my head over this round.

Thanks so much girls, you have really helped me out

Ann

 

 

Hi Ann, I too see bill mcleay and rid coorer is doing my expander reconstruction in September! Thanks for posting about it being a bit of a let down to begin with. Rod has told me they won't be even to start with or looks the same but that they will get more even over time and that he'll do any tweaking that needs to be done. Your comments have reiterated what he has said to me, so I will be prepared hopefully for a few months of disappointment until they are good looking breasts!! Dr cooter seems lovely, bill could do with a better office manner but has a lovely bedside manner if you know what I mean! Love to you Sam xxx

Hi Ann, I too see bill mcleay and rid coorer is doing my expander reconstruction in September! Thanks for posting about it being a bit of a let down to begin with. Rod has told me they won't be even to start with or looks the same but that they will get more even over time and that he'll do any tweaking that needs to be done. Your comments have reiterated what he has said to me, so I will be prepared hopefully for a few months of disappointment until they are good looking breasts!! Dr cooter seems lovely, bill could do with a better office manner but has a lovely bedside manner if you know what I mean! Love to you Sam xxx

Hey Kel

I too live in rural SA (yorke peninsula) and my surgeons are Dr Birrell and Tim Proudman!! Perhaps we should try and meet one day?  I would be only too happy to show you my new boobs (lol!!) I am all finished now - including nipples and are only too happy to share my experiences.  My journey has gone really well. Really happy with both drs - plus my mum had Dr Birrell too.  Private message me if you like

Cheers

Liz

Hi Ann , just had a quick look and there is another lady who had used your doctor. My breast surgeon will be dr Steve Birrell from the utunga breast centre and my plastic surgeon is Dr Tim Proudman. They have worked together for 30 + yrs and Tims father taught Steve . I. Don't really know what to expect, at this stage I'm just worried about coping with the op itself.Its all very emotional isn't it?? How long ago did u have your op? The travelling is tough, I've got two young boys I've got to leave and my husband can't come either as my eldest son 8yrs is type 1 diabetic. So my poor mum has to come with me.how to u think they meaning your boobs will look in the end? Nice in a top but not that great in the flesh or can u see that in time they will look good? Hugs from Kell xxxxx