Profilatic mascetomy

Hi Kel, I was diagnosed in Dec 2011 with a lump in my right breast. I chose without hesitation to have a double masectomy and immediate reconstruction with tissue expanders. I underwent 6 cycles of TAC and last week I had the tissue expanders removed and replaced with silicon implants as well as a nipple reconstruction. I also had a prophylactic oophorectomy at the same time. I am feeling really good and have had no pain at all since this second surgery. When everything has healed my plastic surgeon will send me off to have the areolas tattooed. I am very happy with my new breasts and know that it was the right decision for me. I have a 6 year old son and needed to give myself the best possible chance. I am still waiting to have the genetic testing but have a strong family history. I hope this helps. :)

WOW ladies,

Just read all your helpful posts.  I too am in the process of considering having my other breast off.  I have had radiation on my R side and a mastectomy.  I worry so much as I actually had a reoccurance on my right side 18mths after my lumpectomy, chemo, radiation.  SO the mastectomy followed.  Both my lumps were nearly 3cm and both were 8mths and then 6mths after clear mammagrams!!! Triple negative aggresive grade 3 tumours.  I really want my other breast off.  I too am a bit sick of high cut tops and wearing a prosthesis.  I am not brave enough to go flat chested.  I just want boobs, only small ones.

My general surgeon has suggested implants but I decided to get a second opinion and saw a plastic surgeon.  He will not do the implants due to my radiation.  I am not a big lady, however he seems to think I have enough skin on my tummy for 2x 12B's.  I will be happy with that.

He wants to do a tram flap.  WHen I asked him about a DIEP he said that he always aims to do one but often he makes his mind up about whether or not to take abdo muscle depending on the blood vessels he finds.

I also have lymphedema and so am not keen for the back muscle op, as there is a lot more arm pit involved and I worry about damage to my remaining lymph nodes...

Oh the worry of it all!! I am nearly 50 and think I will be getting a boob job for my 50th present LOL  I just need to work up the courage to say do it!!

Can't believe how therapeutic just writing all this down has been..

Thanks for anyone who reads this.  It is great to have a site like this to post to.

Cheers

Paula :)

Heather I like your way of thinking" more brain space" :) and Chris omg you sound juuuust like me and my husband is like yours. Opposites attract I guess. Have a great day girls.xxxx

Heather I like your way of thinking" more brain space" :) and Chris omg you sound juuuust like me and my husband is like yours. Opposites attract I guess. Have a great day girls.xxxx

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