Profilatic mascetomy

Hi Chal,

 

I am on a waiting list for the exact same thing, bilateral - expanders - implants - nipple reconstruction and tattoos..I was told this was the best thing to eliminate it coming back as much as possible but that doesnt make me feel that much better about the whole process.

Can you tell me what the mastectomy recovery was like? how long till you could move your arms? and was the pain manageable? Do you have any tips for recovery? they say because i will have expanders and drains in they will keep me in hospital at least till the drains come out..how long were you in for? Did you need help showering and stuff for a few day?

sorry lots of questions..

L

Thank you Leanne, I guess I'm still reeling from having to make so many big decisions and confront so many issues in a short period of time. My mum is a 4/5yr survivor of BC but knowing that makes me feel more confident in being much more aggressive with my treatment. Hearing your experiences is great comfort because your motivations to having a masectomy are essentially the same as mine, I don't want the the ticking timebomb to hang over me and I wanna know I did everything I could to make sure this doesn't co e back. Thank you.

Hi Melanie - i have not actually posted in this thread but have similar stories to all the other ladies (have a look at my blog).

I had DCIS in 2010 at 45 but due to family history had always "said" that if I was in the position I would just "get rid of them".  My mum had bc at 36 then again at 48 and is still with us at 72!

I had spent the past 24 yrs (since Mum's last bc) looking at my boobs most days and saying "I wonder when you b*** will get me".  I was not a great lover of my boobs - saw them more as timebombs.

So when I was diagnosed that is the decision I made immediately - many thought I had made a very quick decision but as a very close friend said - you made that decision 24 years ago!!!

I had a lumpectomy initially to give me time to plan my next course of action. I could have had radiotherapy and then been monitored every 6 months for the rest of my life. That was in April 2010. I chose to have the bilateral mastectomy in July 2010 when my daughter could drive and husband was a little quieter on the farm.   Pathology on removed breasts found more DCIS in my left boob which had not shown up in any scans or tests. I had some complications post surgery but have never regretted my decision even once.

I do look at my boobs and miss the feeling, size, and not a great lover of the scars - BUT i know they are not going to do me any harm - now or ever!

I know that at 45 my children were older and I didn't have to think about breastfeeding.  I do know that when I did have the opportunity to breastfeed my children, fed one no problems and then the other just didn't gel. She was bottle fed and is now 18 - beautiful, intelligent and showing no sign of ill effects from bottle feeding :-)

I am not meaning to dimiss the breast feeding lightly, but at the end of the day it is your own peace of mind which is the most important now and only you can really make that decision.

Trust that your decision is the best one for you at the time you make it.

Look forward to following your journey.

Bye Leanne :-)

Hi Melanie, I chose to have a bilateral mastectomy because of my family history. I have recently had genetic testing but do not have the results yet. I was 40 at diagnosis December 2011. I have one son and didn't plan on having any more children therefore the decision was relatively easy for me. I have since then had my reconstruction completed with tissue expanders followed by silicon implants, nipple reconstruction and tattooed areola. I am very happy with the results and have never questioned my decision. I have also recently had my ovaries removed. Whatever your decision, it needs to be right for you. Chal

I guess I'm interested to know what factors steered you towards having a bilateral masectomy? In my particular situation my Dr suggests that I wouldn't be significantly better off having a masectomy, but I'm so fretful about the possibility of recurrence especially since I'm under 35. He understands that it will really be my choice in the end. Can I ask what what stage you are up to. How long will it all take for you?

Hi melanieg15, I would love to give you my thoughts and current progress on doing exactly what you are thinking about doing. I only have a couple of minutes right now but I will respond and answer any of your questions. I'm halfway through the op so hopefully I can help xx

Hi melanieg15, I would love to give you my thoughts and current progress on doing exactly what you are thinking about doing. I only have a couple of minutes right now but I will respond and answer any of your questions. I'm halfway through the op so hopefully I can help xx

Hi y'all this my first comment :)

I've just completed my 2nd session of chemo (TCH) with 4 more cycles to go. I'm really happy to be in the process of treatment but now the next big thing I'm thinking about is how to ensure I beat this cancer for ever.

I'm 33 and my BC was located in my left breast. 13mm, clean margins, sentinal node biopsy with no spread. So pathology was very good. Stage 1, Grade 2 but I came up as triple positive for ER, PR, HER/2. I had a lumpectomy and my Dr suggested we wait until after chemo to make the decision if I wanted to have a masectomy or continue with radiation.

Initially I felt there was no need but as time goes on I feel like because of my age and the grade, I need to be aggressive and know I did everything I could to ensure I don't get any recurrrence. So today I am thinking I want a bilateral masectomy. I'm also torn since I haven't had kids yet and I worry that I may be putting any possible children at risk by not being able to breastfeed. I also worry about a multitude of things like, keeping my nipples, recovery time, lenght of time between removal and reconstruction. Despite all of that I feel it would just a mental relief not to have to be terrified about my breasts and I absolutely don't want to have a recurrence or live with this 5/10 yrs down the track as a 'chronic disease'.

All your experiences have really helped me give me some guidance, especially as a young woman I also feel my situation/options is a different that of a woman over 50.

Hi y'all this my first comment :)

I've just completed my 2nd session of chemo (TCH) with 4 more cycles to go. I'm really happy to be in the process of treatment but now the next big thing I'm thinking about is how to ensure I beat this cancer for ever.

I'm 33 and my BC was located in my left breast. 13mm, clean margins, sentinal node biopsy with no spread. So pathology was very good. Stage 1, Grade 2 but I came up as triple positive for ER, PR, HER/2. I had a lumpectomy and my Dr suggested we wait until after chemo to make the decision if I wanted to have a masectomy or continue with radiation.

Initially I felt there was no need but as time goes on I feel like because of my age and the grade, I need to be aggressive and know I did everything I could to ensure I don't get any recurrrence. So today I am thinking I want a bilateral masectomy. I'm also torn since I haven't had kids yet and I worry that I may be putting any possible children at risk by not being able to breastfeed. I also worry about a multitude of things like, keeping my nipples, recovery time, lenght of time between removal and reconstruction. Despite all of that I feel it would just a mental relief not to have to be terrified about my breasts and I absolutely don't want to have a recurrence or live with this 5/10 yrs down the track as a 'chronic disease'.

All your experiences have really helped me give me some guidance, especially as a young woman I also feel my situation/options is a different that of a woman over 50.

Thanks Little Red So pleased your chemo is nearly over brilliant and of course I wish you the brightest future. I would like you to update me on your decisions re trans flap or whatever is advised I to want the brightest clear future and yet I know I need to have boobs after the double Mastectomy so I figure go for the most natural (if there is such a thing) - if it means I avoid RT and subsequent potential heart damage radiation induced other cancer I am grateful I have the choice. I am finishing in 6 weeks so face the same decision so value your and others brave experiences. Cheers and best wishes. Coldcapper