To remove or not to remove..... that is the question

@ddon good to hear you are doing so well  :) Yeah my breasts lost their appeal when they tried to kill me! My onco says you know you have made the right decision when you wake up every day and think the same way about it.  I’m almost there....Do you mind me asking, was it a medical or an aesthetic reason for you to go flat? ( both valid )

PS I hate drains with the fire of a thousand suns :(

@Caz1 - thank you. Recovering well. I came home with my drain which will hopefully come out tomorrow. I dont have my pathology back yet which is anxiety- producing.  I think sometimes for our surgeons - mine anyway, they want to save our breasts or replace them thinking it is important for self esteem etc. And I understand that and am grateful that they feel that way, because I loved mine and wouldn’t have willingly given them up before. But they lost their appeal when they turned nasty and now my flat chest suits me fine. Never wearing a bra again, never having another mammogram 😀 excellent !!!

Hi @MrsMac
I had a left mastectomy in April, after rads and chemo. Recon was delayed due to covid first wave. Followed by 12 days in hospital with a massive cellulitis infection.

Delay turns out to have been a blessing. Everything was so rushed, and to be honest, while my surgeons were great, the option of going flat wasn’t really on the table. That still annoys me.
I don’t think going flat is discussed enough. 

Its been good to have time to think. I don’t mind my scar at all, and the idea of not ever having a bra again is definitely appealing! I’m 54, and while my treatment was successful ( I hope ) I don’t want to spend any more time than I have to recovering from major surgery. I just want to move forward with my life. I don’t need boobs any more to do that. 
The Breconda tool on this site is helpful in decision making.
Also there are heaps of groups on Facebook and insta discussing going flat and or recon that I am finding really helpful.
Flat and fabulous and flat friends on Facebook are a good start. There are Lots of podcasts too. PM me if you would like some good things to follow on socials.
Im probably leaning 90% towards going flat at this point. 
Good luck with your decision.  

@ddon hope you are recovering well xx  <3

Caz x


 

Hi @MrsMac, I had left mastectomy in 2016, followed by chemo & radiotherapy & Letrozole. In 2019 I had the right breast removed followed by double DIEP. I always wanted the other breast removed as was worrying about another cancer & decided recon at the same time was a good idea. It was a long surgery, 12 hours, but I am very happy with the results & it has helped me to move on. No more mammograms, just a yearly ultrasound. Good luck with your decision!

Hi, im not up to reconstruction. I had skin saving surgery to allow for a reconstruction if I want. Right now I feel that I don't want to put myself through future surgeries and the idea of doing anything to my as best I know healthy breast is a bit abhorrent although I understand why others do. 

Yesterday I got an amoena prosthetic to even up. I was pleasantly surprised how light it is. I also splashed out an extra 100 to get one with a pump which allows you to get a good fit against your chest wall and can adjust cup size with weight changes. As it sits in the bra pocket I think it will not be sweaty.  

You are probably well past all this and know what you feel will work. Maybe have a consult with a surgeon and ask all those questions about skin. I am thinking when I am able I will do this. If they can some how do a key hole inflation (seems unlikely) I'd consider. If there is months of pain ahead I'd want to be able to compare to original mastectomy. 

I joined the restructure group but im not ready to interact yet. 

Michele

Hi @MrsMac,
I also had a left mastectomy, chemo and radiation 7 years ago and then had my ovaries removed 2 years later. I just had my right breast removed 2 months ago after a scare with mammogram/ultrasound this year. No cancer was found thank goodness.

After I finished treatment back in 2013 I just did not want anymore surgery at that time. I managed very well for 7 years with the one but must say I am enjoying being ‘even’ now.

It is all such an individual thing and the main thing is to do what’s right for you at the time. I enjoy feeling well, fit and healthy, so for me, minimizing the surgery has always been my aim. I am happy with my choices. If you want to know any further details I am happy to personal message.

Best wishes with your decision.

One thing I forgot to say - I feel that my prognosis isn’t great because of the extent of spread in my lymph nodes and so time feeling well and normal is important to me. If I hadn’t had lymph involvement and felt like I could have a normal life span in front of me ( I am an otherwise fit healthy 47 year old) then I might feel very differently and want reconstruction. Circumstances play a big role is decisions you will make. What are pros and cons for one person will be completely different for someone else. Best wishes with your decision making. 

I’ve been mono-boobed for eight years. I use a prosthesis as my remaining breast is fairly large and I don’t particularly want to look lop sided when dressed (totally OK about it otherwise). I’d probably need to change most of my wardrobe if I went flat! I live in Melbourne so haven’t had any problem regarding humidity, which may make a prosthesis less comfortable in tropical zones. I put it in my bra of a morning and forget about it. There is nothing to indicate any propensity for cancer in my other breast (more than the normal!) according to my oncologist and as I had a persistent, large seroma for 12 months, I am not keen to do further surgery unless really necessary. It’s a personal choice about what suits you. Always good to get other opinions but do what feels right for you. Best wishes. 

I had a right mastectomy 1 year ago, no reconstruction and am now two days post L mastectomy and I don’t intend to have reconstruction. I am just not interested in any more surgery, especially surgery that isn’t strictly necessary. My body and family have been through enough. Loving my even flat chest. 

Hello @MrsMac,
Is your skin too thin for an implant? What about having an implant with some lipo? I’m not sure if that’s just for a more natural look, or if it would help the skin support the implant.