Insulting and Judgmental Comments
Something I was not prepared for post breast reconstruction, are the judgmental comments the scar on my belly is attracting. I have been undergoing abdominal ultrasounds to try and figure out the problems I am having with my period. The ultrasound people keep referring to the scar on my belly as a "tummy tuck". I've even been asked "why have you had a tummy tuck?" I have a lot of scars on my body. I am proud of every one of them. They are proof of all the crap I have been through with Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer. None of these scars attract the same judgment and comments as the one on my belly. I have not had a tummy tuck! I had a bilateral skin sparing mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction! I was in surgery for 9 hours! I was in hospital for 7 days! I was off work for 10 weeks! I chose to undergo this surgery to remove breast cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence and death!!!!!! I was so SCARED going into that surgery!! This was no FUCKING tummy tuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Completing Hormone Therapy
I was wondering what others experiences have been completing hormone therapy for early breast cancer? I have another year of tamoxifen to go and wondering what to expect in terms of follow up once it is completed. I underwent a bilateral mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction. I haven't had chemo or radiotherapy.
BRCA1 / Category 3 / Waiting list...is this normal?
Hello All, I'm hoping for some advice and feedback. After being diagnosed with HER2 positive BC, I was treated at St.Vincent's public (Melbourne). I was sent to Peter Mac, genetic clinic where I was found to carry BRCA1. I was told to finish my treatment (radiation) and then to return to Peter Mac to deal with the results. Six months later I had my ovaries removed. Another six moths later I was added to the waiting list for DIEP surgery, despite the fact I had made the decision to have the surgery. Now 18 months later I am still on the waiting list, to be told that the plastic surgeon is on unplanned leave and everything is further delayed. As I understand it, I can: be referred to another plastic surgeon at the Peter Mac, get a referral and ring around other public hospital or go private (jeez...why didn't I think of that one 18 months ago?) Has anyone else had similar experiences? Is this a Peter Mac thing or just the way the public system works?
Decisions on my nipples
Hi All, I have recently had a double, nipple sparing, mastectomy and reconstruction. However, I have to have more of the teat removed as there is still cancer in it. Therefore, the surgeon has asked if I want to remove the other teat from my non-cancer breast, so they look equal. I just don’t know what to do, should I make them the same? Or keep what I have?