No reconstruction after double mast
im looking to hear from women who have had a double and chose No reconstruction. iv had a double, temporary implant ( which are s pest) I was considering DIEP hence the implants...... but not sure if the surgery/ reconstruction is worth the $16,000 and Another BIG surgery and recovery. ( yes the tummy tuck and nice breast would be great..... no doubt there at all and I’m sure it’s worth it but anyone not reconstruct and still feel content and happy. my husband I’d supportive of what ever I choose. I’m quite active, I like to run and exercise and I want to be able to do handstands and cart wheels with my daughter before she gets over it. I just hate these implants, I could get them out quickly. But have to wait for DIEP as I had radiation in dec. 🤷♀️ Just interested to hear others experience with no reconstruction. Or anyone like me and want or removed these stupid uncomfortable implants?
Grade 3 Triple Negative
hi!! I just wanted to say my first hello and what an amazing place this is to come for loads of wonderful advice and info!! I was diagnosed on 6th Nov with Grade 3 Triple Negative IDC and am having a double mastectomy with reconstruction next wed 4th Dec. I’m a mum of 3 (19,16 & 7) and had only just turned 40 when I experienced a sharp pain in my breast and went to have it checked. No staging as of yet, I had one swollen lymph node biopsied which came back clear and CT was clear apart from pre existing liver hemangiomas (just something else to add to the mix) but still waiting on bone scan results.........if that isn’t the most anxiety endusing thing on the planet I don’t know what is, Ive been hyper sensitive to every ache and pain I get!! Chemo is planned for the new year. Anxious but eager to get into it, all the waiting is the worst 😣
Getting ready for Chemo, any advice?
Hi beautiful women, I’m new here, I’m a 33yo mum with 3 kids, recently diagnosed with hormone +, stage 3, grade 3. Had a double mastectomy and lymph nodes removed on the 30/3, going to see the oncologist next week and start Chemo. Would love some advice on preparing for this, recovery from surgery has been hard but chemo is more daunting to me...
"Its up to you!!! "
I am soooo tired of hearing "Its up to you!" I turn to the brains trust here to give me constructive advice about a problem that I have to ( or want to is nearer the truth) address. I have been through the (L) mastectomy followed by Chemo and Radiotherapy (oh the horrors!! :) ) I want to hear about what you did or didn't do, whether it was worth it or not and pro's and cons of having a second mastectomy . I have spoken with so many people including GP's and surgeons, family and friends. I even had a family friend, a recent graduant from Uni with Counselling Diploma start to counsel me...and they ALL said...well really its up to you!! I KNOW its up to me....arggghhh!! :) But no one could give me personal experiences and expectations....just second and third hand stories - you know the sort...friends of friends, mothers/sister/aunt or niece of friend three times removed..:) I had a lumpectomy 25 years ago in (R) breast - it was encapsulated...no further treatment given. I had bilateral lumpectomy last March - the right was benign and the left breast went for the mastectomy. I have been told my problem is NOT in the genes so I have no reason Health wise to have it removed. It is purely psychological (and up to me!! :) ) I will of course be obliged to have regular mammograms :s and oncology follow-ups. Breasts are for feeding babies and giving someone else a thrill!! At 68 I am over both! I haven't got into the habit of wearing prosthetic bra yet because of radiation burns (and infection!!) that took ages to heal and of course this horrid hot sticky summer heat! I have worn it a couple of times and I feel so lopsided lol I know comfort will come with practise and further fittings. I have looked at myself in a mirror and thought about "To do or not to do!" Does dressing become easier, buying clothes, wearing swimwear ? Are you sorry it was done? Regret not having it done? I think a lot of this is to make me think about it as I wrote....didn't help - lol - I still don't know what to think about to help me make a decision. And please....don't tell me "Its up to you" :p <3
bilateral mastectomy then immediate reconstruction results
I have just finished chemo and now deciding on surgery. I am having a bilateral mastectomy with nipple removal and then immediate reconstruction with implants. Has anyone had this with the implant over the muscle? Did they look ok? Also then had radiotherapy after? Where you happy with the result? How many other surgeries did you have? I am having a hard time picturing it and aligning my expectations with what can be done. Worried I will not be satisfied and it will affect me emotionally as I have been coping ok with breast cancer diagnosis until now.
Mastectomy this Thursday..
I am booked in for a single mastectomy (followed by chemo and radio) this Thursday. I tried to discuss with my surgeon the possibility of removing both breasts at the same time, one being preventative (as this is what I would really want) but she dismissed it. I have asked again yesterday and she said she wouldn’t do it as it may delay treatment and because of covid, there is a need for beds in hospital.. plus there is double the risk for complications. While I originally accepted her reasoning, I am now working myself up as I am upset that this option was not fully considered and the reasoning do not make all that sense to me. There are pros and cons of course.. Anyone been in a similar situation and/or had a second mastectomy later? How long after you finished treatment were you able to have another surgery? I do not want to delay surgery this week, but I also want to do the right thing for myself..
Looming double mastectomy
im having a double mastectomy with auxiliary lymph node clearance on the 1st November. Finding it hard to believe it’s happening even though I’ve had 6 months of chemo! Wondering how to get my head around it. How have others dealt with it? Going from a 10G to nothing seems so extreme!
I am new to the network and have metastasis
Posted on behalf of JLea Hello everyone, I am new to the network. I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2016. I had a double mastectomy and axillary clearance and chemo. Six months ago I was found to have mets in my bones. Including skull, spine down to T10, scapulae, ribs, sternum, pelvis and femoral head. So quite extensive. I’m on Palbociclib and Letrozole. As Palbociclib is a 3 week cycle with one week off. The bone pain builds up over the 3 weeks, particularly in skull and spine, as my entire skull is riddled with mets. Has anyone got a similar diagnosis? I have major depression and feel very bleak about my prognosis. Regards
Bilateral Mastectomy and no further treatment
Just wondering if there is anyone out there who has had either a mastectomy or bilateral mastectomy who then didn't need any further treatment at all? I had this earlier this year but everywhere I look everyone talks about treatment following surgery.Mine required none which is fabulous but I have this feeling I don't quite fit anywhere. It seems there was this sudden rush of activity after diagnosis, a quick surgery and then a sudden stop it all. I was never sick, another thing to celebrate.
Second time around
Hello.... I was diagnosed with DCIS Invasive grade 2 breast cancer in my left breast in Nov 2009 when I was 43yo after been sent for a mammogram because I had never had one before. I had a lumpectomy and a sentinel nobe biopsy. A dot of inconvenience was found in one of the lymph nodes which led to a second surgery and an ancillary clearance removing a further 24 lymph nodes. This surgery had an ‘all clear’ result but I needed 4 rounds of chemo as a precaution and then 6 weeks of radiation. I then took Tamoxifen for 5 years as the cancer was hormone receptor positive. I have continued with my annual mammograms and ultrasound, have needed a couple of fine needle biopsies but generally had a pretty good run the past 11 years. Until Nov 2020 😢 my routine checkup resulted in a vacuum assisted core biopsy of my right breast and the diagnosis DCIS. F@@k her we go again! Abnormal cells were located as they had calcified so could be seen on imaging! How lucky was I? If the cells didn’t die, would have been a whole lot different in 12 months time as My surgeon requested that I have a MRI to check for anything else. An area of 3-4cms was located which meant the surgical margins were increased to get a ‘clear result’. I am now going through the motions of deciding what to do next? Can opt to just do radiation again and then roll the dice a third time and see what the future brings? But I am 99.9% decided to have a bilateral mastectomy.. I took the genetic test for BRCA 1/2 mutation...results were negative, so it’s just me 😜 I also found out from my surgeon that once you have had radiation on your breast, you can’t have it again so if it was in my left beast, I would have had it take off anyway. With radiation alone, the risk of breast cancer coming back would be 20% versus just 1% after having a mastectomy.. In my head it’s a no brainer but I am really starting to grieve about my decision and they haven’t even gone yet! I have spoken to a private reconstructive plastic surgeon and I would be eligible for a ‘Tram Flap’ recon which seemed quite appealing in the start as I would be getting a tummy tuck too (had to be a silver lining there somewhere) but the length of the operation and the out of pocket cost was a lot more that I expected and I have decided not to weigh myself down with that for the moment. The breast cancer support centre ‘Choices’ advised me to just put my name down on the public waiting list, so I think that is what I will do and decide that in a couple of years... I just need to get my head around what I am going to look like on the other side of the mastectomy surgery? I know I am stronger to cope with this having been diagnosed for a second time. The first diagnosis definitely made me stronger and more resilient in my life. I am not backward in coming forward, never hesitate to eliminate things in my life that cause me grief. That’s why I don’t feel any loyalty to my breasts as they definitely are not my BFF’s. I have breast fed 3 beautiful kids (now all adults) so I really don’t need them anymore and the thought of never wearing bras around the house is starting to feel pretty good! I am currently a DD size so I am quiet envious of my daughter coming home and the first thing she does is take her bra off!! In all seriousness though....I just need to get my head around this choice as it’s not like going to the hairdresser and having a bad hair cut and saying ‘it will grow back’. Once they are gone, there is no coming back. But I just don’t want to roll the dice again 🤔 thanks for reading my story, any advise would be greatly appreciated ❤️ Christine x