All Clear happy and healthy, BUT pre admission tomorrow for Mastectomy/Recon struggling mentally..
To say its been a tough week, has been an understatement even after a recurrence multiple surgeries and treatments over the past 6yrs. As much as I knew it was coming, I wasnt prepared for the call from Hospital for my pre-admission tomorrow. 19 months on from a lumpectomy, 13 months post chemo, happy, healthy reclaiming my life. The mental torture has been relentless this week, knowing I'm WELL but in light of a recurrence don't gamble Melinda, do a Mastectomy/Diep flap reconstruction. Even knowing deep down its the best thing I could do, I still struggle with the loss, the prevention, the surgery. Its always been my struggle getting to this decision now it is here, I don't feel any different, I'm still struggling with it. I can be honest, I'm scared, petrified of the actual surgery, the recovery, the loss, the end result. Struggling with feeling Im damned if I do, damned if I don't. Maybe I'll feel different once it's done? Ive looked at it every which way possible, and its just so mentally challenging when I know Im so well...the tears havent stopped. I will also be mostly alone through recovery as my kids are going to live with their Dad as its easier for them to get to Uni and my baby in VCE. Whilst its the right thing for me to do...am heartbroken to not have them with me loving and supporting me. My Partner lives an hour away, due to work and life will only be able to manage at different times. Another reminder of traveling this road nearly 7yrs without my Mum, lucky to have my Dad who wants to help but is 77. Inspite of all this, knowing how incredibly lucky am I really!!! how dare I be sad, upset, angry, so why do I struggle, don't know how to resolve this for myself?? I've always been proactive, positive and upbeat...hoping its purely the fear thats getting in the way...
Pain after mastectomy/stage one reconstruction
Hi there, 10 days ago I had a mastectomy and stage 1 reconstruction (insertion of tissue expander) in my left breast after removal of a 6 centimetre lobular cancer .There was no cancer in my lymph nodes. I also had a reduction (E cup to C Cup) in my right breast. My pain in the right breast has gone away, but the pain in my left breast is awful - i am having o take an endone every 6 hours. Is this normal or is it like the nurses in hospital said - "everyone's experies different"?
Flying after mastectomy
Hello all, Thanks in advance for your comments. I am 5 weeks post a skin and nipple sparing single mastectomy with immediate implant on top of the muscle. Margins are not clear so I will be back in surgery in a few weeks to have the nipple and skin removed (gutted but that’s another post). I have an annual girls weekend coming up that I would love to get to (flights and accommodation pre paid before all this came about). It will be 7.5 weeks post original surgery and involves a one hour domestic flight. Does anyone know if it will be ok to travel by air 7.5 weeks post surgery? Could the implant explode? Sorry if that’s a stupid question!! I am really nervous about it and won’t go if there is any chance of a complication etc... thank you
Recommendations for Brisbane plastic surgeons
Hi everyone I haven’t been here for the last 3 years as I was so devastated by my TRAM reconstruction I had on the left side in 2014 , the second time I had breast cancer. Since then I’ve been tested and I have the BRCA 2 gene that runs in my family . I’m going to have a right mastectomy and reconstruction in Brisbane this year and hopefully it’ll be good. . Can anyone recommend some plastic surgeons please ? I’ve been knocked back by 2 so far , one didn’t even see me , just said he couldn’t do anything looking at my photos and the other declined , didn’t want to step on the original Drs toes so to speak but I have NO intention of seeing him again. I expect there’s not a lot of choices for me as my stomach muscle has already been used . Thank you
Too many choices
I am seeking advice..... had a lumpectomy, now advised to have masectomy and axilla clearance. Options are skin sparing, nipple sparing or masectomy( traditional). I still have radiation therapy to go, so am totally confused about the pro’s and con’s and what Is involved? Any advice appreciated.
How long between mastectomy and reconstruction
Hi, new to this online group and after some advice please. I was diagnosed with stage 2 IDC HER 2 positive. End of March this year. Have just finished 4 th round of AC dense chemo and start paclitaxel and hercepin in 2 weeks then mastectomy and radiotherapy . When I asked the surgeon about how long do I have to wait for reconstruction she said 2 years. I was really shocked it seems so long. What is other people’s experience?? Thanks
Advice please re surgery options
I had a lumpectomy + lymphectomy in Feb and they found multiple foci of DCIS in the margins but zero cancer in 23 lymph nodes I was rushed into chemo due to a 'worrisome lesion' on my spine which they thought was probably not metastatic disease but treated me as though it was just in case. My post chemo scan found that lesion unchanged and the report says 'no sogn of metastatic disease. They want me to have my right breast removed in a couple of weeks. I said I wanted a bilateral mastectomy due to the risk of recurrence, but the surgeon is saying he will do my left breast when he does the first surgery for the implant reconstruction on my right, in about 6 months time. Even though the team that reviews the cases said I was a candidate for immediate reconstruction because they don't think I will need radiotherapy, he does not want to do that, as he says doing the two ops together can cause complications etc. I said yes to his plan (right breast mastectomy in a few weeks, no reconstruction til next year) but I came to work and sat down to tell my boss and started crying...I really am not happy with this plan, it seems like the worst option. Am I being irrational? I really want immediate reconstruction and I feel the surgeon isn't giving enough weight to my concerns. When I said I don't want to be lop-sided, he said "your breasts aren't that big, it won't be too bad" - I am a 16DD! I appreciate the single mastectomy will be less traumatic now, but then I have an extra traumatic surgery to anticipate in 6 months. A big part of my resistance is feeling like I have already been over-treated. They took my lymph nodes but there was no cancer and I've had intense chemo because of a lesion they never really thought was cancer. I know this is not helpful thinking but it is what I am thinking. I would love it if members could help me feel better about this plan / let me know if they think I should push harder for options.
Delayed reconstruction ?
I had a mastectomy 3 years ago and as some ladies may remember the surgeon did not offer reconstruction (I found at later he does not do them). He was recommended by BreastScreen as "he does a lot of breasts". I did not query that - silly me. I now call him the "Boob Butcher". I guess it is the old saying "if I knew then what I know now ....". The scar is yuk, nothing is neat, I am lumps and bumps. I am soooooo hateful of my disgusting look I am considering delayed reconstruction. I understand that I did NOT have skin sparing (guess that goes along with not having nipple sparing) and am wondering if a reconstruction is possible ? If so, would I need to fight to get a plastic surgeon instead of just a general surgeon ? I live in a regional area and may not have one here. Thanks in anticipation for any advice. Summer :-) PS Not sure what happened - I thought I was in Reconstruction - not Newly Diagnosed - sorry !
Decision time: bilateral mastectomy with recon OR radiotherapy
Hello wonderful ladies. What would you (or did you) do if you were me? Cancer details: triple negative, grade 3 tumour 9mm, lumpectomy with clear margins, three nodes removed and all tested clear, BRCA negative. I'm 33 years old. 6 rounds of chemotherapy - FEC and Docetaxel. When my genetic test results came back I thought it would be straightforward pathway - onto radiotherapy after chemo is completed. But my radiation oncologist surprised me by saying if she was sitting in my chair, she would have a bilateral mastectomy now as radiotherapy will only be beneficial to one breast. She'd want to be doing everything she could to ensure the cancer doesn't reappear in the other breast too. Because I'm so young. I know this is ultimately a personal decision but I'm putting the question out there to get as many thoughts as possible before I inevitably see what my gut tells me to do. I'm also seeing my surgeon again soon to get his thoughts. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Libby
