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...
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.
Radiation and old implants
Hi everyone. I'm new to the group but I would greatly appreciate it if anyone has had whole breast radiation following a lumpectomy but had implants (from previous cosmetic surgery). My surgeon opted for Breast Conserving so I have gone through Chemo (which shrunk my tumors but unfortunately didn't get rid of them fully) and am now scheduled for surgery next Friday but was unaware (and uninformed) that I would be having radiation after. Of course all the doctors are very apologetic for not informing me sooner. I've read horrible things about radiation which can alter the breast. I have small C breasts (I was an A before implants). My tumors are at 12.00 o'clock which is where my small amount of breast tissue is and the tumors are about 4 cm one side to the other so I imagine the lumpectomy is going to take every bit of breast tissue away. I've read the radiation will lift my breast and nipple but as my breast sits so high anyway it is going to make the affected breast abnormally high. I've also read about capsular contracture following radiation. It is now making me consider a mastectomy instead to avoid radiation. Has anyone had reconstruction after the lumpectomy and radiation to fix the affected breast?
Looking for choosing breast reconstruction members who have had radiation/implants/fat transfer.
Hi Ladies if you haven't been to visit the group lately @Marni is seeking to contact with anyone who has had implants/expanders and fat transfers after this. Or anyone who chose the lat dorsi path instead. If you aren't a member feel free to join, or please leave a comment for Marni here. Please remeber to check on your groups frequently as if they are private the posts don't appear in the main forum. Thanks girls for your continual support. Paula :)
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
Fat necrosis post double mastectomy
Hi everyone, i am four weeks post double mastectomy with immediate skin sparing implant (no expanders yay!) reconstruction. I had micro mets in two lymph nodes so had an auxiliary clearance on my left (cancer affected side). I now have a very hard area at the side of my left breast under my arm which the surgeon said is fat necrosis and will probably get worse with radiotherapy which I start in a couple of weeks. Did anyone else have this? Does it eventually disperse? Is there anything I can do to help it? It is not painful as I am numb there after the surgery, at least that's a positive.
People that have had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction
Hi I went for a follow up appointment with my specialist today and everything is shrinking! Yay! I finish chemo in a few months but only have about 6 weeks or so to work out what I want to do. I am going to opt for a double mastectomy but wanted to know if anyone had had a double mastectomy with immediate implants and then had radiotherapy? Did your implants harden? How did your skin go? Any advice would be great xx
Going mental
I'm going nuts 4 x acs 8 taxol mastectomy expander refills what set me off today was calling onco whom of course was busy I can't feel my feet in desperation I called bc nurse hum it appears my nerves are gone but biggest shock you have done massive treatments maybe we will stop chemo wtf my intention was its killing my nerves apparently 8 taxol s and the rest is enough but I'm scared I don't finish its killing me now if I finish chemo my bodies not taking it anymore nor my mind ladies anyone else stopped chemo? Still 5 weeks of radio I'm so confused apparently there's like a .5 now if I stop chemo one part of me wants to stop another is soo scared say I stop then it comes back? Can't do it advice please
Medication decisions
I'm soon coming up to my 3 year anniversary of my breast cancer journey. My juggling act to maintain wellness is still a challenge as I weigh up the actions and reactions of the treatments I choose. As we know hindsight is a knowledgeable tool after the fact. So here is my juggling act: I was diagnosed with 100% hormone receptive breast cancer - bingo says my oncologist, very positive prognosis. I had a lumpectomy with auxiliary clearance followed by radiotherapy. Now all I have to do is take Arimadex for 5 years. Easy! Through fear at the time of diagnosis I thought a lumpectomy seemed like a less frightening and less invasive prospect. Now two and a half years along I still have a painful breast and very tender brittle rib post radiotherapy. Hindsight? Should I have chosen mastectomy and no radiotherapy and be free of pain and the long term risks of radiation? Probably. Maybe I could have had a double mastectomy just to be sure and therefore spare the good arm the destruction of sentinel biopsy with a later option of double breast reconstruction or indeed be happy with no breasts. I spoke with a plastic surgeon and he says he'd rather see this option offered more often over lumpectomy/radiotherapy. My breast surgeon says he cannot remove the radiated breast now, as I suffered a severe reaction to radiotherapy and the integrity of the skin could not be guaranteed. He has suggested a reduction of the good breast to match my continual shrinking other breast but I'm not so sure... After two and a half years on Arimadex I now have been fast-tracked into osteoporosis despite trying to meet exercise expectations. The next solution? - easy just take 6 monthly injections of Prolia to build stronger bones. Sounds too good to be true! Ah side affects? Well yes possible skin infections, bladder infections, heart inflammation, jaw necrosis, for gods sake this sounds scary. I already have issues with breast lymphoedema and skin inflammation. My oncologist says she really wants to keep me on Arimadex given I had one lymph node involved as This drug has a slight statistical advantage over Tamoxifen, yet Tamixofen is easier on bones. So am I now on the verge of possibly another hindsight regret? I hope not. Should I stay on Arimadex (the best option to prevent recurrence) or swap to Tamixofen (a tried and well know drug) and therefore avoid yet another brutal drug eroding my health. At the time of my specialist consultations their advice sounds reassuring and easy then when I get home, doubt creeps in. I am not so confident I will be one of the lucky ones and not experience awful side affects of this calcium drug. I want to get my hindsight right this time. So here I am practicing juggling and dropping balls in the hope that It becomes my skilful art.
