I had a PET Scan last week, got the results today....

2Floridiansisters
2Floridiansisters Member Posts: 384 Member
in Breast Cancer #1

and everything else inside of me is clear of any cancer. I have a spot on my right breast, same as 5 years ago, same breast, nothing in the left one. So I am meeting up with a surgeon on the 15th to discuss whatever options I have. The oncologist did advice me they have to come off whether I want them to or not. I'm just terrified of the surgery. It scares me to death. I can't make up my mind whether I want any kind of reconstruction or not. I'll take whatever advice you ladies have. Regrets one way or another......whould you do anything differently if you could? Thank God for Zanax. I feel I'm going nuts with fear. 

Comments

  • twnkltoz
    twnkltoz Member Posts: 169 Member
    #2
    What a relief not to have it

    What a relief not to have it anywhere else! Sorry you have to deal with this, though, and sending you strength to get through it.

  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 Member Posts: 531 Member
    #3
    no reconstruction experience

    I had a lumpectomy, so can't advise on reconstruction. But, "going nuts with fear" doesn't give you the clear thinking you need for sorting through your options. Is there a counselor at your center you can work with to help you? Start making your list of questions for the surgeon, as you get responses from other ladies with experience, make a written list of pros and cons, it helps to sort through options if they're actually written down and not just running wildly around in your head. When you do see the surgeon, ask if you can record the appointment on your phone, it really helps to listen to it again after you go home. My doctors were fine with me recording on my iPod.

    also, check out the web site breastcancer.org as a resource, my Dr recommended that one too.

  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    #4
    Puffin2014 said:

    no reconstruction experience

    I had a lumpectomy, so can't advise on reconstruction. But, "going nuts with fear" doesn't give you the clear thinking you need for sorting through your options. Is there a counselor at your center you can work with to help you? Start making your list of questions for the surgeon, as you get responses from other ladies with experience, make a written list of pros and cons, it helps to sort through options if they're actually written down and not just running wildly around in your head. When you do see the surgeon, ask if you can record the appointment on your phone, it really helps to listen to it again after you go home. My doctors were fine with me recording on my iPod.

    also, check out the web site breastcancer.org as a resource, my Dr recommended that one too.

    Yay!

    What a relief, a clear PET.

    As for the plan, I know nothing about reconstruction, but I'm sending good thoughts and positive energy your way. Do your research and make a decision that feels right for you.

    xoxo

    Victoria

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #5
    aisling8 said:

    Yay!

    What a relief, a clear PET.

    As for the plan, I know nothing about reconstruction, but I'm sending good thoughts and positive energy your way. Do your research and make a decision that feels right for you.

    xoxo

    Victoria

    lateral or bilateral mastectomy???  I had chemo therapy, bilateral mastectomy then reconstruction ... Happy with all my decisions - difficult to do all 3 consecutively- as I crawled to the finish line -- many years of chemo side efforts that have lingered, no hair no energy a staph injection- but I did IT!!

    my humble advise ... See what your doctors have to say, have a consult with a respected Plastic Surgeon and gather information before making any decision///. Will you be overwhelmed, probably - but you have to be the best health ADVOCATE  for yourself ...

    Make the best possible decision for yourself - once you made that decision. - the rest will fall into place ..

     

    many breast cancer women have had reconstructive, and many have NOT .. It is a personal decision - there are emotions involved in any decision ..  

    Strength, Courage and HOPE for a cure .

    Vicki Sam

  • button2
    button2 Member Posts: 421
    #6
    You got some excellent advice from the others

    So I'll just add that I decided against reconstruction for very many reasons. What I did was to make a pro/cons list of getting additional surgery and that is how I came to my decision. There were about 10 reasons I didn't want reconstruction and only one reason why I did (appearance). If I were younger or single, I think I would have felt differently. My reasons were not wanting more surgery, not wanting a foreign body in my chest, not wanting to stress my overall health as I tried to recover, not wanting silicone that could hide future recurrences in my chest wall, not wanting to get surgery on my good side just to make it match the new breast, the fact that silicone doesn't last forever, the problem of me living 6 hours from the medical center where I get treatment and you have to get saline injections about every two weeks to expand your chest and my good side is D cup. You may have very different reasons though to want surgery and the results these days are truly amazing. Talk to your loved ones and doctors and weigh the pros and cons! You will win both ways because the best news is that clear PET scan!! We are here for you whatever you decide.....Good luck, Anna

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #7
    congratulations on the clear pet scan.

    I had reconstruction.  Expanders then  fills and saline implants.  The only suggestion I have is do a  pro/con list.  

     Only regret was I have saline and they ruffle when I lay down or am on my side, not always comfortable. Friends who have had then, with or without  bc, the ones with silicone  are much happier with the natural feel.  

    Good luck on whatever you decide and again congrats on the clean pet!!  

     

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #8
    Thinking of you
     
    Denise

    Thinking of you

     

    Denise

  • sweetvickid
    sweetvickid Member Posts: 459 Member
    #9
    No right or wrong answer

    It is a personal decision.  For me I didn't want something foreign in my body that needed to be changed out every 10 years.  The flap thing to me was horrendous.  But Iknew I could handle being flat chested so I had them both whacked off.  It is 5 years late and I made the right decision for me.  Don't wear the foobs, bra-less is a wonderful thing!.  For a friend of mine she went thru the flap procedure and she saidd it was rough but she is happy that she still looks the same in her clothes.

Discussion Boards