Double Mastectomy

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  • wallis2
    wallis2 Member Posts: 56 Member
    #22
    ts72 said:

    Double

    Hi wallis2,

    Thank you for sharing your experience and tips. My surgery is tomorrow and am scared! How long ago did you have your surgery that you still have this tightness and did you have reconstruction done? Hope that you find something that can help.

    Again, thank you!

    Hang In There

    I opt of having reconstruction.  The doctor left the door open just in case I change my mind.  I had so much extra skin the doctor tucked some under my arm and I have a little flab on both sides but I got use to it, not that much flab.  The tightness isn't so bad now that I do exercise, but over all I am good.  I asked the doctor about it and they said exercise is good.  

  • chrissie59
    chrissie59 Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2020 #23
    Madalina said:

    I was in your shoes 3 years ago...

    Hi Chrissie,

    I was in the same boat 3 years ago. Stage zero DCIS in my right breast. They did a lumpectomy, but I was told there are 15 % chances of reoccurrance if I do not have surgery (or radiation). I opted for a double mastectomy (my left breast was healthy), but it was a matter of aesthetic, and I will never regret it. One of my friends had unilateral mastectomy, and her breasts look very different. I had immediate reconstruction (but it was not fully done). The silver lining for me was to have bigger breasts, so I opted for a small augumentation. I was told that immediately after the mastectomy, the plastic surgeon would start the reconstruction, but instead of silicons, he would implant expanders, to stratch my skin and muscles. The same happens when you go from biggers, to smaller, apparently). So it took me an additional surgery to finish the reconstruction (I had to wait for 3 months with the expanders). I am happy with the end result, overall, and again...I am glad I did them both, for symmetry reasons, and also, as I did not have to do stress about any abnormal activity in my healthy breast. Wishing you the best when you make your decision...this was the hardest part for me. 

    i changed my mind and am

    i changed my mind and am requesting the double mastectomy since i won't be able to feel anything anyway, they might as well look good.  my surgery is on thursday and i am sobbing and scared and up all night.  it will be a year of procedures to get results.  i keep trying to tell myself how lucky i am that it was caught so early, but even though i will keep my life my breasts will be gone and forever scarred.  i wish i was strong enough to not get reconstruction but i had no idea i would feel so strongly about losing my boobs.  i can't bear to undress and see those scars and no  boobs 

  • anniemshe
    anniemshe Member Posts: 91 Member
    edited July 2020 #24
    Stay Strong

    You have a right to make the BEST decision for yourself. There's no shame in that. It's not easy to lose any part of your body!! You be positiv, think good thought!! All the best 

  • Sabine28
    Sabine28 Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2020 #25
    Trailrunner said:

    Mastectomy

    Hi!  I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction in November 2017.  I am happy to share my experience and any tips or suggestions.  Do you have specific questions?

     

    Chris

    Hello

    Hello

    I'm glad your surgurey went well!

    I was tested BRAC 1 positive and as a precaution I'll have (or at least I'm advised) to have my breast removed and get a prothesis instead.

    I already has a mastectomy back in 2015 after I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and I'm worried about getting that breast reconstructed because sometimes I read about surgeries that had failed and it's scary.

    I would really appreciate any tips or any information coming from someone who went through the process.

    Thanks a lot

  • maremay
    maremay Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2020 #26
    double mas.

    i will be having a double.its much better to get both done at once.my surgion and his partner will be doing one each at the same time so i am not under for that long.

     

  • Sheila Mc
    Sheila Mc Member Posts: 20
    #27
    Sabine28 said:

    Hello

    Hello

    I'm glad your surgurey went well!

    I was tested BRAC 1 positive and as a precaution I'll have (or at least I'm advised) to have my breast removed and get a prothesis instead.

    I already has a mastectomy back in 2015 after I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and I'm worried about getting that breast reconstructed because sometimes I read about surgeries that had failed and it's scary.

    I would really appreciate any tips or any information coming from someone who went through the process.

    Thanks a lot

    I had a Tram Flap in 1999 that failed, my next procedure, an expander and implant was fine. Several years after the failed Tram Flap I went to see the plastic surgeon for a follow up and he stated that he had performed almost 100 since mine and they were all successful. My failure was blamed on poor circulation, but that was 21 years ago and the procedure was fairly new. I think a failure is rare now. i have met several women that had the Tran Flap and love it. 

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