Help - bilateral mastectomy or ?

Hi
Hi aggiemom and welcome. So sorry for the reason that you are here. I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation treatments, so, I can't offer anything inre to reconstruction or a mastectomy. But, many on here can and will. This is such a personal decision and choice. Do what is right for you and what you can live with. Good luck!

♥ Kylez ♥

aggiemom51 said:

thank you for responding. I
thank you for responding. I understand about it being a personal decision and choice..but question my original plan of action. I hope to hear from more women that possibly have been in this situation. I wish you the best in your recovery.

aggie,
I lost my right breast in 1986 and the left one in 1988. I had no choice either time. So, for about a year and a half I was 'one sided'. Of course, I did not know during that time that I would eventually be 'breastless' and so just accepted it. (I chose not to have recon). It was doable.
However, I found after loosing the second breast (still no recon) that it was easier to dress and look and feel more normal. I was married at the time, and like you, I was self-conscious at first about how I looked in night clothes and such, even in front of my husband. (I later figured out that a lot of my feelings were tied to his attitude about the situation.) However, after awhile I regained my perspective about my body image (not loving it, but not hating it either), and eventually it became a non-issue.
I guess the point of all this is to say, do first of all whatever gives you the best chance of a cancer-free future. You will adjust to each phase as it comes and find that your life is worth so much more than how you look.
There is life after cancer, and it is GOOD.
God bless.

Hi aggiemom
I am 52 year old diagnosed with stage 3 invasive breast cancer on the right. My cancer was in the sentinel node only with 21 lymphnodes clear. My left breast had a suspicious area on the mri but I have fibrocystic breast disease so was very definitely going to have bilateral mastectomy with expanders. It turned out that the left side was ok after all. I am her2positive, negative with everything else.

I ended up having surgery on May 13 and 1 month later developed a wound on the right side which was going to delay my chemo as well. My oncologist told me that the optimum time to start chemo is about 6 wks after surgery but could go as long as 12 wks. I ended up having the expander removed on the right side, the plastic surgeon debrided the wound, placed a drain in and closed it and it has remained closed. I started chemo I think on week 7 and so far so good, as good as you can be on chemo.

The difference between me and you and the triple negative issue. Ask your oncologist what the safe range is to start chemo. Without complications I would have started on week 4. Also, maybe Im wrong but I thought if you had mastectomies you would not need radiation...but I dont know for sure about that.

AS far as looking at yourself with 1 breast, well I will say that body image issues are definitely there. My right breast after 2 surgeries looks like it was run over by a lawn mower (well maybe not quite that bad) and that coupled with no hair is a little scary...but you know what? I am here...my life goes on both the good and bad...I can still work, watch football, take the dog for a walk and love my family and that trumps everything else.

Your decision is definitely your own...if it were me, I would do whatever will be the easiest on you as far as recovery goes. If after mastectomy you are ready to go in 2 wks for chemo and that is what oncology thinks is best for you in the long run, then reconstruction can be done anytime down the road. Mine will have to wait at least until sometime after the first of the year.

Post often and let us know how you are doing... this site is the best...we really truly care about each other here..you will see that as you post..please dont go it alone cuz we are here for you

Hugs
Linda T from wisconsin (go packers)

lolad said:

Welcome
to the site and be glad that you found us here. You will find out there are wonderful people who are so supportive. The journey through all of this is very hard. I had a double mastectomy with tissue expanders placed in at the same time. I am doing chemo right now as well. I go every two weeks or so and have the expanders filled with saline and eventually will have another surgery to do the permanent implants. Im not sure why you surgeon wants you to wait on the other breast, but there must be a reason. It is very emotional to lose the breast. I had a hard time and for a while would think of myself as some kind of alien or something because i felt so ugly without my breast there. I just started thinking that they will someday be back there and hey, they will be nice and perky now too! You are not alone in feeling the way you do. Like your surgeon said, you can always go back and finish the job later after you have your chemo and stuff. Keep coming here to the board and share your feelings and news on your progress. You will find out that it helps so much to know that there are others just like you and they know what you are going through. Take care of yourself and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

laura

Hi and welcome. I didn't
Hi and welcome. I didn't have a mastectomy, I had a lumpectomy, but, wanted to welcome you here.

Hugs, Diane

Help - bilateral mastectomy or ?
Thank you Pink sisters for sharing .. this have given me some food for thought .. as I go in tomorrow for my 2nd opinion results.

I have opted for double mac'tmy .. asked for the flap technique, I was told no, as here in California .. Plastic surgeron's have a hard time getting that techique qualified thru insurance companies. Damn, there goes my idea for stomach bump reduction.

I truly appreicate you all and comments.

VickiSam

Tyari said:

New to boards and maybe some insight
Hello! I'm a 34 yr old stay at home mom to a 2 yr old little girl. On June 6th 2009 I got diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma in my left breast. I opted for a bilateral because of family history. I had surgery on July 21, 2009, I also got expanders put in the same day.

The cancer was in 3 of the 4 sentinel nodes they removed so they took out a cluster of 13 more and they were clean. I get my port for chemo tomorrow Aug, 25. Then on friday I go for a fill to my expanders and my teaching for chemo.

My plastic surgeon and I have discussed this and we are just going to take the fills slow and not do any reconstruction until my radiation treatments are over.

You get used to the way you look without breasts, it takes time but you do. I do not wear any prostetics at home or out. Yes my clothes look kinda funny hehe! But I figure if people want to look, well go ahead.

So if you get the bilateral and expanders just take it slow. Your doctors will work it out with you. Just don't let them talk you into what they think is right for you, only you will know that. And with the bilateral you only have to go through that recovery once. And you'll be really surprised at how quick you get moving again.

And sorry for the rambling and misspells

Another bilateral
Tyari,

What a cute little girl!

Good luck getting your port today. I hope all goes well - you sound like you have adjusted (mentally) to your changes. I'm going in for my bilateral tommorow morning and except for a few panic attacks (and some bad dreams at night) I am all set for "the change" to take place.

I wouldn't wish bc on anyone and am thankful that I found this website to help get me through everything I'm feeling.