Before mastectomy

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sinai
sinai Member Posts: 24
in Breast Cancer #1
Did any of you have the curiosity to look at youtube for an actual mastectomy video or any video before you had your own mastectomy? I'm thinking about doing it but I'm also afraid. Would you recommend it or not?

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  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #2
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    Watching a Mastectomy video
    I did not watch any mastectomy videos before my surgery but I did look at still photos of women before and after. I wanted to be prepared for what I would look like. I read a lot of medical literature about the surgical procedure so I understood what was being done. It was not until some months after the mastectomy that I watched any actual surgery footage. It is not for the faint of heart. I kept picturing myself on that table and I think I could have done without that. In June I had my reconstruction surgery - a breast reduction and replacement of tissue expander with implant - and I watched every video of those procedures I could find before the surgery. Somehow that did not bother me as much maybe because I felt that I was doing something positive and something I WANTED to do rather than something I had to do and really had no choice in. There are lots of photos and videos of all the breast procedures out there. Good luck.

    IRENE
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #3
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    jessiesmom1 said:

    Watching a Mastectomy video
    I did not watch any mastectomy videos before my surgery but I did look at still photos of women before and after. I wanted to be prepared for what I would look like. I read a lot of medical literature about the surgical procedure so I understood what was being done. It was not until some months after the mastectomy that I watched any actual surgery footage. It is not for the faint of heart. I kept picturing myself on that table and I think I could have done without that. In June I had my reconstruction surgery - a breast reduction and replacement of tissue expander with implant - and I watched every video of those procedures I could find before the surgery. Somehow that did not bother me as much maybe because I felt that I was doing something positive and something I WANTED to do rather than something I had to do and really had no choice in. There are lots of photos and videos of all the breast procedures out there. Good luck.

    IRENE

    I didn't before but I did
    I didn't before but I did look at them after. I wasn't so sure I could stomach watching them but it really wasn't so bad. I do have a better understanding now of what my doctor tried to do. I guess each individual is different and if you handle watching a scalpel going through skin then I think you will do fine.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie
  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    #4
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    Not me
    I had no desire to see what it would be like, I didn't even look at pix on line of women after mastectomy. I am such a wimp that it freaked me out to think of what happened to my breast after surgery...just one of those things that bothered me.

    I know, I can be silly sometimes. I think you should do whatever makes you feel better,

    Jennifer
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #5
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    I did
    Hi :)
    I looked at videos and pictures in the weeks before my double mastectomy. And I read everything i could get my hands on about it. For me, the more knowledge I had about it, the more empowered I felt and the less scary it all seemed. I made peace with my body the night before my surgery in my bedroom mirror, and did not shed one tear. It wasn't so much of a shock to me when my bandages were removed. But, the videos are graphic, and I wouldn't recommend that if you have a queasy stomach. For me, though, it really helped.
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #6
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    Heatherbelle said:

    I did
    Hi :)
    I looked at videos and pictures in the weeks before my double mastectomy. And I read everything i could get my hands on about it. For me, the more knowledge I had about it, the more empowered I felt and the less scary it all seemed. I made peace with my body the night before my surgery in my bedroom mirror, and did not shed one tear. It wasn't so much of a shock to me when my bandages were removed. But, the videos are graphic, and I wouldn't recommend that if you have a queasy stomach. For me, though, it really helped.
    *hugs*
    Heather

    but wasn't sure I could handle the video. Still haven't but might think about it.
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #7
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    skipper54 said:

    but wasn't sure I could handle the video. Still haven't but might think about it.

    you know yourself better than anybody else
    Youtube video was not available 3&1/2 years ago. I am not sure today I could handle it. I did not have too much time we moved with decisions very fast, so I trusted my doctors and wanted everything to be over.
    You are the only one who can predict weather or not you would benefit from video.
    Good luck with your surgery
    New Flower
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #8
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    I didn't watch any videos,
    I didn't watch any videos, but I did look at sites that had mastectomies with no reconstruction. I am glad and not so glad I did. What I think now that I had mine last January is that although it is nice to see what other women looked like, they don't look like me.I think I found more pictures after I had the mastectomy of pre, just after, and stages after the mastectomies, but I only looked for ones with no reconstruction. I wish you the best in figuring out what to do as far as looking it up...
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #9
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    I had lumpectomy pictues..I
    I had lumpectomy pictues..I THINK that made me worse! I was looking online soon as I opened picture I CLOSED OUT...right away...

    some it may help but for me-NO!

    Denise
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #10
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    New Flower said:

    you know yourself better than anybody else
    Youtube video was not available 3&1/2 years ago. I am not sure today I could handle it. I did not have too much time we moved with decisions very fast, so I trusted my doctors and wanted everything to be over.
    You are the only one who can predict weather or not you would benefit from video.
    Good luck with your surgery
    New Flower

    @new flower: I agree 110%

    @new flower: I agree 110%
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #11
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    I do mammos for a living, I
    I do mammos for a living, I have seen all kinds of results from breast surgeries. Every thing from biopsies, lumpectomies, radiation, implants, mastectomies. I never watched the surgery on you-tube though. I didn't even think about it.
    You may want to get some idea of what to expect. Especially if you have a choice of surgeons.

    Cindy

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