Hello everyone,
I'm new to the forums here but received my positive BRCA1 result last year aged 29. I've always known I wanted to go down the preventative surgery route, my mum died at 41 and it was horrific and I swore I'd do anything within my power to prevent that happening to me. When I got the phone call I had maybe a day of feeling very angry and hard done by, but after that passed, I just had to remind myself why I'd had the test done, and 90% of the time I feel confident in my decisions.
I'm waiting on my referrals still of course, including to the PROTECTOR study, and feel a bit in limbo. Different fears and insecurities pop up in a cycle. Currently it's "I've never had any sort of medical procedure before, how am I going to manage actual operations?"
Was this the case for anyone else? I'm not exactly phobic about hospitals but nor am I looking forward to going under the knife, either. I suppose I'd just like some real stories about how the whole thing went, how you felt (physically) afterwards, etc, if anyone is willing to share?
Hi, I’m so glad it was a bit useful, sorry I’ve only just seen your reply now. I really hope your meetings have gone well. Im 7 weeks post surgery now and although it was harder than I thought (I couldn’t smash through it like chemo I had to really listen to my body - well my legs where the flaps were taken) im really pleased with my choice and how I look now. I need the flaps removing in the summer (on radiotherapy now and have to wait 6 months) but cosmetically I feel confident. My boobs 100% don’t feel like my own yet which doesn’t impact my sleep but they’re getting better weekly, I think they say 6 months don’t they?
Good luck with it all! 
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