Bilateral breast cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy

Hi

a warm welcome to the online community, though sorry you find yourself amongst us. I see you've also posted in the main Breast cancer group and had some replies there, but I didn't want your post to go unanswered here. As you have no doubt guessed, the main group is a fair bit busier than this one although this group is active. A lot of us post in both so feel free to join in wherever you feel comfortable.

I didn't have a bilateral mastectomy though I considered it for symmetry reasons. My mastectomy was in 2016 and I haven't had reconstruction. I'll be honest with you - some days my flat, scarred side is a reminder in a good way, some days it's a reminder I don't want. Some days I don't have an opinion at all. Often, I don't love my new body but that is a symmetry issue - I think I'd be happier with both flat than just one, but that's me and we are all different. The main thing is that you are having the surgery for a reason and I think that emotionally we all remember that and kind of get on with it once it's done. I don't mean that to sound frivolous or patronising, but to reassure you that there is every chance you will accept it and come to terms with it, because it was a price you were willing to pay.

R

Hi Catherine73, 

Hi Catherine73, 

I had bilateral breast cancer and had a bilateral mastectomy.  I am not sure how old you are, but I was 46 when I had my operation.  I was worried about how I would feel about my body but honestly, it has made much less difference than I would have thought.  Now, 2 years on, i don't think about it much at all. I'm actually quite a vain person by nature so I was really surprised that it made so little difference.  You learn to adapt quite quickly.  Good luck with everything, and take care, 

Sukki 17