Hello all,
I am new to the site, though not new to the DCIS journey. I am 63 and have just been diagnosed with a recurrence of DCIS, only small at 10mm, but as 8 years ago I had 2 lumpectomies and radiotherapy and I have ‘complicated breasts’ full of benign tumours which makes identifying the nasties difficult I am told mastectomy would be standard practice. Which feels like a sledgehammer to crack a nut but hey ho, I do want to live! My previous radiotherapy also means immediate reconstruction is out of the question and I cannot face the thought of more surgery and hospital down the line.
So for a number of reasons I feel I would like to have surgery all in one go so I can just recover, get my strength back, and get on with life – not least because my partner has just been diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer and is likely facing complex surgery and a painful convalescence and I hope to be able to support him. (He got his bad news call from his consultant as we were sitting waiting for my appt with the consultant to discuss my options}.
I am looking at going flat but am experiencing a level of horror about being lop sided – I have a small frame and wear at DD cup, and I cannot imagine ever feeling comfortable with the lack of symmetry, or imagine wearing a prosthesis on one side. So I am considering double mastectomy hopefully at the same time to get everything over and done with. I would so love not to have any more worries about mammograms, DCIS etc and be free of this disease. I also I feel I would adjust to being flat if I was balanced on both sides.
However my consultant has warned me that double mastectomy has issues of its own, apart from the obvious extra risks of extra surgery, and some people who have taken this path have regrets. She mentioned that if ever wanting to wear a bra it will ride up and be difficult, amongst other things. She suggested I could consider a reduction on the other side instead.
I would be so very grateful for any thoughts, advice, feelings, experiences, tips from anyone who has been through these decisions, single, double, or single with reduction, and feels they could share.
Thanks, and best wishes to everyone on their journey.
