When I knew I was going to have to have a mastectomy I did attempt to find a surgeon with a good aesthetic record.
This wasn't me being vain by the way, I was told by my GP, the breast consultant, the BCNs, the regular plastics surgeon locally and the radiologist that I shouldn't worry about the horrific mastectomy scars inflicted on our grandmothers generation, things are very different nowadays, plastics and aesthetics and surgical techniques are very advanced now, there were many options.
I began researching.
It was really hard. There was such a lot of horror inspiring images. I'm actually not going to post the full response I was going to because it will frighten the life out of people.
However now I have a reasonable reconstruction I'm tempted to show what is possible and allow women to be a bit more proactive in their treatment options, once the cancer is treated and they are left to get on with their lives.
There are a lot of surgeons out there, some very, very good ones, up and down the country, and every single woman should have access to them.
Let's take an analogy of a wedding dress, I want to have a wedding dress made for me. I go to several meetings with wedding dress makers, I look at their designs and testimonials from previous work I then select the dress maker who I believe will make the best dress for me. I will then go to several measuring and fitting sessions before the dress is made. Once it's made I will go back for any small tweaks necessary. The dressmaker will at all times be committed to making sure I'm completely delighted with my dress.
Hands up anyone who had that level of service from their surgeon ?
If you did let's start listing our favourites, with region and specialism, if we can make one thing easier for people going through diagnosis it will be worth it. This is the sort of thing Macmillan should fund.
Carolyn
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