Single v bilateral mastectomy

Hi I'm also new to the site and really scared to I hope your mastectomy  goes really well are you have reconstruction at same time or are you waiting till after treatment I to am having mastectomy  on the 16th Oct but I'm still unsure which way to go with reconstruction yet such a tough desission  i wish you luck on your surgery and alway prey to god you stay strong and save and well 

Sending my love 

Patsy xxxx

Hi Patsy thanks so much for your reply, I'm having immediate reconstruction, it was so hard to decide because your in a really stressful situation& having to try think logically about difficult choices, I remember one morning having a total meltdown and cried all the way walking my 8 yr old to school bus then cried all way home then felt so guilty about how my daughter must have been feeling! Anyway im having a silicone implant cos I don't have enough flesh anywhere else, I joined slimming world last year, for the first time in my life I've been too slim for something! Good luck with your decision making, just remember there is no right or wrong, and good luck with your surgery xx

Hi R buzz:  Right after my initial diagnosis was the hardest time.  I didn't know anything and my thoughts ran in a million directions.  I decided that if I needed a mastectomy that I wanted both done and had my first visit with my surgeon with that in mind.  He unequivocally refused to do both at the same time.  He would do the 2nd one at a later date after healing, but not both at once and I wasn't prepared to do two surgeries.   I I know some people get both done at the same time, but he removed that option from me.  So that left me with the WLE option and I'm very, very glad I had it done that way.  I didn't need chemo, my RT is done and I'm on a break till my next mammogram. 

You're absolutely right.  Decision making is hard, and second guessing makes it even more difficult.  Talk to your Dr. and see what he/she says and their take on it.  Ultimately the decision is up to you.  I hope you get more concrete answers from some of the ladies who have had single and double mastectomies, but I wanted you to know we're here and also wanted to send you a gentle hug.  Mira 

Aww bless you great news that  you have decided on your reconstruction i feel like im on a roller coaster and can't get off the amount of mistakes with appointment  so with all the mix ups and further test was a massive shock to to be only Monday to come in yesterday to discuss  breast reconstruction I have even got latest results officially  from consultant yet my meetings 2morrow at 9am so at least it's 1st thing  nervous as to what's the right thing for my yet  but I'm sure we will fight this horrendous  disease  we must stay strong and believe  you must of been going of your mind I know I thought I was  my 3 girls are more growing up so have been great surport as is my husband  but I look at my beautiful granddaughter and I cry  so I can't even contemplate  how you are feeling  I wish you well and  let's beat this 2gether xxxx

Hi Mira thanks for your message and story, I'm waiting to see my consultant to ask some questions before deciding, I kind  of hope he makes the decision for me it will be easier! I'm pleased you've had your treatment done, can I ask do you feel calmer about it all now? Thank you for the hug it means a lot and back to you as well. 

Rachael x

Hi Rachael:  Yes I feel much, much calmer now.  Of course I'm pretty much over the hump at this point too.  The worst thing for me was an inability to plan anything and waiting for the phone to ring to tell me when my next appointment was going to be.  Surgery itself was a bit scary before hand, but really not so bad.  Of course it helps that I absolutely loved my surgeon.  I saw him once a week post and pre-surgery and he called me in between visits to check on me.  You don't see that too much anymore!  Radiation was much larger in my mind that the actuality.  I had the nicest team and even while waiting in the lobby before treatment I was thoroughly entertained by all the variety of people making the journey for their own battles.  The little ones getting radiation broke my heart.  So tiny and fragile.  But they were troopers!  The day I rang my bell seeing their little faces beaming and hearing them applaud me nearly had me in tears.  

Of course making decisions was hard too, but a lot of that was taken out of my hands and I was very glad for it.  I'm thinking of you as you go for your appointment today.  I'm off to a cancer rehab appointment.  I think they're going to measure me and see if there's any improvement in the lymphedema.  It's very small, so again I'm grateful!  Another hug for you sweet girl!  Mira

Hi R buzz

Welcome to the online community! About 18 months or so ago, I joined with a thread very similar to yours!

Have a chat with your surgeon about your fears. Unless you are BRCA gene positive, they don't normally like to remove the other breast. Some surgeons will approve it - some will want a psychological assessment first. The reason is that there is only a slightly increased risk of breast cancer in the other breast so they see it as removing healthy tissue for no reason. However, you are you and it is your body and some women do choose this route. My surgeon eventually approved my request but I decided against it in the end. His main argument was that with no breast, there is no screening and he thought it safer to have my yearly mammograms. I'm not sure I buy his argument but I can see the logic in it. He has agreed that he will remove the other breast for me if I request it at a later date - it feels reassuring to have that option.

It is awful having to make these huge decisions when we are at our most scared and vulnerable but no decision has to be final - women have implants removed, changed, have reconstruction years after mastectomy. 

You could call your BCN and ask to have a chat about it - if she or he thinks you need to see the surgeon, they can arrange that for you.

Hope your op goes well

R

It sounds like you're having a stessful time! I hope you reach your decision about treatment/reconstruction because i think you will feel more calm when you don't have all the inn indecision and stress going through your head. But your right we will beat this and get through the other side.  Take care and thanks for your messages x

Hi R thanks so much for your reply, it really helps knowing other people have agonized over the same things cos at times I just thought I was going loopy! Like you say making big decisions when you feel vulnerable and scared already is really difficult.  Last week I felt so scared about the cancer and the future I was so sure I wanted both breasts removed, I couldn't even think there would be any other choice, now this week I couldn't think of anything so scary as removing a healthy breast! Because of my indecision I think I will opt for single, treat the known cancer I have and deal with my hang ups about the other one at a later date.  Thanks again so much for your advice. 

Hi Ladies