Bilateral Mammoplasty

Hi, it's a difficult time for sure. Difficult decisions to make 

I was offered that surgery & opted for it....... Unfortunately the margins around the tumour removed weren't clear & the surgeon found a nodule during the surgery which turned out to be another cancerous tumour which hadn't been found on the scans.

I was recommended a mastectomy & had that 8 weeks after the first surgery. The nodule turned out to be another 2cm tumour. 

I have heard other women end up in this position, so worth bearing in mind, but I'm glad I tried to keep my own breast. Although I ended up with a mastectomy & reconstruction

Not sure if this info helps 

Best wishes x 

Hi, firstly sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  You are right,  one minute your life is running normally and then Wham. You have to make big decisions in sometimes a short space of time.

I've been through a similar situation. It started with a routine mammogram,  my first. I got called back for further tests. After a biopsy they told me I had DCIS in my right breast.  I was offered  the breast conserving surgery and symmetrical surgery on my left breast. I took this option but unfortunately,  the surgeon didn't have enough margin. This was disappointing because the first surgery had gone so well and I was healing really well too. So in January after my pathology results came back he informed me my only option was to have a mastectomy.  This was such a blow and knocked me for six. I was confused and really very upset . It was alot to take in.  He then suggested a mastectomy with reconstruction. This ment taking abdominal fat from my tummy and reconstructing a new breast. After much deliberation I opted for the reconstruction.  I'm now 8 weeks post surgery and healing well . I've been put on Tamoxifen for the next five years. This is my journey.  There are positive days and some days of confusion still. I'm keeping a positive outlook because that's what helps me. I do see light at the end. 

I wish you all the very best in your journey.  Speak to your BCN and Macmillan telephone support. This is what helped me when it was all too much and confusing. I hope this helps in a little way. Sending you a virtual hug and all the best for the future.

Hi, I had 6cms removed during 1st surgery and there was DCIS in the margins so I had another 1cm removed.    My surgeon recommended reconstruction after the surgery.  My right breast was always bigger than my left one so now my left is bigger than my right!  I don’t think I will bother with reconstruction.  Somehow it doesn’t affect how my bra fits.  

Hi. Yes difficult decisions to make in a xhort space of time and no-one can predict what will happen.

I have to say I am concerned that I opt for the bilateral surgery and then I don't have clear margins so have to have a further op like you.

Thank you - it does help. I hope you have recovered well. x

Hi. For me it is my smaller breast that has the DCIS.

So do you wear a bra that fits your healthy breast and you don't need a prosthesis?

Hope all is well now.

Thank you and yes you are so right. A big decision on my body in a short space of time. What if I make the wrong decision? I guess at the moment there isn't a right or wrong choice because I don't know whether my margins will be clear or not.

Thank you for all you said in your final paragraph (I hadn't thought of ringing Macmillan) and am glad to hear you have a light at the end of this tunnel.

Take care.

Sounds daft but I am wearing the same size of bra as I did before the surgery and it still seems to fit both breasts.  

The MacMillan nurse explained the second surgery as another step in the journey.  Just take a step at a time 

That is very good advice. Thank you. 

That doesn't sound daft at all.  In fact that sounds like good news for you!