I had breast cancer 13 years ago in my left breast (DCIS) and I had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy plus Tamoxifen. Then in October 2024 I discovered a lump in my right breast and it was confirmed as Invasive cancer and I had a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy. There was quite a wait for results due to the festive break and in January I was given the news that the lymph node was clear (which was a relief) bur mart the bad news was that they hadn't achieved 'clear margins' and I needed another op to take away more tissue. Again quite a wait for results and again there were no 'clear margins' so options are to have a further a further excision but with no guarantees of clear margins (so not an option really) but recommended a mastectomy. Options for mastectomy are 'go flat' or mastectomy with immediate silicone implant for reconstruction. I wasn't expecting this news so I felt like I had been hit by a truck! I couldn't make an instant decision so I asked them to provide me with literature and leaflets and websites I could read and research in order to make an informed choice. I am now 69 years old due to be 70 this year and want to make the right choice for me. I became very emotional after reading the literature and watching some very brave women in videos baring the results of their ops. I couldn't sleep for thinking about it - I was not in a good place so took a few weeks to think things over. My immediate reaction was to try and preserve my body shape as I was concerned I would feel less of a women if I was left flat even though I could have a prosthesis. I then approached the decision by weighing up the risks and was advised that 35% of cases reject the silicone implant requiring further ops, infection is not uncommon and cannot be cured with antibiotics and often reconstruction using silicone implant can involve several ops down the line, I started Letrozole last week and have been told that as I will have a mastectomy I will not need chemotherapy (which was a relief) but tomorrow I have an appointment with the surgeon and need to have my decision made whether I go flat or reconstruct. Is anyone on this forum who has had a flat or reconstructed mastectomy able to give me their perspective on how they feel mentally about themselves and whether it has affected aspects of their life - my immediate thoughts were I might feel less feminine and about clothing and swimming and wearing summer t shirts etc. The positive of going flat seemed to be less risk of further ops re the silicone implant and perhaps less risk of infection. Any advice out there is welcome.
Hi Labradorlady this much be such a difficult, and emotional, decision. I realise you have read a lot of this, but I just wanted to let you know that the wonderful folks here at Macmillan are at the end of the phone if you want to chat anything through. The number is 0800 808 0000. Best wishes
