I can totally relate and you should go with your instinct.
Nine years ago I had multifocal DCIS and had a mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction. I had no problems after surgery at all. I was advised by my consultant that a mastectomy was the best treatment option to proceed with, and it is what I wanted anyway, and would have requested this and would again if I had to make that decision.
You have got to be happy. It’s all about you💜
I wish you loads of luck.
@noon - Thank you for sharing what you experienced. Same diagnosis and yet such different treatments recommended… Great to hear how happy you were with your surgery and that it is all nine years behind you.
Yes, my friend, I can. Continue to advocate for yourself. But with the mastectomy comes the other issues I just want to tell you about. I am sure you are already aware, you seem to have your stuff together. Lymphedema can be quite miserable. The constant massaging, the tight garments, the constant visits to PT…and that is IF you can find someone who is certified in lymphatic massage. And some insurances won’t cover it. The iron bra. Mentally the physical change in your appearance will affect you. I am older, overweight. I was told any reconstruction would not look natural and I would not have a nipple. Then why do it? Then there is the iron bra. There is also the constant pulling, stretching, etc. to keep the scar tissue from adhering to your chest wall. Research modified citrus pectin by the way. I wish you all the best of luck. Just continue to fight a s advocate for YOU!!!
Thank you patsrn. I am so grateful to you and everyone else here for replying to me. I have now found a consultant who is supporting my right to make my own decisions and has offered me a few different options to consider for my surgery…Now onto my next dilemma…Immediate/delayed or no reconstruction…
Hi, my situation is slightly different to yours in that I had bilateral breast cancer invasive and high grade DCIS on one side and high grade DCIS in the other. I was advised lumpectomy and radiotherapy for the DCIS side, they did offer mastectomy for it but weren’t really supportive in my decision to have it but did eventually do the double mastectomy but they kept going on about ‘the healthy tissue’ they would be removing on that side (I had no choice but mastectomy on the invasive side). I’m glad I went for the double as the 7mm DCIS turned out to be 10cm so lumpectomy wouldn’t have been enough in the end, I’m relieved that as much tissue as possible has gone, and like you know it’s not zero risk but better chance with the mastectomy. Good luck xxx
@anon13 -I’m glad to hear that your surgery was successful in removing the cancer - Good for you to sticking to what felt best for you! Did I read that right? 7mm turned out to be 10cm!?!