Benign condition/mastectomy
Benign condition/mastectomy Had an operation to remove a papilloma but now require further surgery and:
There are two options…
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Cut more of the booby away so it will be very much smaller and then have radiotherapy or;
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Take the left breast away and have reconstructive surgery.
Niether is an option I like to think about. I am, as you can well imagine, in a state of absolute shock.
Lars wasn’t with me when I got the news as niether of us thought this was going to happen. I burst into tears and have been crying ever since, well…on and off.
One thing if I have the breast removed…I can’t get cancer in it can I
Boobies are so feminine and personal…
After a bit of advice really… what should I do? How much pain is there after both kinds of operation? Will I look Ok, not that I am vain.
Feel a bit lost in the wilderness on this one. Any advice gratefully recieved.
Hello Hello there,
I can understand and identify with your distress - I’m not out of the woods yet myself, regarding the possibility of mastectomy and like you, I am all over the place!
I’m not clear on why they are recommending you choose from these two options. Is your papilloma benign? (I thought they were, and you have put your post under ‘benign conditions’, but perhaps there is more to it? Why the radiotherapy? Is there a ‘do nothing’ option, or are you in severe pain, or is there some other problem?
Questions, questions … 
People on this site are wonderful and I’m sure someone else will be along in a bit with better advice. Also, I can strongly recommend the helpline nurses - they are absolutely fantastic and can provide tons of information and support for you.
Take care, and am thinking of you!
susie xx
I have been told that there are changes in the cells and therefore they want to take more away. The doc said that she wants to take a large chunk so there will not be much left so it may be worth going the whole way. I am 38 so maybe that has something to do with it, who knows.
Can’t tell about the pain because I only had the other operation 5 weeks ago so that hasn’t really healed…
We are going to see her again VERY soon to discuss the options so who knows what we will decide although to be honest I think I am more for going with having the breast off…
I thought that talking about this would make it easier but if I talk to someone face to face, the waterworks start, well, I am sure you know what I mean.
I am the sort of person whoo has to look at all the pros and cons before making a decision so I suppose that is what I am after here. And general info…well…anything really. Maybe it is all a dream and I shall wake up and everything will be back to normal.
Hi again,
I feel for you, I really do… DO try the nurses on the helpline in the morning - they are totally lovely and will be able to explain far more to you, and also just let you talk … and if the waterworks start, they will be fine with that too. I have been in pieces almost every time I’ve spoken to them!
My condition is different and I may well be of no use to you. But I have given serious consideration to mastectomy as this is all my hospital can now offer me. I can’t have lumpectomy as an option. But what I’m trying to say is, I know what you mean about the way you’re feeling.
It sounds like you need more information on your condition in order to make this very tough decision. There is some on this site, but I expect you’ve already read it!
It’s quite today as it’s Sunday, but hopefully others will be along in a bit. I’ll check back in later too.
susie xx
Mastectomy Hi Babyboo
I had a mastectomy just over 4 weeks ago and I was terrified I’d be in pain, but I found it was more uncomfortable than painful. You are given painkillers if you need them - no point in suffering if you don’t have to!
I hated my boobs, but it was a shock to see myself without one, plus there was a lot of bruising and some swelling and the scar looked very big. I had a nurse with me when I first looked - my choice. I’m getting used to how I look now. I’m having the other breast removed within the year, and I just feel that if it helps me stay healthy, then I’m willing to do it.
I have found that I can be just as feminine without my boob. I’m proud of myself for getting this far - I can certainly be a real woman with or without them!!
Best of luck with YOUR decision.
Jacki xx
I know how you feel Hi babyboo my name is michelle and i have justed decided to have a mascatomy as i have a typical ductal hyperplasia. I know it is not a easy desicion to make and you will cry alot the thought of getting cancer would scare the hell out of anyone. I feel i have made the right desicion for me you don’t need boobs to be femine they are just something that make you look better. I am very scared about the whole thing as i am only 23 and have 2 kids i feel like i am alone but i know i am not. You need to just try and think about what is best for you .good luck i hope i have been some help …
Thanks for your reply… I hope you too are ok. We will be ok…modern medicine is amazing but that doesn’t mean to say that we can’t get scared. I have had the most horrible dreams since I found out and am having trouble sleeping.
Right now I want it all to be over with. I want my life to continue instead of being in this gray area where everything is going slowly. I want to go back to being me…to stop being irritable, grouchy and a pain in the, well, you know where!
Hey ho… another day is here, that I am grateful for.
It is a tough decision Hello Babyboo,
Just thought I would reply to you, I had a bilateral mastectomy due to benign lumps all over my boobies. It was easier to get a mastectomy than get my small boobs (32C) chopped bit by bit to get rid of all the lumps on both of them. My nipples were discharging as well, and it was nerve racking.
I am at present trying to get the government to assist women with making the decision on risk reducing surgery for what ever reason, be it lumps or familial. I dont have familial breast cancer, but do have familial benign lumps. my older 2 sisters are on to their 4th lump each on their breasts, might be the same as me, but not sure. My mum had a lumpectomy benign over 30 years ago.
Unfortunately I had two failed reconstructions, now I am wearing two self adhesive prosthesis, and you know what I love them. I dont use my boobs for anything, so it doesnt matter whether they are permanent or stick on, I mean I still have my hands and feet, and my head, So I dont regret getting my mastectomy, and in fact I have bigger boobs now, and feel like Jordan or Pamela Anderson when I wear them (32DD), so it isnt half bad…
Although I got a further lump removed in December just past, not sure why it was there, but got it removed and tested it came back as a fibroidenoma, but was really painful when my prosthesis was on it… Not sure if I will have any more lumps, but keeping an eye on them.
I am also working with the Dept of Health on getting support for women who have had benign or familial mastectomy, as it has been limited for me, hence why I became a BCC Volunteer, and it has been good giving back to women what I didnt have, and that was someone to speak to that has been there …
So we are here if you need us and will help as best as we can.
take care
carol xx
What did you choose to do in the end?
I chose to have a preventative bilat mastectomy with immediate implant only recon after I had recurred pre-cancerous cells and multiple fibroadenomas removed. With a mastectomy, they can’t remove *all* the tissue so you are still left with a very small amount under the surface of the skin. This means you still have a tiny risk of recurrance but it’s a much smaller risk than if you still had breasts.
I had multiple lumpectomies and wide local excisions to try to remove the cells but they just kept coming back. I was only a 34a to begin with so they had pretty much run out of breast tissue by the time the 8th operation came round! I had my mast 7 months ago and I don’t regret it at all. Yes, boobs are very feminine but I have reconstructed breasts which look extremely convincing in clothing and even underwear! The surgeon used my original scars from the WLEs so they look the same from that perspective. Naked, they do look a bit different but my aim was always for them to look normal in clothes, which I have achieved. I was told I wasn’t a candidate for radiotherapy because I have very fine, very pale skin and they were worried I would get severe burns from it. I burn really easily in the summertime as well.
Unfortunately because of my unusual case history, I wasn’t able to get much support for my decision except for on one online support forum, which I am not allowed to link to. It frustrates me that there is still a grey area in terms of support for preventative mastectomies where pre-cancerous changes are involved and there is no genetic link.