I have a date for my operation 1 December 2010, I am lucky to have been offered this operation without asking and feel I should be really pleased.
But I have such a lot of doubt as to whether its worth going through an operation again and suffering more pain. My partner says I’m ok as I am. My left breast is a lot larger than my BC breast as it has shrunk due to Rads.
I would love to hear from anyone who has been through this operation and would welcome their thoughts and let me know how they felt afterwards.
When I had my lumpectomy and all my lymph glands out, I carn’t say I felt too much pain, is it worse than that. I don’t know why I’m so worried when I had cancer I didn’t even think about the operation just get rid of the cancer - I had inv. duct car. stage III and was lucky to have a lumpectomy - I feel such a baby. xxxxSarniexxx
My situation slightly different from yours because the surgery I had to remove the BC in July 2010 was done as a mastopexy due to the size of the tumour (3cm), which would have left my breast a bad shape. I was told from the outset that I could have the other side done later to match up. After surgery and rads I was left as an A or B cup on the treated side, compared with D on the non-BC side.
I found this asymmetry really upsetting and didn’t cope at all well with it. I was surprised how emotionally frail it made me feel, it knocked my confidence and I felt I couldn’t go back to work looking like that. Even though my friends told me it wasn’t noticeable to them, I was self-conscious about it. My OH was very supportive and made it plain that it didn’t bother him at all – he said it was my decision and he would support me whether I chose to have the 2nd op or not.
Of course I was worried about having another operation and wondered if it was just vanity that was driving me, but friends (and my GP) who knew me well all agreed I needed to have it done ASAP. I got my OH to take a photo of my uneven state and I was shocked how bad it looked, but that tipped the balance and stopped my nerves.
I had the mastopexy on my non-BC side two weeks ago and I’m so pleased I did it! Although the swelling hasn’t settled down completely yet I can already see that I’m going to have a matched pair, and as a bonus they will be a rather pert pair for someone who is 51!
Yes it was sore after the operation, and still is a bit, but not as bad as the BC operation. And because there was no messing about with lymph glands there is no pain, tingling or numbness around the armpit and I got full movement again within a week, although moving that side gently. I’m really glad I had it done, I’ve regained my confidence and can now move on from the BC without feeling that I’m visibly mutilated as a permanent reminder of it.
A bit of a lengthy essay, but I hope it helps. And of course you’re not being a baby – it’s important!
Thanks so much for your support, my left breast is quite a lot larger than the BC side, and like you my friends said they couldn’t tell the difference, but wearing certain clothes you can tell.
I’m going to phone BC centre and probably discuss not have the right mastopexy and the breast is still sore after 4 years, so I think to leave well alone, although it is mis shapen.