Thank you for sharing your story. It will undoubtedly help others who are weighing up their options. This has upped your fabulous rating considerably! x
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Thank you so much @Gelbel never gave those a thought will order some now! My husband will be pleased I’ve moaned about it every day for the past two weeks 
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Yes I wish I had been brave and left the reconstruction until a year or so - I jumped in and thought i must have it straight away. I have regretted it as it has left me with a lot of scar tissue and when the cancer returned to my abdomen it made some treatments more difficult.
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Oh @SuzyK1 I’m so sorry. x
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@SuzyK1 its such a massive decision we have to make at a time when our emotions are all over the place and I’m not sure you have time to think about it properly! I hope you find peace with your decision soon x
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Just found this thread and thought I’d contribute. Right single mastectomy last November and despite some pressure from surgeon there was no way I was having reconstruction. I’m 56 and a 32B so already pretty flat chested especially after 2 pregnancies. I just wanted the simplest op and quickest recovery so I could get my life back (not that that’s happened yet as I’m now having chemo and targeted therapy 
). I’ve never worn a prosthesis or a softie. I don’t care if people stare - I don’t think we should hide having cancer and what that means for our bodies. Same reason I’ve not got a wig and walk around with my bald head and spotty chemo face. People, especially men, need to understand what happens to us. I realise my stance isn’t for everyone but it’s still valid. My (male) partner is super supportive and didn’t want me to have reconstruction. I guess I’m lucky but hey, that’s why we’re together. Through sickness and health and all that. Appearance is skin deep - the real person is below.
I hope that helps anyone else who’s not sure what to do. I’d say don’t give in to pressure from others and do what feels right to you.
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Good on you @sam1204 I salute your bold attitude and share it completely. x
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Hi, I stayed flat in 2022 and have no regrets. Easier decision as I was only 34B. I have become a BCN volunteer and heard some ladies had a difficult experience of reconstruction. It’s a very personal decision. I disliked my NHS prosthetic but highly recommend M&S and now Primark washable boobs. I wear these often, but sometimes just two insert pads on my flat side. I am a runner, and tend to run without. Best advice I could give is do your exercises and keep doing them.
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HI @fiman12 thanks for your contribution and recommendations. I’m also thinking of becoming a BCN volunteer when the time is right. x
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I love it. Really rewarding and feels good to share and support others 
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Hearing stories from people that have stayed flat and are a bit further down the line is soooo helpful - thank you all! Xx
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Morning. Update on day five post MX. Feeling really good, still taking pain killers but I am reducing them. Not nearly as tender in my armpit as I was, and I have more strength in my right shoulder meaning I can push myself up and down without any discomfort. Sleeping really well too.
Hoping the drain will come out today or tomorrow. I’ve enjoyed having the double bed to myself, but I’ve missed my husband and it would be nice for him to be able to come back up and sleep in the bed again.
Every day I feel that little bit stronger.
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Hello there all of you ! Great, to came across this post(s) regarding boob OPs ! ( HUGE apologies in advance, for NOT using all the( correct) medical terms- I honestly can’t get my head around all this right now but i hope things will come across OK anyway!) I’m 54 and our ‘insanity’ did started last March , totally out of the blue, when our (then) 28 year old daughter got diagnosed with TNBC plus she also has the faulty BRCA1 gene! Loads has happen since then and she had( like so ,so many other woman on here) to go through a lot of serious and very bad rough patches BUT right now she is doing well. She still has her ovary and fallopian tubes OP ahead of her( which will be done in 2 stages, because of her age) and the big breast OP.
But this post is also regarding myself, as i also did inherited the faulty BRCA1 gene ( from my father and his side of his Mums side of the family. - thankfully I didn’t pass the BRCA1 faulty gene on to our son- which was an incredible huge relief!) Up to our daughters diagnosis i was not aware in any way nor form, of this BRCA1. It came only to the surface through our daughter. All of us- my husband included took the genetic test, even if it was very much indicating, that the problem was on my side of the family but we wanted to be sure and also were advised to have both sides checked. So in Jan this year I had my remaining left ovary and fallopian tube removed and are cheduled in for my full breast removal OP for the 10th of June. When I was told from the genetic clinic, that i also have inherited the BRCA1, there was only one straight away solution- to get rid of everything , which could become a life changing and threatening issue ! ( purely my own thoughts for myself) and this was far from a easy decision. I do suffer with extream panic attacks and also thanatophobia- which is fear of death and dying and all what comes with it. It has had an extream and overwhelming impact on my daily life since my late teens… so having the BRCA1 and all it’s glorious possibilities to consider is another extream scenario on top of everything else. So my decision to go and stay pure flat has two main reasons. The first one is the OP and what all can go WRONG ( in my headset) …so as longer the OP as more chance things go desasterously wrong !So as more straight forward( as straight forward a delecate and complex breast removal OP can be!!!) and less time consuming, as better. The other thing is, im naturally ‘blessed’ with rather big boobs ( which never were an issue but I never really have been fond of) so to have to loose them, is not a issue at all for me. And I do genuinely feel for all the woman, where this step has an absolute negative , complicated and often traumatic impact on their lives!!! Im fortunate not to have to navigate myself through that… strangely enough, the only thing what does saddens me is, i did breastfeed both our daughter and our son…and it was so very important for me/ us… as it is the best thing you can give to your babies at the start of their lives and I still feel very privileged and fortunate to have been able to do so and experience this with our children. To think, to have to let go of these two boobs, which gave good to both our kids will and is making me sad…but it is a sadness I will be fully OK to accept. So for me there won’t be any form of reconstruction and I dont think I will be wearing a bra or any of those wonderful other options. I will be wearing my scars and( for once )flat chest proudly and it will be nice- for once- that these boobs won’t effect what I do wear 
i would like to wish everyone on this wonderful forum all the best for whatever journey they are treading right now, or just have started…to be able to find the strength and willpower to see this through… and to damn fight !!! I feel fortunate and lucky , as i have the chance to prevent getting caught out by this nasty BEAST , my daughter and too many woman have not…
Much love and strength… ENDEAVOUR 
T
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@Jaygo great news that you’re ok and sleeping well, hope your drains come out soon! It’s so much better when they’re out!
@templar-1310 good luck with your journey ahead and your daughters too, this forum has been a blessing for me so I’m sure it will help you along the way too x
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Hello @loupy gosh, this forum is and has been such a HUGE support and place of refuge ! I can’t say this often enough. The support on here is incredible… is rather powerful but also humbeling how much support people on here give an share to/ with eachother, even without knowing the other person!! I also love the heart/ like option… not everyone is willing or able to reach out and write but these people still also have an option to be part and to belong. I think it is a incredible and so , so important forum/ side… so well lay out…so many options of support… the nurses on here are fabulous and all those people behind the ‘scene ‘ , who make all this possible… how fortunate we are, to have this forum!!
Thank you so much, for reaching out and your well wishes- very much appreciated! Would like to return those wishes and all the best !
T
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@Jaygo … i hope you managed your walk and that being out, soaking up the fresh air ( hopefully a bit of uplifting sunshine too) and the feel of moving felt good ! I dont know, where you do live but may you are fortunate enough to have some calming green spaces, or may even the sea nearby! These places can be so soothing and give back strength… one bit at the time !
Wish you all the best, with your further recovery !
Thank you also, for creating this post
@loupy @daisyd hello there I would like to ask you both something and this purely is, to hear about your thought process on the question. If this question in any way or form is far too personal , or simply too uncomfortable/ unacceptable, then - of course- do not respond ! So i will tred highly carefully here now
I often wonder, why woman choose the option to just have one of their brests removed, when by doing so, the risk of developing breast cancer in the other brest remains ?
And im fully aware, that for each woman the reasoning will be different and entirely individual…
I hope it was OK to bring this question forward
T
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Yes Jaygo, thank you indeed for starting up this post. It is amazing how many of you wonderful ladies have responded. It is good to know there are so many of us “Flat and Fabulous” out there. I am so lucky to be alive and with my wonderful husband been able over the past seven years, since the start of my cancer journey, able to watch our four young grand children grow up. Take care all you fabulous ladies. Thinking of you all and sending hugs.
Sunshine 21.
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@templar-1310 thank you, and it was a joint effort to set this up based on conversations had with a couple of us on private message who are all facing this at the same time. It is really good to have your insights too. Thanks for taking the time to share them.
I live in an area with so much beautiful countryside and I also have the amazing Grand Union Canal on my doorstep. Alas I am unable to walk far unaided due to a pre-existing back problem, but my intention this summer is to get out as much as I can to try and work my back and help it to fix. Plus, we know that walking helps massively with post op recovery and bone pain. A couple of us on here face the prospect of more targeted therapy for 9 months post op which will impact on bone pain. Another thread exists for that ‘Kadcyla 2026’.
I’m so pleased the conversation is bubbling on here though. All strength to us amazing women and our determination to live a full life and overcome all the rubbish that cancer throws at us. Go us!
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@scientistamafier hello there I so can rely to the ‘not being a girly girl’
Is great, to consider the husband in this very challenging decision and part in our lives too ! That is another such important consideration… marriage, relationship, intimacy
Wishing you all the best…
T
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