I actually asked to have both removed but surgeon refused, I’m now 10 years on from left mastectomy, wish I’d asked for reconstruction at the time but just wanted a speedy op and quick recovery, am thinking of asking for removal of my remaining boob, the problem being that I find a bra unbelievingly uncomfortable on my left side. In fact my left side is pretty uncomfortable all the time even without a bra.
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Sorry to hear that my lovely. Is there anything specific that makes it uncomfortable? Did you get left with a Puppy Ear? x
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Hi, I’m 11 days post op. Had to have a smx but decided to go for “the double” and get it over with. I don’t regret my decision at all and, at aged 70, it was an easy decision to make anyway. I admire all the ladies that have gone on to have beautiful tattoos - unfortunately I’m too scared of the pain involved! 
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If you have line ink and no heavy shading or filling, a tattoo is not remotely painful. After all we’ve been through it’s a walk in the park. If you’re intrigued, is it worth trying a teeny weeny one where only you will see it? Just to see???
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Mmm that is food for thought. Tbh I don’t know very much about tattoos, except they use needles 
Thanks for the info, it might now be something I’ll consider in the future 
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Hi all
I’ve been reading your thoughts on flat and reconstruction. I thought it might ve useful to someone to read my experience of an implant after a single mascetomy and lymph node clearance.
I had my surgery over a year ago and was offered an immediate flap reconstruction but I requested an implant. I’m 64, single, and likely to remain so! But I liked the breast I lost and didn’t want to be left with a singleton- and they wouldn’t remove the (so- far) healthy breast. I go sea swimming and change in the beach and didn’t like the idea of strangers being able to tell by glancing at me in my swimsuit, that I had one breast.
It took a while for it to settle down after radiotherapy and I am maybe having it replaced with another implant because the surgeon says it isn’t sitting right.
Overall, I’m happy with my choice. The breast looks good- nearly matching…I have minimal scarring. My lead surgeon did the breast work and another surgeon did the lymph nodes. I was able to keep my original nipple because my tumours weren’t close to it.
If anyone wants to know more, I’m happy to reply. And I love this thread!! It is wonderful to have choices and live how we choose to post treatment.
Xx
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I had a mastectomy and simultaneous reconstruction using an implant as I did not have enough fat/ tissue to attempt any other method in 2011. I was a32E and my aim was to look balanced with clothes on. I wanted one operation and General anaesthetic to reduce recovery time so I could get on with my life at that point. I chose not to have a nipple tattoo or nipple reconstruction.
I healed quickly, did my exercises and got full movement back to my arm
Unexpectedly, I needed radiotherapy which did damage the reconstruction so I have a narrow groove where the radiation damaged the tissue on my cleavage . It’s no big deal but anyone undergoing reconstruction should be aware that you don’t get the exact look or feel of a natural breast and you loose all sensation on that side.
My implant feels cool to the touch and feels like a jelly baby as opposed to a marshmallow. ( real breast) Another thing to consider is if you put weight on the implant side doesn’t so you can get lopsided, which doesn’t bother me much and hopefully one can lose weight - although not, I find, on Letrozole which seems to ‘help’‘ me gain weight easily. Also gravity as I’ve got older doesn’t affect the implant as it’s fixed, whilst the natural breast can drop.
I was and remain happy with my decision- it’s worked for me, but again I stress I didn’t have huge expectations of how I would look topless.
Good luck with whatever you decide
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Hi all
Anyone who has had a mastectomy know roughly how long they waited before jogging? I tried a gentle jog yesterday and it was a definite no but it’s so good for my mental health that I’m keen to get back to it! I know everyone is individual but I’m not good at being patient 
@loupy I’m a runner - it was exactly one month after my MX I tried running. It felt fine so I carried on doing what I usually did until I started chemo - now running spikes my HR into zone 5 even on a flat slow jog so I’m giving it a break for now. Not happy but listening to my body!
How long since your surgery?
Thanks @sam1204 it’s four weeks tomorrow so perhaps I was just being a little premature! I’ve finished chemo and couldn’t run during for the same reason and my PICC line nurse said it wasn’t a good idea ! I’ve stuck to walking lots but it’s just not the same!
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Agreed! I’m missing it but determined to get back to it soon as I can!
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I can’t believe I found this thread today. I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer a year ago. I had a 7cm lump in my left breast, and a small one on my tailbone. I have been taking letrozole and palbo tablets for a year. I have PET scans every 3 months. The tumor on my tailbone is now dormant, and apparently the only cancer showing up on the scan was in my breast, This had also been shrinking. However the last scan showed that it had stayed the same size this time.
Yesterday, I saw the surgeon I had originally seen a year ago and he recommended having a mastectomy. I agreed, as the tumor is still 4 cm. He discouraged me from having reconstruction as I will have to go back on the palbo tablets after the op, and they can effect the immune system and white blood cells and this could lead to infection in an implant - I’m assuming because it’s a foreign body. My surgery will be within the 4 weeks, and hopefully will be day surgery. I have to stop taking the palbo tablets 2 weeks before surgery.
I can’t believe I was lucky enough to come across this thread. Thank you to all you wonderful, inspiring ladies.
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Glad you found us and sorry you needed to do so. I’m quite enjoying being flat. So far my flat side is hardly noticeable in winter clothes. I’m wearing my squishy today to try it out. Still unsure about it.
The op is so much easier if you don’t have implants to worry about. You should be in and out on the same day. xxx
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Glad you’ve got your surgery date scheduled. Wishing you the very best of luck with the op and as others have said on here - keep looking at and touching the scar and get onto the exercises asap plus physio. I really cannot complain about my mastectomy journey aside from a bit of sloshing with a seroma but it was drained once and refilled but did eventually absorb. Very happy to be flat for now.
Good luck! x
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Good luck @jansy01 , sounds like it’s the right way forward for you. Hopefully you’ll be like me and so many of us and have a complication-free op and recovery. I’m the same, warm winter clothes mean you can hardly tell I’m one breast short of a picnic. It’s really not as bad as you might be imagining right now 
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Where did you purchase the bra? What do you like about it? I have a planned mastectomy (think that I will go flat but a bit worried about being concave). Many thanks
@jam1 hi there. I just looked on the M&S website for post surgery and mastectomy bras. You just order your usual size x
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Hi Jam1, I had a full breast mastectomy on 12/25. My fear was appearance for a long time. Well, I am so grateful to God for finding Lady Grace. It was good to see a person to help with this. Someone who has helped others like me. I hope this helps.
covered
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Interesting - I tried a Boost prosthetic and sent it back. I persevered for a week but I found it rode up in my bra (not heavy enough - I needed a L as I’m a D). I genuinely feared it would fall out. It was squashed in my swimming costume due to the band under the pockets (my Aqua Wave one is perfectly fine) and it took on a strange shape in my bikini.
I found it weird that it didn’t work for me - perhaps the semi-hollow back wasn’t right for me.
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Thank you for your response. I’m worried about the appearance of the scar and the possibility of having a concave chest! Were you pleased with the results? Was it very painful? What analgesic were you given? Did you get any complications? What support did you receive. As you can probably tell I have a lot of anxieties about the whole process. Xx