Hi everyone! It seems I’m one of the gang now! I was diagnosed with DCIS in September. I was recalled after an MRI for further biopsies which showed invasive ductal carcinoma grade 2. What a shock and an agonising wait for surgery. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy last month and have just had my follow up appointment. The margins weren’t clear but thankfully my lymph nodes were- some good news at last 
. My consultant has recommended a mastectomy as she has already removed a large amount of tissue. I still don’t know if I need radiotherapy or chemo. I’m now having to decide about my options (reconstruction or not) and would love to hear from anyone who has been in the same position. It seems such a massive decision. I haven’t got much fat on my abdomen so that isn’t an option for reconstruction. I’m turning 50 next year and this wasn’t part of the plan! x
I was diagnosed with bilateral invasive plus DCIS so double mastectomy in July. I thought I wanted reconstruction but there was a nine-week wait so I went straight for the op with the option of reconstruction later.
I knew immediately after op that I was so comfortable being flat and so glad the delay gave me time to consider my options.
I had a very quick recovery (also had sentinel node biopsies both sides) and was back in gym and running after 10-day physio check.
Good luck with whatever you choose xx
Thank you! You sound so positive and that’s just what I need to hear right now do you wear prosthetics at all? x
I don’t wear a prosthetic. I literally fell in love with flat after years of 34gg!
I think it’s probably easier with the bilateral so I don’t have any issues with being lopsided.
My mum had an implant after a single mastectomy and reduction 20 years ago and has had so many issues, so that really put me off although I know things have moved on in recent years. But I also didn’t want the long recovery from DIEP - I’ve always been into fitness so could not have put up with the recovery time xx
I’m sure lots of ladies will come along who have gone down the recon route and are really pleased with the results.
I think if you are even considering going flat than I would delay recon and see how it feels. xx
That’s great to hear. I’m not keen on an implant as I’ve heard of issues and maintenance. I would have to use tissue from my thigh and I’m not sure about the risks and recovery time. I’m seeing a plastic surgeon tomorrow to discuss so hopefully that will help with my decision x
Hi lovely,
I hope you are doing ok. I am 34 and had a double mastectomy in June this year and decided to stay flat. My bra size use to be a 34D. I have absolutely no regrets and am in love with my new body. I never liked my breasts, as for years before I got breast cancer I had multiple fibroadenomas and one breast was always bigger than the other and misshapen.
Before having breast cancer I had always said I would love to have implants but I decided to stay flat for a few reasons. I was scared if I had implants I could possibly miss a new lump, scared I would be freaked out by the implants (I was freaked out with the picc line.lol), scared about infections and healing.
I have an amazing support network and a husband who has always made me feel beautiful, but I know he has gone the extra mile since having my breasts removed to make sure I feel good in myself.
You can read a lot of peoples stories and have so many opinions off people, please make your decision based on how you truly feel. I actually had a couple of counselling sessions before I made my final decision and found that helped massively 
I wish you all the best for the future and am sending you a massive virtual hug 
Thank you so much for your reply. You sound so positive and it’s just what I need right now! Your husband sounds amazing and mine is too. I have ruled out implants and I’m scared of the pain/ healing/ recovery time/ risks of reconstructive surgery. I think some counselling would be good- it’s such a big decision x
I was diagnosed with DCIS back in 2020. The original plan was a lumpectomy but further testing revealed more areas of DCIS. This meant a mastectomy was the only option.
After talking through the options with the surgeon and my husband I opted to go flat on one side. I chose not to even be measured for a prosthetic. I am only a B cup so it isn’t very noticeable. The main problem has been finding suitable bras.
I wish you well in making your decision
Thank you so much! I will continue to reach out for support to make an informed decision. I’m sure once I’ve made a decision it will feel easier. Wishing you well in your hunt for a great bra! x
I had a double mastectomy and decided to have an implant, as doing a DIEP was too risky in my case. I opted for a two stage procedure and currently waiting to get my temporary expander to be replaced with an implant.
I’m 36 and I wanted to go back to “normal” for me, to be honest. I’ve never been big chested (size B), but I’ve grown to love them and wanted my boobs back. My sister had a boob job done (for aesthetic reasons only) and is very happy with the results so I wasn’t too scared of the implants.
When I was making a decision, I realised that it is a very personal thing and only I can know what would make me happy. Listen to yourself and what option feels right for you, that’s all I have to say.
Thanks so much for your reply. I just wondered how uncomfortable you have found the expander? Good luck with the next phase x
I didn’t find expanders uncomfortable at all! I was quite swollen straight after surgery and having them only half full at the start was a blessing, as my skin wasn’t under too much pressure. They do feel differently when I touch them (they feel like thick plastic bags under my skin haha) so I hope it will get better with implants.
That’s reassuring. All the best x
I was in a similar position last year at the same age diagnosed with Grade 2 IDC ER+ PR+, HER2-. My treatment plan was initially to have a lumpectomy but after an MRI, this changed to a Mastectomy and I was given various reconstruction options to choose from. For me I knew I didn’t want a silicon implant due to a previous skin allergy when I wore a wrist brace which had silicon in it.
As I was slim my breast surgeon wasn’t able to clearly tell me if any of the body fat based reconstruction options would be viable for me, without being seen by the plastic surgeon (for which there was a long wait on the NHS). So I decided to get a second opinion privately, I saw another breast surgeon who referred me to see a plastic surgeon who spent an hour and a half explaining what options were viable after examining me & showing me photo’s of reconstructions she had done previously to help visualise. She explained that even though I was slim, body fat based reconstruction was possible with a combination of fat from my abdomen (DIEP) & thigh/buttock area (PAP), but would most likely involve one or two smaller surgeries for fat grafting after the first main surgery; I was a C/D cup. She also said that if I didn’t want to choose the immediate body fat reconstruction option (longer surgery & recovery time), she could do a nipple sparing expander surgery with a silicon implant (shorter surgery & quicker recovery time) which could be replaced with body fat/changed later if I didn’t get on with it due to allergic reaction (she mentioned this would be rare, but explained that there was such a thing called implant sickness symptoms) or needed radiotherapy.
That appointment with the plastic surgeon is what gave me the clarity I needed to make the decision that was right for me at the time (she went through various risk factors, DIEP failure rates and a lot of other information). The reconstruction options were just too involved for me, and I couldn’t see myself having multiple surgeries in the future in order to match the reconstructed breast to the other; At that particular time in my treatment journey I wanted to get on with surgery and understand what my oncology treatment plan was going to be. So I decided to go with a mastectomy without reconstruction (flat on one side) and leave delayed reconstruction as an option for the future seeing how I felt after.
I am now 21 months on from that decision and can say I have no regrets. I’m still working through finding the best fit bras and the most suitable prosthetic for various clothes I wear, which are practical lifestyle changes I’ve had to adjust to so it is a process. But other than that I can say I am happy with the choice I made and haven’t really thought of delayed reconstruction since then (but it’s still there as an option if I should want it, even though it wouldn’t be aesthetically the same as if I had had it done as an immediate reconstruction). Hoping some of the above information helps you make the decision that’s right for you.
Wishing you well in the next steps ahead… xx
Just responding to your comment about difficulty finding the right bra’s, as I’ve faced this as well. So far the closest brand that has worked for me is amoena, but they don’t have every style I’d like to get for certain tops I used to wear before. So my search continues.
Sharing in case this helps. xx
Hi! Thank you for taking the time to reply so comprehensively. It sounds like you have had great care and were given all the information you needed at the time to make a decision. I’m so pleased you had no regrets. I’m rubbish at making decisions and this seems a big one. I’ve been offered some counselling so I hope that will help x
Thanks for the suggestion to look at Amoena bras.
The problem with all post surgery bras is that they assume you want to wear some kind of breast form so they include pockets and some kind of shaping. Whereas I am quite happy being totally flat. I wear a bra made out of stretchy jersey type fabric and the unused cup doesn’t bunch too much under my clothing.
I have found one company that does one cup, one flat bras. Nice for a glamorous night out. https://www.unobra.co.uk/ Unobra was set up by someone after having a mastectomy, who wanted something a little more attractive than most of the current offerings.
Hi @saz1
Sorry to hear that you are having to make this decision. I also had to make the choice earlier this year after failed lumpectomies in my right breast.
I opted for a bi-lateral DIEP reconstruction which was a long surgery, I would say the recovery is long but you will be up and out of bed the next day and able to do most daily tasks within a 2 to 3 weeks. The only additional surgery I have had it nipple reconstruction but I know other ladies who have had multiple surgies to achieve better results.
I would recommend looking at the https://restore-bcr.co.uk/ or https://keepingabreast.org.uk/ for additional information.
I am very happy with the results of my surgery, and it was the right choice for me, and 6 months on, I am now just waiting for tattoos. I found making the choice very overwhelming, but for me, I was very surprised to find that body image was very important to me even though I am not what you would call a girly girl!
This is a very individual decision, as others on this chat who have opted to go flat or different routes have said, I am sure you will find the path that is right for you.
Any questions always happy to help, and all the best x
You are so welcome. To be honest, I actually felt quite overwhelmed at the stage you are in now. I know writing it all down after-the-fact, it sounds like it was straight-forward. But I was a bit of a wreck when I was trying make a decision before I got to my plastic surgery appointment, so try and be easy on yourself and know that it’s normal to feel the way you do. You’re doing great. I spoke with a health coach who helped me write down pro’s and con’s for the options viable for me, in order to help me figure out what was most important to me & therefore right for me… 
It is such an individualised personal decision, but once the decision/choice was made I felt like a great weight had been lifted off my shoulders and almost instant relief.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I’m glad it is all working out for you. I think I would consider DIEP if I had enough tissue. After seeing the plastic surgeon, I know I would be disappointed if I only got an A cup (rather than my normal C) after all that is involved. Wishing you all the best x