A friend of mine is 75. When she heard I had breast cancer she told me that she had a mastectomy when she was 32 and her children were toddlers. When she was 68 she had a reconstruction because she wanted to do it for herself. It was very successful and she’s very pleased with it. I had no idea shed even had breast cancer let alone all the rest!
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Hello, I’m back!
Anyone waiting for a single Mastectomy who would welcome a breakdown of the day?
Otherwise, I’m home, absolutely knackered - don’t think I’ve ever felt so tired in my life! A bit uncomfortable, I don’t have drains, but I’m not really in any pain.
I’ve had lots of looks in the mirror and I quite like my flat side!
Absolutely no regrets.
Appointment for my results has been booked for the end of July.
Thanks again to everyone for all their help. Yes, all options are rubbish, but the worst thing is the mental torment beforehand - physically it’s not that bad.
Right, I’m off to sleep, can’t wait!
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So glad all went well for you. I was very sleepy for the first 2/3 days (mastectomy plus DIEP) x
So pleased your surgery is over, wishing you well. Take care lots of rest and good food.
Health and happiness ahead.
Hugs Tili 
Thank you!
It’s all been quite straightforward, I’ve not been in pain.
I’ve got a seroma though which is uncomfortable but spoke to the nurses and they’re going to take a look when I go in for my results next week.
Hi.
I’m day 15 post reconstruction and also have seromas. Boob is very full and tender but they haven’t decided whether to drain or not. My surgeon who did the mastectomy saw it today and said he’d leave it but they are asking plastics surgeon for an opinion via a photo!
I don’t know how long it would take to settle on its own. Wonder if anyone else here does?
Good luck with yours and I hope you continue your great recovery x
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My initial reaction was I wanted them both gone. It was only in one side but I was so distressed at the whole diagnosis I just wanted to be free of both of them.
It turned into being told I’d just need a single mastectomy. I just about got my head around it pre-chemo and resolved yo decide what I wanted when I could have a clearer head.
Chemo was brutal and I still assumed and became settled that I would be having a mastectomy and some sort of delayed reconstruction.
As it turned out my chemo was pretty effective and my surgeon (who we initially agreed it would be the mastectomy) and I both suggested maybe a lumpectomy and full node clearance might be enough. It turned out we were right and I hot clear margins and didn’t need to lose the whole thing.
All options are hard and at least initially suck but with time make more sense.
I’m happy with my surgery, just annoyed it’ll be so long before I can get evened up (waiting list plus my surgeon wants me to lose weight prior, which is hard when still on treatment).
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You all sound so brave. I still don’t feel like i have it in me to get through a mastectomy.
Did anyone see a psychologist before surgery? If so, was it helpful? X
No psychologist here. It wasn’t even suggested, however things moved quite quickly for me : decision made on Thursday then surgery the following Tuesday.
I think advice earlier in the thread about trusting your gut feeling is good.
I knew for sure that I didn’t want a reconstruction - even if I couldn’t articulate exactly why.
I think those who opt for a reconstruction are brave too! I know I couldn’t have done it!
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Thanks for coming back to me @preferablywithfood - gosh, that is quick. How did you feel afterwards? Every part of my being is telling me that I can’t do it. 
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Just jumping on here quickly -I was also very quick - 10 days from double mastectomy decision to the actual surgery.
I desperately wanted recon but that would have added a 9-16 week delay and I was more scared of the cancer spread.
I also didn’t think I could get through it - I was genuinely hysterical and thought I would be running away from the operating theatre or wake up and not be able to get through facing my new body. I got some diazepam from my GP to get through the days and sleeping tablets for night.
It was one year yesterday since my op and I got through it, I didn’t bother with the recon as I love my new body just as it is. It seems so long ago but it is amazing what we can get through. xx
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Honestly? I felt fine and nearly two weeks later I still do.
I couldn’t imagine having only one boob, but now it’s happened it turns out that I couldn’t care less.
It was a struggle beforehand - obviously I wanted two healthy cancer free boobs. I still do. But that wasn’t going to happen and that’s still bloody awful.
I really wish that cancer had never forced me into having to make any kind of choice, but since it did, I’m … not “happy”, I’ll never be “happy” about it … at peace with the decision I made. I know I won’t spend the rest of my life wishing I’d made a different decision. And that’s about the best we can hope for I think.
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Thank you. Can totally relate - i feel like I’m just too weak or cowardly to manage this. I think I somehow clung on through chemotherapy as i kept telling myself that it was temporary. Obviously this - not so much.
Genuinely don’t know what to do…
Xx
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Hi.
I didn’t speak to anyone but just personally I haven’t found the mastectomy to be an issue at all as I had the immediate reconstruction.
I went to sleep with a cancerous boob and woke up with a cancer free one. I feel like it’s my own (it is but from my tummy) but that my boob has been operated on.
So I wasn’t really party to the mastectomy bit as I was out cold.
I am a very squeamish, nervous person about anything medical, so it’s amazing what we can cope with when we have to. Those calm deep breaths have been my saviour lately.
Best of luck. You can definitely do this, whatever your this turns out to be xx
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Thank you so much for your reply - I can understand entirely. I think it’s the fact that I can’t have immediate reconstruction isn’t helping… Feels like I’ve pulled the shittest card from the shittest pack! X
Oh I’m sorry. I do recall reading that before, that is frustrating. What was the reason for that? Sending strength to you to move through this, which you will xx
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Ibc means you have to be flat for a year +. I know i must sound ridiculous but the thought of going into my 40s with no breast is so so far from what I imagined. X
Is that lobular breast cancer? This is what I had (seemed weird to say “had” just 16 days on).
3 tumours (turned out to be 2 with no cancer in between). Biggest was 3.9mm. I wonder why you need a delay.
I’m ER/PR+ and HER2 negative with no lymph involvement. I see you had chemo so obviously differences to mine. You will find your way even though it feels insurmountable now. My biggest fear is chemo but I’ve been told I will likely not need it (awaiting official result). Yet you got through that. Don’t tell me 
as I’m scared, but you got through it so you are strong and brave too xx