I was diagnosed a month ago and it has taken them a month to tell me it’s in 2 areas of my right breast. I was originally told i would have a lumpectomy but now because of where the 2 areas are I need a mastectomy. I really don’t want one and it terrifies me. I am now waiting to see the plastic surgeon to decide if I can have DIEP as they don’t know if I have enough on my abdomen. That whole procedure and recovery terrifies me even more. I’m not sure I want to go flat though. My world has come tumbling down and I don’t know how to fix it if that makes any sense?!
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Welcome to the forums no one really wants to join. You will find a lot of support here.
Like you I was initially told I would have a lumpectomy after my first biopsy back in 2020. After an MRI scan and another biopsy I was told the amount of DCIS I had meant that a mastectomy was the only option. The surgeons really do try to conserve the breast if possible, so I had to accept their advice. I had quite dense breast tissue which explains why this had been missed on the mammogram. I suspect the initial ultrasound was concentrating on the lump I had found.
Personally I am not a ‘girly’ girl so was not worried about going flat. However I realise this is a personal choice. Take a look at some of the other boards here and you can post specific questions to find out what reconstruction others have had and how they found the whole process.
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Hi @purplebunny,
Welcome to the forum, we hope you find it a helpful and supportive place.
I’m sorry to hear what you’re going through and that you’re feeling scared. Please do have a look through the various boards and topics to find those going through similar experiences. You might find this chat helpful: Implant Vs DIEP - #3 by Sab53
If you have any questions or just need to speak to someone, our nurses are here for you any time, here on the forum on the Ask our Nurses your questions or over the phone 0808 800 6000.
This is a very supportive place, and we’re all here for you 
All the best,
Alice
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Hi @purplebunny
I found my lump in the summer and was referred to hospital straight away by my GP. I was told at the hospital that there were at least 2 tumours, with more suspicious areas. At that moment I decided that I just want this out of me! I subconsciously decided that I should have mastectomy even before the surgeon told me that would be my best option. I still believe that was the right thing for me. I didn’t want lumps taken out and have to keep returning for more lumps to be removed. I just wanted it gone. I would have had immediate reconstruction but surgeon advised that radiotherapy, which I will need, will screw it up. I need to wait until after my hospital treatments. In the meantime I just use the softie, and when I can have a proper prosthetic I will use that.
I accepted that if I want a good chance of staying alive for a good while longer than my 57 years I am prepared to give up a breast. I would say the same to any women, or in men’s case a testicle.
X
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I found a lump which proved to be breast cancer in 2003 and had two operations to remove the tumour The second op was to take out extra tissue to protect from cancer spread, when the pathologist identified cancer cells at the edges.
Then last year I found two more lumps in the left breast and knew I would have a mastectomy as I had already had lumps out with radiotherapy and you cannot have radiotherapy twice in the same breast.
So the upshot was a mastectomy and a diep reconstruction done at the same time on 8 September 2022. I was 67 years old, of thinnish build and it was a 8-9 hour operation.
I had it at Guy’s Hospital. I am now slimmer than I was then with a quite respectable reconstruction, although no nipple on that side due to the size and position of the tumours I had.
I don’t regret doing it as the breast is warm like the other one so I didn’t feel I had lost a breast even though I have, but psychologically I felt relieved to have a breast shape which was part of me. I did have bad allergic reactions to the stuff used in the operation for keeping the skin together, which was surgical glue, but these did go after a while. I have recently been tested for allergens and mine are quite rare and I haven’t met anyone else who has had this problem. I am ok now and have been for about a year. The pain wasn’t bad as I had fantastic care and could call for a nurse when I felt in pain, sick or hungry. I was in a private room so I was lucky there was a good team of nurses around.
seagulls