Breast Cancer Now Forum

@Esme, Pinkjeni & Happyshopper - I'd love to know how you managed to get them to agree to a prophylactic mastectomy if you feel comfortable sharing? The impression I've been given is that I'm going to have to fight pretty hard for it in my area (Essex). Any advice would be great! ... View more

Beeny - you'll be fine - just do what they tell you exercise wise afterwards, it really does make a difference with mobility later. I don't think it's awful to say you felt relief - I'm only a 38D & my falsie is heavy as hell! oh and I seem to be allergic to it too so I'm back to the softie they gave me 😞 Getting them both removed at same time means only one lot of surgery & no chance of recurrance not to mention a literal weight off you! I bet your back will thank you in later years! 😛 ... View more

@Pat - I was at Chelmsford last July - just overnight but the nurses were fab on the 'day' ward. There were 5 other 'girls' there having mx's & lumpectomies too & we all chatted across the beds etc - one of the older ladies asked for a cup of tea before the lights went off & one of the nurses went & made us all hot chocolate & brought biscuits too - I'm sure they were from the nurses own supplies. I was super lucky & just had a very straightforward mx, almost the first thing I needed was the toilet once I got back to the ward! Tips - I agree with earplugs, book (lightweight one tho!), magazine, puzzle book etc but we all chatted so much, I barely read anything! Coming home, get your driver to bring a clean & soft pillow as a bit of padding for the seatbelt - It also gives you something to hug if you're a bit weepy 🙂 Good luck & lots of gentle hugs Ladies, I hope everything goes easy for you all xxx ... View more

I had a right mx in July last year but I was one of the super super lucky ones & didn't need any further treatment. It was such a quick & straightforward experience that I actually felt like a fraud! This thread is very helpful though - Raonaid - I looked at The Scar Project website before my op - it made me bawl my eyes out for a few days but I think it helped me get used to the scars & what mine might look like. Almost a vaccination if you like. I am suitable for a recon but just last week I went to a Reconstruction Awareness group & that I wasn't ready for! Seeing the other replies regarding not having recon just confirms my own feelings. I've got used to & can accept my straight MX scar but I know I will never be able to deal psychologically with the scars & patches of a full recon. A close friend told me if a new guy can't accept my scars then he's not worth my time - which is very true I think. However, my point is - if I can't accept them, how the heck can I expect him to? The hardest part of my story is the timing! I asked my husband of 20 yrs for a divorce in March. There was a new guy on the horizon & at the end of May, I went to meet him for the first time. We had 2 wonderful weeks together then I came home. Two days later, I found my lump. The next time I saw my new fella was just 2 months after my MX - not quite the package he'd signed up for but apart from me turning my back to him when I dressed & me turning the lights off for sexy time, he was very gentle & understanding. I 'fronted' a lot at first but he could tell I was hiding so he kind of pushed me to talk about it & now we're fine. Now I'm facing the fight to get the other removed - I strongly feel that 'balanced' is the way to go if you can but I really don't want to go the recon route. I know you've been told you can't have recon but perhaps if you can find a reconstruction awareness group near you & see the results of recon, it may make it a little easier to accept your basic MX scar. Also - make yourself examine your scar, poke it (if it's healed enough of course!), rub moisturiser in it, just look at it - it's a grieving process in many ways - the more you look at it, the less horrific it will seem especially when you consider what the alternatives could have been. {{{hugs}}} ... View more

I had a single mastectomy in July 2012 & have just had my first visit with the plastic surgeon to discuss recon. Honestly it left me reeling - I don't have enough fat on my tummy for that option so he's suggesting implant or lower lumbar flap. The thing that has me shaken up is that whatever option I chose, they will want to reshape my good boobie & I'll lose sensation there as well as the additional scars elsewhere. I've been fine with my scar & I am seriously considering asking them to just remove the good boobie! Seeing all your positive comments really made me feel better about that idea as so many around me think 'it's a bit drastic, isn't it?' Thank you ladies, I'm so glad I found this site & forum even if I'm still trying to work out what so many of the abbreviations mean! lol ... View more