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Please share your bilateral mastectomy experiences with me. After meeting with my surgeon I am seriously considering this as my path.
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member2721 (Survivor (1 year)) - 10 / 05 / 2011
Making this type of decision is extremely difficult. I think that everyone who faces this question approaches it differently. I had a bilateral mastectomy last Dec. I made that choice because I did not want to have 2 lumpectomies (one one each side), radiation and then have to worry every 6 months if I was going to have a recurrence of cancer. The surgery was long (6.5 hours) since I had skin and nipple sparing. I did not have a problem (as some do) waking up without my breasts because I was relieved that the cancer was gone. Recovery was not too bad. I was in the hospital for 2 days and off pain meds a week later. Getting dressed was a bit of a challenge the first few days, but large shirts with buttons or zippers worked really well. I experienced some stiffness, but doing the arm exercises I was taught really helped. My range of motion came back very quickly. Some nights were better than others at the very beginning. Turning over and trying to sleep on my side was a challenge, but I found a way to do it! I was not a candidate for any flap surgery, so I had tissue expanders put in place during the initial surgery. I will not sugar coat anything……… the expanders were uncomfortable, getting them filled was slightly painful and facing the exchange surgery was something I was not looking forward to. I had a lot of faith in my breast and plastic surgeons and asked them many 'stupid' questions. I wanted to understand the pros and cons of the surgeries they were going to perform and the long-range consequences of a lumpectomy vs a mastectomy. I always tell myself to look on the bright side—I do not have to wear a bra if I don’t want to! Today, 10 months after the bilateral mastectomy, I have silicone implants and I wouldn’t have changed a thing! The months of discomfort have been forgotten and I feel I have made the right decision for myself. Good luck with your decision making. Having been there, I know it is not easy.
member9723 (High Risk Individual) - 10 / 05 / 2011
I had a bilateral mastectomy 10 years ago but it was prophylactic as I am a BRCA2 carrier (pre-vivor) I chose to have reconstruction with tissue expanders. Time has a way of healing some memories but I can honestly say this was not a bad experience. I spent one night in the hospital (felt well enough to go home same day) and did not take any pain medication. I also did NOT have any drains. The expanders were not that physically noticeable until probably the last visit when I was at full expansion and had to remain that way for a month. I do remember how unnatural that felt but it was over before I knew it. Originally I choose silicone implants but regretted that decision after a few years and did replace them with saline. My implants are so super comfortable and natural feeling, I often forget that I've had the surgery except that i almost never wear a bra. it's much more comfortable without a bra and there is something to be said for perky breasts at my age. I know this is a difficult decision but hearing as many other experiences as possible is certainly a way to gain perspective and help you with your decision.
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