thanks for the encouragement

mare5135

my mastectomy (left Breast) is scheduled for Aug. 9. I 've decided against reconstruction and am so glad i found this forum. You brave women have given me hope. I am worried how i will look and feel after my breast is gone.After browsing thru the postings I have a sense that I will be okay.

Erica3681

Hi mare5135,

Glad you found us. It's so difficult to face the loss of your breast. I'm glad you're feeling as if you'll be okay--if you're going into the surgery with such a good attitude, you should do really well.

I had a bilateral mastectomy in October 2006. I considered reconstruction but decided against it. I looked at my chest shortly after surgery and didn't find it bad at all. After I recovered, I created a website, BreastFree.org, to help make it a little easier for other women facing mastectomies. Many women from breastcancer.org contributed Personal Stories and even Photographs to the site. You might find it helpful to check out the photos--it will give you an idea of what to expect after surgery.

Barbara 

shrink

I had a bi-lat MRM because I wanted balance and didn't want to have to try to match up the healthy breast.  I also didn't want to worry about it either even though it could still recur. I'm not planning on reconstruction.  This is a very individual decision and you have to be comfortable with what you choose.  I wasn't grossed out by looking at the incisions surprisingly.  I also looked at some pictures prior to surgery so I knew what to expect.  Best of luck with your surgery.

Lucky

I just found this site and am so happy to find others that are dealing with the same issues I am!  I had bilateral surgery May 22nd - last July I had a lumpectomy to remove a large 5.5 cm metaplastic cancerous tumor triple negative( I was lucky and we had clear perameters)....then rounds of chemo the last of which were in Feb.  I have been lucky to have a great oncologist and surgeon who gave me as much info as I needed to make my decision to remove both breasts.  I wasn't afraid of the surgery...went in on Thursday and home Friday morning...Saturday morning I was able to enjoy sitting out on our deck ( came home with drainage tubes and they are  bothersome). But I was very worried about my reaction to seeing my newly flat chest.....but I was pleasantly surprised and  I didnt freak out. The incisions healed fairly quickly and without much pain. Instead I have felt relief ( the biopsy of the right breast ended up showing pre-cancerous cells!)!  I have started my 33 rounds of radiation and am 1/2 way through.  I returned to work 4 weeks after the surgery and wear my "fake boobs". Now my worry is getting through all this radiation without nasty side effects....and I am pretty sure that next summer I will have reconstructive surgery. I am glad I found this site to find out as much about the reconstuction process as possible!