Idiotic pre-lumpectomy question

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Kitchenwitch
Kitchenwitch Member Posts: 374
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

My lumpectomy is scheduled for Tuesday. I'll have two wire insertions (one for the spot of DCIS and another for a biopsy of smaller but suspicious area). No idea what kind of incision or what it's going to look like after. 

I've been wondering if I should take a picture of my breast while it's whole and untouched just so I can know what it used to look like. Did anyone else do that? Am I just vain and neurotic beyond belief?

Any opinions and advice welcome! 

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  • CharlestonGirl
    CharlestonGirl Member Posts: 161
    edited March 2010

    Take a picture, or two or ten! It doesn't hurt a thing. Later, if your lumpectomy makes no difference to your looks (my changes were very slight except I had a 3" scar on the side) you can decide whether to keep them or toss them.

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  • bookart
    bookart Member Posts: 564
    edited March 2010

    I had BMX, so my situation was a bit different, but I had a professional photographer friend take a lot of pre-surgery pics so that if I wanted, I could have that record.  It was both fun and sad.  I haven't seen the pics since, and I may put that off for awhile.  But I have them.

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  • maryannecb
    maryannecb Member Posts: 1,453
    edited March 2010

    I wish I had done this....did take pics of my recon along the way though.

    I say do it.

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  • Connie07
    Connie07 Member Posts: 636
    edited March 2010

    I did it. Had dh take them and they are buried in a file, in a folder and accessable. I'm really glad I did, because I have a decent scar and the radiation caused shrinkage, I've had another biopsy that left another scar. and my bc breast has swelling and a big red spot where doc aspirated a cyst - also caused by radiation. It's not healed by a long shot and now I'm considering reduction and will take some more pics for after bc&rads, before reduction.

    They can be destroyed, I would do it the same way again.

    Good Luck, Connie

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  • Mantra
    Mantra Member Posts: 968
    edited March 2010

    yes, somewhere hidden on my computer of pictures of my breasts; before surgery, after lumpectomy and last but not least, after the mastectomy.

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  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 1,202
    edited March 2010
    I wish I had thought of that....I hate the way mine look, but I had over 18 cm's taken out too and I haven't even started rads yet.Yell
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  • Abbey11
    Abbey11 Member Posts: 335
    edited March 2010

    It's a GREAT question, not idiotic.  I took pics before and throughout my surgery and reconstructive process.  At first I did it just as a record for myself, but the photos became very useful after my mastectomies when I was getting tattooed.  The tattoo artist was able to match my original nipple/areola color to the photo.  I know you are having a lumpectomy, not mast., but I still think you might find them useful.

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  • Kitchenwitch
    Kitchenwitch Member Posts: 374
    edited March 2010

    Thank you, everyone. Trying not to stress today but instead did some fun shopping (a couple of beauty things) and will plan fun photo session with my husband! Woo hoo. I think I'll be glad I have the pictures even if I don't look at them for a long time. And they might be useful one day if more reconstruction is needed. 

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited March 2010

    You know, the one PS I consulted pre-surgery/ pre-decision did exactly that---took boob photos so he would know what he was recreating.  As I recall, he did a full frontal [sans head shot] and a sidewise angle shot.  The purpose was to have a record if I ended up with a mastectomy instead of lumpectomy.

    Can't recall if the second PS did or not. 

    At anyrate, go ahead!  Oh but have a few less, ahem, flashy ones, to give to the PS!

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited March 2010

    My ps took pictures pre surgery line 3monstmama had done. He had me fill out forms to allow my pictures to go in his photo album that he shows to patients. My hubby took a few and we took some along the expansion process.

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  • robinlbe
    robinlbe Member Posts: 585
    edited March 2010

    YES!!!!!!  I didn't get pictures before my biopsy or my lumpectomy (which ended up being more of a half-breast-ectomy).....however, my husband DID take pictures the night before my bilateral mastectomy.  I am SOOOOO glad I have those pictures.  I hadn't looked at them, but about 6 weeks after my mastectomy, I was having a really bad day, and just had a need to see what I used to look like....and as goofy as it may sound, it somehow comforted me to see my old self.  My daughter likened it to seeing a picture of my dad who had died....it's all part of the grieving process. 

    I have told my husband more than once, I wish we had gotten pictures before the very first incision.....these pictures are on a special card file, and the printed ones (we did it on our own printer) are tucked away where no one can find them.  However, I do plan on taking them with me when I go get fitted for my prothetics...

    My husband also took pictures the day I came home from the hospital - flat chest with four drains, and then the day I got two of the drains out....and now, I need to get new pics made with just my flat chest....I'm sure it will help somebody someday...

    So, yes....take those pictures....mine are all "headless" shots, but I'm so glad I have them, as I'll never see myself with my breasts again...

    blessings...robin

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited March 2010

    You're not at ALL vain or neurotic and it's NOT an idiotic question! :)

    Not only did I take photos of my breast, I talked to it and sang to it in the shower the night before my lumpectomy!!  (Sort of a "thank you, I love you, you'll never be the same, but I'll remember how you were" kind of thing. :))

    I'm happy to have a lot of photos of my happy, healthy, whole breasts from over the years... not because I was purposefully taking photos of my boobs, but because my friends and I are sometimes naked/topless just because.  So I have pictures of me (us) naked while swimming, hula-hooping, just hanging out in the kitchen cooking, etc.  These photos, especially, make me smile... because they're not specifically photos of my pre-surgery breasts, they're just photos of me having fun and living life, and my breasts are a part of it.  They are like "candid" shots of my breasts. ;)

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  • dash
    dash Member Posts: 766
    edited March 2010

    Do it! I'll never forget one lady who tearfully told me she wished she had done this before her surgeries. I did it--just a basic headless, chest shot. Better than nothing but I really wish I had done some more creative shots. Good luck on Tues

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