Made a Decision..Feel Good About it

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meechell83
meechell83 Member Posts: 20
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

So after many endless nights of worrying and stressing I have decided to go ahead with a prophylatic bilateral mastectomy. I'm going to wait until April so I can finish a semester of school but I am going to have it ASAP after that.

I know I'm making the best decision for me, but there's still some anxiety that goes with it. I've started a blog at www.tatatothegirls.blogspot.com to chronicle my journey. You should check it out if you're just bored ha ha.

I would love to get any tips and advice from women who have been through this surgery. Hope everyone is doing well and I wish everyone health and happiness in the new year!

Michelle

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  • mamaoftwo
    mamaoftwo Member Posts: 267
    edited January 2011

    Good for you!  I took a quick look at your website . You will undoubtedly go through a lot of healing and anxiety, but less than if you were diagnosed with breast cancer. I found out I was  high risk (BRCA-2) in 2007, and decided not to put my body through the trauma of prophylactic mastectomy.  Now 3 years later I have a diagnosis of BC, and am shocked that it came so fast on the heals of my genetic testing.  Congratulations to you on making up your mind and deciding to take action.  

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  • vmudrow
    vmudrow Member Posts: 846
    edited January 2011

    Good for you - checked out your website and think you have made the right decision - you are so young though.  I am 50 and just had PBM last May because of atypical cells and strong family history.  Had my exchange surgery in October.  The surgery isn't that painful and being young I think you will do great.  Feel free to PM me if you have any questions - and good luck and keep us posted on how you do!!

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  • meechell83
    meechell83 Member Posts: 20
    edited January 2011

    Thank you guys! I really know i've made the right decision for myself BUT there are times I go through doubt and anxiety. The blog has really helped me though :) I thought many of my friends and family would be against my decision, but suprisingly enough I've gotten nothing but support from them :)

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  • soccermomofthree
    soccermomofthree Member Posts: 163
    edited January 2011

    I think you made a good decision.  I had my prophylactic bi mastectomy in Aug 2010.  I had a skin and nipple sparing mas.  I had tissue expanders placed at the same time.  Next wk I will go in for my exchange surgery.  I did not want to live my life looking and waiting for bc to hit me.  There was some pain afterward but more akwardness due to drains.  There is a constant feeling of pressure on your chest with expanders. Even so... I would do it again for sure!  I feel so very blessed to not need mammograms or mri's!

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  • vmudrow
    vmudrow Member Posts: 846
    edited January 2011

    soccermomofthree - you will so love the implants more than the TEs.  Good luck with your exchange - hopefully it will be a piece of cake like mine was, not bad at all.  January would have been my month to get a mammogram - no more - YAY!!!

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  • ninap7
    ninap7 Member Posts: 50
    edited January 2011

    how soon can i exercise after the exchange - i have been working out everday since i had the masectomy - will i STILL have limited movement in my arm - i had 22 lymph nodes removed and my arm is just about back to normal -so i should be able to move my arm right

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  • Jacqu79
    Jacqu79 Member Posts: 25
    edited January 2011

    Hi there Michelle!  

    Just had a look at your blog there and I'm a 2nd year student too!  I'm studying economic and social history at university.  I'm BRCA2+ and had a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with DIEP just over 3 weeks ago and although it's been tough at times, I've never once regretted my decision.  I'm 31 years old and my mum died from BC when she was 31, so it seemed like a no-brainer to me when I found out I had the faulty gene.

    The most annoying things for me have been people not quite "getting" why I had to go through with this, even though i don't have cancer, and also people who keep telling me, "Oh you'll be a new woman with ur new boobs and flat tummy!" as though I'm doing this for cosmetic reasons!  Grrrrr!!!  Anyway, enough ranting lol! Just thought I'd say hi and good luck!!

    Jacqueline.x 

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  • meechell83
    meechell83 Member Posts: 20
    edited January 2011

    Jacqueline-

     I completely understand what you mean. I've gotten people saying I'm having a boob job, and asking "why don't I just have lipo it sounds like the same thing" and calling my time off of work "a long vacation" I'm too the point now where I'm like there is enough people who support me and I don't have room in my life for those who don't. That may sound a bit harsh but it's the way I feel now :)

    And I have to say that school is actually a very good distraction for me now. Hope this semester goes great for you!

    Michelle

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