Someone remind me - why keep the breast?

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  • Tina13
    Tina13 Member Posts: 51
    edited August 2012

    Hi Jennt!

    Thank you for such a positive topic! on you profile it does say that you had a lumpectomy.. Did you opt for a mastecomy later? Did you have a reconstruction?How is the appearance of your breast? 

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited August 2012

    Hey Tina,



    After I started this topic I withdrew from rads and am now scheduled for a bilateral MX with immediate skin sparing free TRAM flap surgery on the 28th Sep 2012. Feeling really good about this decision!



    Jenn

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  • JeanPoolAU
    JeanPoolAU Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2012

    I wish I could have kept mine.  I loved my breasts.  When I was diagnosed I had just turned 40 and was pretty comfortable with my appearance.  The recovery from my mastectomy was extremely difficult physically and emotionally. Even with mastectomy, due to the size and location of my tumour, I still needed rads. I've also recently had to make the decision to have a prophylactic mastectomy of my 'good' boob. Not looing forward to that or the reconstruction.

    I really wish I had the option of lumpectomy.
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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited October 2012

    Just an update...



    Am now 3 weeks past my surgery and despite the 12 hour surgery and this extended recovery period I am so glad I made the decision to have the BMX and recon.



    The BS was very worried there for a few days after surgery because during surgery they spotted an enlarged and solid lymph node on my BC side. When the histology came back it showed that node as "reactive" but with no cancer and there was no cancer in any of the other breast tissue removed from both sides. There were however cysts in the BC side in the same area my previous lumpectomy had been. It was likely those and the reactive node causing me the ongoing pain.



    I am now pain free in the breast area except for a small amount of post surgical pain and I feel as though a huge weight has been lifted and I now don't have to ever worry about cancer in the breast area and just have to worry about the cancer appearing as mets elsewhere.



    Because I had skin sparing BMX I still have feeling over most of my breasts except for in the area where my nipples have been replaced with skin from my abdomen. The amazing thing is that with my underwear on you would never even know I had anything done as all the scars are hidden.



    Jenn

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited October 2012

    I had a mx about 3 years ago.  I have constant itching and some pain, am completely numb from cleavage to back (so can't scratch the itch) and it is reconstructed doesn't look anything like a breast.  I have had shoulder and back problems for three years.

    You have time to heal, you are new at this.  What you feel now may not what you feel two years down the road.  

    The odds of recurrence in your breast are low.  They are there, I can't deny that.  But, removing the breast doesn't remove all breast tissue so your chances of recurrence would be there anyway.   You haven't harmed yourself by keeping the breast, and there are no guarantees a mastectomy would feel any better. 

    The most important thing to do in this process is not look back. You made the best decision you could at the time and you made it with the help of doctors who are knowledgable.  They are trending away from amputating body parts that are salvagable and that's a good thing.  Breasts are not just disposable lumps on our body - they are part of our structure and when you take that away, bad things can happen. (And did, to me with my shoulder problems).

    Give yourself time to heal.  People don't heal in six months or a year.  Sometimes it takes a lot longer.  And, be proud that you took care of the problem with grace and you are a survivor.

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