Single and thinking about getting a double
Comments
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Well I have been flat - ((needs ironing!)) two years now, with a scar revision one year ago. See higher up the thread. They can't improve on my original cancerside scar due to the radiotherapy and not enough depth of tissue, so "flat" is not strictly accurate and yes, I can see more of my belly than I really want to. But I'm no longer hampered by tight bra-bands and forms; and with support from great friends who tell me I look okay - THANKYOU GUYS!! - I'm coping better than the surgeons predicted. I went with a very sweet lady surgeon for my second Mx who was so much more understanding than old esteemed Mr BoobLover. I have had much less problems with the LE since, and I'm sure it's because I always go flat and non-elasticated. Have only twice in the two years since been tempted to go "Dolly Parton" (and one advantage of flat is that you can fake it up several sizes if you wish) at major social occasions involving the Ex: daughter's wedding and father(out)law's funeral. Did not succumb on either occasion, and I did just fine. I also think that my cross-chest drainage has improved majorly since surgery, and I now get adequate compression from longsleeved skinny tops or small vests in summer: sadly they tend to ride up from my belly so they need to be quite long and/or tucked in. Keeping active and fairly low salt diet has helped too.
I think the bottom line is, if your boobs are essential to your self-image, keep them, but weigh the risk that they are a time-bomb. If you coped flat late-developer or under-endowed in juniorhigh you will do fine in midlife too. Wishing you all the best whatever works for you.
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Thanks for "bumping". I saw my BS just today and made a request to have my other breast removed
I really don't like being lop-sided and I'm, of course, worried about a new primary (and reoccurrence and mets too). The breast I have left has a few lumps that are "nothing" but they are still there and don't go away.
I've agreed to see a plastic surgeon to explore my options - who knows I suppose. And whether I decide to have reconstruction or not the surgery will be booked after that.
I'm glad this will be done - I'm feeling "dragged down" and wonder if this may free me to start to forget about all this.
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Best of luck, JBeans,, keep us posted.
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Glennie, if you don't mind my asking: what did you finally decide about going flat, and how is whatever choice you made working out for you?
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I'm still a uni,,, still on the fence about it. I would like to go flat,, but I don't know if I want another surgery!!
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I had a BMX two years ago and am not a small lady... I have a belly too. Working on it, but it is there for now. Ultimately I can see being a uni-boob would be really hard or just uncomfortable. I don't do the prosthesis thing - not for me. I want to be as honest as possible about it... sometimes I do feel quite self conscience about my tummy. I have had two people ask me if I was pregnant which could granted even happen with boobs. But still something I throw out there. Sometimes I think about looking into fat grafting or something to give me a little something but even then, I think it would not really help. I used to have DD's and there is just no balancing that out. But I still would not have chosen reconstruction or prosthesis so.... rock and a hard place I guess. That is my 2 cents.
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did you look at the custom prosthetics ? I'm a uni as well and thought about it hard. It took me a year to decide to start reconstruction thru fat grafting alone.
Hope to finish soo
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I had a BMX almost 5 months ago. Cancer was in the right breast and was small enough that everyone (from the first radiologist who biopsied) was sure it would be removed easily with clean margins. Nope! the IDC was removed in the first pass but scattered DCIS showed up (margins) and again in the second pass. My breasts were fairly large (36C) and I had to persuade my BS to also remove the "healthy" one. I knew I didn't want the extra surgery of reconstruction.
I am very happy that I pushed for that. I didn't want to have to adjust to the size of my remaining boob.
Also, I have a definite belly.. but I have learned how to dress for that so it is less pronounced. It has worked out well. I choose tops that flatter a flat chest but have enough flare below to compensate. I avoid tops that cling to my belly.
I'm 64 so nobody asks if I am pregnant ;-)
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