Mastectomy

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Likea
Likea Member Posts: 4
edited August 2017 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Hi I was diagnosed with cancer on my left side. I'm scheduled to do a mastectomy next week, but I'm thinking of having both of them removed without reconstruction. I really don't know what to do I just don't want to be lopsided nor worry about getting cancer in the other one ,even though the doctor said there's a very slim chance I would. anybody out there made the same decision, removing both, and how did it affect you removing both? Was there any complications afterwards? Thank you

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  • ravzari
    ravzari Member Posts: 277
    edited August 2017

    If you don't think you'd be satisfied with how you look with only one breast and don't want to reconstruct or wear a foob to look balanced again, it'd be best for that reason alone to have them both removed.

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  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited August 2017

    I was DXd this past Jan. Ony one side was cancer while the other one was precancer,DCIS. had an option to do lumpectomy. However, many surgeons believe if one breast is bad now, the other one is likely to go bad as form of recurrence. I met a woman who thought unilateral mastectomy w chemo rad was the end of it. Several yrs later the other breast had to be removed due to cancer. She said if she had known, she would have had both removed.

    I had bilateral MX with no recon. Turned 47 Jan. Was a bit chunky side. Surgery recovery was about 4 wks. Even drove a bit at the end of 4 wks. Mom had ovarian and breast cancer. No complication from double mastectomy itself. I can always change my mind later about recon. When that happens, I will get a perfect pair.


    Mimi

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited August 2017

    Malikia, you don't have your stats listed on your sig line, and that would make a big difference for many women. I had umx. Never considered bmx, as I was initially trying for BCT. Multi-focality took that off the table. I am not sorry to have done umx, as I was pretty young (38) and really wasn't ready to give up sensation in both my breasts. So age was also a consideration for me. I got pretty good recon, so there isn't really a noticeable difference between my boob and my foob :)

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  • Lisey
    Lisey Member Posts: 1,053
    edited August 2017

    I am younger and I had double mastectomy even though only one breast was affected with cancer I did not reconstruct. I absolutely love how I look. It did stink To lose nipple sensation, but you're going to lose it whether you reconstruct or not if you pick mastectomy. I went from Double D to completely flat and have found the clothing options opened up for me as a younger woman, I don't look so matronly and I look slimmer being flat. If you are interested in researching it, I highly suggest you join the Facebook group flat and Fabulous. They allow women trying to decide which option they want to join and ask questions. Best of luck to you in your decision

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