Life after Bilateral Mastectomy

I agree with AJBclan, no one can tell you the "right thing" to do. BC and BMX is a very personal choice. You have to do what is right for you!

In addition to my mother having been a BC surviver, I had been through 4 1/2 years of call backs and 4 biopsies. I was diagnosed with IDC with extensive DCIS. I knew that if the BC diagnosis was confirmed I would go for a BMX. It all developed so quickly I knew that I did not want to go through this 5 , 10 or /? years from now on the natural breast. Currently I am 8 wks post BMX w/ TE for reconstruction in Dec.. It has been uncomfortable, but not unbearable if you heed the doctors instructions and advise found on this site from all these brave survivors.

For me this entire process has been physically and emotionally tough, but I have never had a second thought about my decision. That being said, you need to go with the decision that gives you the most peace, and once it is made don't look back, and know it was the right decision for you at that time. What every you decide you are in my thoughts and prays!

I had a bilateral mastectomy in April of this year. My implants are pre pectoral. I return to work this next Monday. I am pain free and have full mobility. I had cancer in both breasts so didn't have a choice in the matter. You are at the hardest part of all this having to make decisions about your treatment. It gets easier once you have a plan in place.

Lisey I ended up staying with the implants but I was giant before and so enjoyed being flat at the start. I now am small and in proportion. It's so individual what works for each person. At the beginning it feels so overwhelming making all these decisions but it's good we have these choices in the end. Getting our DX is not our choice but our treatment is.

I had a BMX about 16 months ago and don't regret my decision. I didn't have reconstruction and don't regret that decision, either. At 70, I just didn't care if I had them or not

.As for why I chose BMX - my number one reason was because I didn't want to have the worry about breast cancer coming back on the other side. I never would have been able to handle that fear. I figured why go through this all over again sometime in the future? I also didn't want too be forced to wear any kind of prosthetic bra. I know a few women who have had a uni and now they both feel self-conscious when they go out without a bra. Living in Florida, flat is the only way to go- no sweat dripping down between the girls! One of my friends said that her surgeon told her he wouldn't take the healthy breast because it was not necessary. She changed surgeons. Mine left the decision up to me and said he would do whatever I wanted.

You have to make your own decision. Whatever you are comfortable with is what you should do.

I had a BMX 5 months ago tomorrow (yay!) and I’m glad I did. When I was making the decision you’re facing now I thought that I could do this once but never would want to go through the experience twice. (I’m BRCA2 + so am at higher risk for another cancer. This was my 2nd bc — enough already!). Plus I was pretty busty so I would have had to deal with the balance issue. When the pathology report showed pre-cancerous changes in my left non cancerous breast, that meant I’d made the right decision.

Good luck as you think through this tough decision. You’ve got to do what’s right for you.

Rachel, YOUR BODY, YOUR CHOICE.  Period.  end stop.  The end.   The US law allows you to have symmetry after a BC diagnosis and you have every right to demand symmetry, even being flat.  You do NOT have to have reconstruction if you don't want to, and yes, you can demand they do a BMX for symmetry.  Just be forceful and know your rights.  Find a surgeon who will do what YOU want. 

I’m with you, Lisey. Flat and fabulous is working for me.

Good luck, Anxiouslady. You’re going to get through this and come out fine. You’re stronger than you know

I had my mastectomy on my cancer side almost exactly a year ago. My mother has had both breast and stomach cancers. The day before my surgery I found out I was brca2+ and sort of fell apart. I was pregnant and it wasn't the right time to talk about the prophylactic side. I was in a terrible state. About six months later, after chemo and before radiation, I decided to do the prophylactic side (when I got the implant for the first side). I am about to do the exchange next week for the second side. I'll also be removing my ovaries then.

The implants look and feel different. There is some rippling and right now I am missing a nipple, so I tend not to really look at them. The implants are a good size, but they don't project the way real breasts do, but none of that is a huge deal. I'm excited to be done with reconstruction and start feeling more normal. I was surprised by how much better I felt once the implant was in on the one side, even tho I was still incomplete.

It's not easy. You still feel the loss. But my risks were high enough that I felt it was the right thing for me.