Body image after mastectomy

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Laurencl
Laurencl Member Posts: 237
edited September 2019 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I thought I would start a discussion on body image.

I was diagnosed in January of 2019 with IDC and I went through chemo February through July. I had a right mastectomy on 8/8, with reconstruction to happen in a few months. Of course, I want cancer out of my life and have been focused on that all this time . Yesterday, I threw on a tee shirt to walk my dog. I guess I have been wearing bigger shirts since my surgery. I suddenly saw how different I looked in “my” clothes, and it really threw me. Yes, I have seen myself in the shower (and yes that is hard), but I guess I thought the changes could not be seen in clothes. Just feels like another unwanted change

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  • TB90
    TB90 Member Posts: 992
    edited August 2019

    Laurencl: This is so new for you. And it is a dramatic body image experience to say the least. Sounds like reconstruction is in your future still? If so, your body is not done changing and when it has, I hope it is so much more what you had hoped.

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  • OnTarget
    OnTarget Member Posts: 447
    edited September 2019

    There are great things to look forward to!

    The scars definitely are unappealing at first, but they get better!

    For myself, I knew that being flat was only going to be a short time, so I just tried to live in the moment. I wore my regular Tshirts with my little drain pouches hanging on my waist and I went out and did things. I've been trying to be introspective about the whole experience and I think I've learned a lot about myself and my self image.

    Now my TE's have been fully expanded and I just have to wait for the change out after chemo. I have to tell you, I feel great! I've lost 35lbs (thank you cancer!!) and I look good IMO. I love wearing fitted tank tops and not needing a bra and I'm maximizing this. My scars are lightening up, and I know they'll reopen them, but I'm still happy to see them fading.

    I'm sure that the future will be even better. Softer implants, faded scars, all of this will be in the rearview mirror.

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  • Laurencl
    Laurencl Member Posts: 237
    edited September 2019

    On Target

    You of course are right. I bought a “real” bra (with no underwire) and molded cups and I was a new woman . I looked like myself in a tee shirt and it did lift my spirits a bit.. moving on....

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited September 2019

    hello sweetie I had Lmast with reconstruction was planning our 2nd marriages when diagnosed. I was rushed to hospital by my fiance with very high fever the expander had to be removed my body rejected it. I couldn't look at my self for awhile my fiance said in hospital it s not bad to look at he was so supportive. I realized I was just so glad to be Alive that I could look at it also. I wear prothesis in my bras and you can't tell the difference. Hang in there. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast got married then 7wks rads and 5yrs on Tamoxifen

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  • OnTarget
    OnTarget Member Posts: 447
    edited September 2019

    Laurencl, that's great!

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