Anxious about my surgery/reconstruction decision

hi Susan - sorry you’re having to deal with this difficult situation. Although I’m a few years younger (63) I had a BMX and opted for pretty involved recon (see my signature for details). However a much older relative by marriage had a UMX and opted for no recon. The lopsided thing bothers her more from a balance perspective than anything else, she uses a good quality custom fit prosthesis (Medicare covers that) when going places and is fine with it for appearance.

Maybe you don’t need to decide immediately- perhaps the surgeon can leave skin and maybe nipple if that’s feasible when doing the UMX if it’s your preference of course while you consider if you want anything more done. Then you can weigh recon options and if you decide against, a PS can instead remove the excess skin for a smooth closure. Again, it’s for you to decide in consultation with your care team, I’m just hoping you’ll be able to reach a decision you’re comfortable with and can get through this with as easily as possible.

Hi Susan, I don't have experience with this myself, but I did want to say that my best friend had a recurrence 20 years later. She was 73 when she had a unimastectomy and she did just fine healing from it. She did have reconstruction and it was just too many surgeries. Until someone else posts here I will also share that there is a section here on going flat and a subsection on Aesthetic Flat Closure.

Here is the link for Aesthetic Flat Closure:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/82/topics/876915?page=1#idx_19

Suze - not really any rules. It's just that it's frustrating for people who are trying to help to see the same post in 4 or 5 different threads.

Take a look at the October surgery thread. Or read September surgery for input. The women there are all going through similar things and I found the support to be great. I am still friends with women I met in my chemo group when I was in that stage.

Suze - I am 60 and I had the choice of a lumpectomy or an unilateral mastectomy or a bilateral mastectomy. I did not want radiation but I did want to keep my one breast until I saw how things worked. I did have an expander put in and will be getting an implant. I'm okay with it but I can see where just sewing me up would have been fine and I could have worn a prothesis or knitted knocker. I wear a prothesis that I got off Amazon for $40 or something. It works great now until my expander gets enough saline in it to match my other breast. When I am home I just go without. I haven't noticed balance issues but I think the prothesis I got makes me feel fine in public. You could probably get a better one if you are staying flat.

Hello

I am 68 years old and recently diagnosed with cancer. Over the years I have had 2 negative biopsies. When I had my mammogram, the day after my birthday, it again was abnormal. I looked at the scan and immediately knew this was different. They did a sonogram the same day. I was then scheduled for a biopsy on Dec 11, 2020. My results were to take 3 to 5 days. When I didn't get definitive results I learned my sample was sent to Hilman Cancer in Pittsburgh. Now I am really getting anxious.

On December 22, 2020 I learned I have a rare type of breast cancer...papillary. I had to tell my adult children on Christmas day. I wanted to tell them in person. I met with my surgeon on the 23rd. I had no idea what to decide.

I have negative experiences in my past. My mother-in-law had breast cancer 1969. She had radiation which burned a large spot on her chest and even the lining if her heart. So my take on it was if I ever get cancer no radiation for me. My sister developed breast cancer in 1989 for which a radical mastectomy and chemotherapy. By the time of her last treatment she could not even drink water. She was ulcerated from her mouth through her entire system. So again I said no chemo for me.

I wanted to talk to an oncologist to help me decide what to do but that is not an option here. I started to do research. I came across a woman who was explaining how to treat her skin during radiation. She showed her chest area which was dark blue and black and I went into a panic attack.

I did get myself calmed down but became very weepy. I could not say the words, "I have cancer." I am the person everyone usually turns to. I was falling apart. My Nurse Practioner was extremely sensitive to my needs. Thanks to her I am now ready to face the future. Many friends have also helped me to understand what their treatments were like and to remind me both of my negative experiences were many years ago.

My cancer is papillary and in the milk duct. It is supposedly 1 x .7 x 1 cm, with an invasive spot measuring. 15 cm. It is Hr and a PR + and HER2 -. Grade 2 cell growth. Plan is to have a lumpectomy and 2 to 3 lymph node removal. Then the wait for those results. Waiting is the worst. At some point I will meet with an oncologist to determine the fate of my treatment. I still have so many questions but in time I will know those answers.

I must say I am afraid of my future but i know I must move forward

thank you. I will delete