Prophylactic Mastectomy

Kimber--- they wrapped me in a snug chest binder which I was allowed to remove after 2 days and shower with the steri strips still on. Then I just kept it covered with  gauze pads and tape  for a while.  I had a problem with some stitches backing out instead of dissolving, so it took quite a while to heal and was a little tender. But basically, I took it easy for a few days and was pretty much back to  normal activites in less than a week. My incision was about 2 inches long; it's so faded now I can hardly see it.  I've had clear mammos ever since (over 4 years now)  and an US too.  I do have some areas on MRI that they are watching, but they feel very confident that they are benign findings. I go for my repeat MRI and mammo in about 5 weeks.

When I had my excision, I had a thing that looked like something out of a Wagnerian opera or an Amazon warrior painting. It was taped on, but didn't go around my chest, but covered an supported my entire breast, to keep it from jiggling. My stitches were removed a few weeks later by tweezers, etc. (My area of concern was in my mid breast, but I found out a year later they created scar tissue just under my nipple, and back further-all over my breast.) I found front closing jog bras and tiny ice packs invaluable. Your experience may differ.



Wishing you boringly normal results!

Dear Kimber,

I will be thinking about you tomorrow. I am sure you will do just fine. You have become a great researcher in terms of gathering knowledge about your treatment.



I remember when you first started to post on this website and you were as frightened and confused as all of us are in the beginning. Now you will have this procedure, making sure all your questions are answered. You are in the middle of hunting, gathering and discovery...be strong and in charge. Go Kimber, go!!! I had an excision biopsy in Nov 07 and it wasn't a big deal, just a little bump on the road (excuse the pun).

femme

Femme,

Sorry for not responding sooner...haven't been online for a while

Yes, I just used the term "lumpectomy" because it's easier to type than "wide excisional biopsy"   I was one of those who was concerned that the sterotactic biopsy may not have found the exact spot, because the MRI indicated "suggestive of invasive" and not confined to one area.  The first surgeon I consulted wanted an excisional biopsy to have a better idea of what was in there...I wanted mastectomy right away.  I guess I was unsure if the insurance would cover it "prophylactically" so agreed to excisional biopsy next.  Since it was extensive, (even though all 3 biopsies showed only "in situ") the docs agreed that mastectomy was reasonable.  I've heard so many women say "follow your gut" and I do believe we have that special instinct. So I imagine you will feel the same way about your decision.  I felt very relieved after going ahead with the mastectomy and finding out that there was a small portion that was invasive.  I guess if I had waited and monitored like some choose, it would have been caught early too...I just didn't want to have that worry to think about.  I wanted the SNB for that reason too...I figured while he's in there, make sure to check everything. He did that at the time of mastectomy.   All the nodes were negative.  I feel so blessed!!! And, I'll be thinking of you too with good wishes for your surgery on the 12th!!! Keep us posted.

I had a preventative, skin/nipple sparing bilat mast last May. I don't have the BRCA gene but had fibrocystic disease/multiple benign fibroadenomas (had already had 7 lumpectomies) and ADH/LDH + dense breast tissue! My surgeon discharged me mid January pronouncing me cured and told me he was "99% certain" he'd never need to see me again.

Three weeks after my discharge, I have a new lump just behind one of the nipples that he talked me into keeping. It's too small and too close to the implant to be able to tell whether it's a cyst or a solid so I'm back under observation. It looks like I might have to lose my nipples after all. The surgeon literally left 3mm of tissue under the skin and it's that 3mm of tissue that the new lump has grown in.

I have no feeling in them at all although they do respond to hot/cold and touch. I can feel pressure on them rather than anything else. I liked having them there because they made me look more "normal" but now I wonder whether this was the right decision.

I was a 34a pre-op and wanted to stay the same size. I had a one-step fixed volume implant recon and am now between 32 c/d. I was told the implants have to be a certain width to stop them from slipping out of the cavities that were made in the chest wall. My new breasts are also slightly lower down on my chest to accomodate for the extra width, hence my back measurement being 2" smaller. I have medium profile, textured 200cc silicone gel implants.

i'm surprised. i know someone who had a terrible experience with patrick borgen. he has a nice bedside manner but 'out of sight out of mind' is an understatement - after the cheque was cashed, of course. wouldn't even return a phone call...

Dear Christine,

Sometimes husbands deal better with statistics.  Ask your breast care specialist for the cold hard facts.  You might even put a photo guide together for him.  You could say, if (insert photo of mastectomy with healed reconstruction) now, then NO (insert photo of mastectomy, radiation tissue damage, chemo hair loss) later.

Once the initial fear for you wears off, he may see the wisdom in it.

Good luck,

Carol(AZ)

Hi Christine--Carol is right--my husband was very supportive but dealt much better with the medical stats.  He was also a good sounding board when I laid it out before him.  Good luck today!

my mother had the tattoo and she said that it was painful, of course, and it is very light and hard to tell that is was tattooed at all. 

Christine,

I'm glad you have a breast care specialist.  It can be a long difficult road, but it's better with a good guide.

Glad your husband is getting with the program.  It's hard enough as it is.

Carol(AZ)

I am anxious to get the MRI done tomorrow and am curious to see if there are other suspicious areas or lesions. Anyone familiar with MRI and if it can pick up these things better than a Mammo?

Daughtersofsurvivors:  Thanks for your comment.  I am the one making jokes I think.  I am not sure if I think this is serious or if I am protecting myself with diminishing the seriousness of it.

And would the Breast Dr bring up or even talk to me about prophylactic mastec without thinking I was a candidate?

Thanks!

Christine

This waiting for the MRI is crap.  It has been 5 days since I had the MRI.  I have left a very pleasant and pleading vm today at the practice. 

 How long should it take for the MRI to be read?

Calgon take me away.

Thanks Dukemom.  How were your MRI results?  I am hoping by 5 today I get a call...or 5:30.

Thanks for crossing your fingers!

I did get some prelim results last night from one of the Dr.'s after pressing the practice administrator.  Their topgun MRI Radiologist is on vacation until Monday.  I am told that now not just my left breast which does show the ALH and Radial Scar but also my right breast is now showing two spots that she said "really light up".  She then said...come in on Tuesday at 8am and we'll do the ultrasound and possibly biopsy of these two areas.  Glad I will see their top Dr. on Tuesday.  I have been dealing with this since end of May. 

 What scares me is that two years ago I had a hard lump which was aspirated and determined to be B9.  I can still feel this pea size bump under my right nipple around the 6 o'clock position.  Why I didn't insist on having it removed entirely is beyond me. 

I am certainly preparing for cancer ladies.  Hopefully not outside the breast.

Sorry.  I realized that I posted a reply to an older post.  This is my first time. Having mastectomy next week.  Trying to decide whether to keep nipple and do sentinel node biopsy.  It is prophylactic due to LCIS.  Had other side mastectomy 4 years ago.  Wish I was brave enough to have done both sides then, but at least doing this now to move forward in life. Any help on these 2 questions would be great:  nipple sparing?  sentinal node biopsy if prophylactic?