[rinaina]

It has been 8 1/2 years since my Her2 + diagnosis. I always looked back and questioned if I should have had a mastectomy. Due to the damage from radiation to my cancer breast and the fact that for the last 1 1/2 years I have been walking around with an implanted marker in my "healthy" breast I have made the decision to have a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using the diep tram flap method on October 17. I did not come by my decision lightly. I deliberated over this decision for many years. I am finally well enough to finally do this huge surgery. I had so many other health issues and surgeries over the past 8 years that took priority over this. I'm happy I had the extra time to devote to educating myself enough to make a good decision for me. It also gave me time to pick a team I feel very confident in trusting with my care. I am at peace with my decision as I feel it was the best option for me. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers on October 17 as well as during my long recovery. I will be in the hospital for 4 nights 2 of which will be in the ICU and then will be recuperating at home with help from family and friends. The surgery will be at Evanston Hospital in Evanston Illinois and both my breast surgeon, Dr Yao and plastic surgeon, Dr Geoffrey Fenner will be doing their respective parts of the surgery. Thank you for your support and please feel free to give your input and/or share your experiences with the same surgery. Hope to hear from as many of you as possible. Will be in touch after the surgery as soon as I can. Sure hope my body can handle this and being under anesthesia for 9 hours.