|
My heart goes out to you; we have all been where you are now. Like you, I had very dense breast tissue. Even after my lump was diagnosed via a biopsy (2cm just under my skin right there for the feeling), a subsequent mammogram still couldn't pick it up. I too had fibroid cystic disease, so there were lumps everywhere. While I heard the statistics about there being no difference in survival between lumpectomy and mastectomy patients, so little was said about the heartbreak of having to go through everything a second time should a new primary appear. Thus, recognizing that there was no right or wrong decision to be made, I did what I felt was best, and that was to do a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction via expanders. I had my initially surgery in 9/03, and I just recently finished the whole process (i.e., my nipples are done and my tattoos are dry). If it weren't for the faded scars running across each breast, no one would know that they are completely man made. I love having them (though all sensation is gone which is too bad but not horrible in the scheme of things). My husband really could have cared less what I did -- he is a wise man -- he just said he wanted me to live long and be happy. I like looking in the mirror and feeling sort of like me again (albeit with much more perfect breasts than ever before). Aside from the vanity stuff (for which I do not apologize), I feel like the procedure bought me some peace of mind in that I don't have to fret over each lump and bump that would have remained in my "good" breast had I not taken it off.
What you will see as people respond to you is that we have all made such different choices, though each of us seems quite content with the choice we made. I wish you the very best as you figure out what will work best for you.
Cynthia
|
Threaded Mode