Mastectomy Question

[ElaineM]

Hi,
I have her 2 inflamatory breast cancer. I did not have my breasts removed. I had lumpectomies when small reoccurances appeared. I have been using Herceptin, Navelbine and Armimidex as well as complementary medicine. It has been 8 years and there have been no distant mets so far. Each person has to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision that it best for that person after discussions with doctors and research. Of course that person has to take responsibility for his or her decisions.
Hang in there.
Elaine M
http://langetc.tripod.com/health11.html

[sherri]

2 months after my left mastectomy, I went with a group of people for a retreat, all except the care givers were BC survivors. Among us it was a very beautiful woman about 40 years old flat chest and wasn’t wearing any prosthesis. One day we went to a public beach, she wore a transparent t-shirt and shorts. She had her hands in front of her when she entered the water so people didn’t know she is flat chested, she went under water and came back screaming, oh my GOD what happened to my boobs; everybody at the beach except us who knew what is happening panicked and we were laughing. It was quite a scene.

I’m scheduled for reconstruction on Thursday, this is my vanity and telling you the truth I envy that woman and Lolly so much. I hated wearing the prosthesis and I had too because I had mastectomy on the left side, I had to make a decision to either get rid of the other one or have reconstruction. I wish I had the guts to accept what happened to me and didn’t care what other people think.

[Sandy H]

I am vain because I have never left my house without my prost. or wig or will I answer the door!! My husband is always saying, when the door bell rings, "hurry up and get the door" I run for the bedroom!! He then, says, "what is the matter with you why didn't you get the door?" Now, really with no boobs, no hair, it would give the person at the door a heart attack. So I just tell my husband, "do you want them having a heart attack?" I ask him why he didn't get the door and he says, "because I don't have any pants on!" He is so liberated where it is just him and I he simply runs around in his undershorts. Now, he opens the window and over the door, we live in a raised ranch, to see who it is and says, "just a minute I need to get my pants on". In the mean time I am in the bedroom putting on my boobs and wig. What a crazy house hold!! I have literally jumped over furniture, escaping, being seen without boobs or wig. I have a nephew who use to walk in without ringing the doorbell. He thought it was funny so I hung a door bell on the inside door so when he opened the outside door the bell would ring. He finally admitted that I win and he will ring the door bell before entering my house. I could write a book. hugs, Sandy

[tousled1]

Sherri,

I loved your story about your friend. I had a bilateral mastectomy in June 06 and I did get my prothesis(s). I must admit though, I'm like your friend -- I don't wear them. I'm much more comfortable without and really don't mind being flat chested. It's quite a change from going from a D cup to nothing but I'm loving it. When I got my "fake boobs" I didn't want to be a D cup anymore so I got a C cup and when I put them on they just look so big - guess since I've been flat chested for so long I don't know what big is anymore.