Hello Hollis,

I was left 'lop sided' as it were after a breast reduction to remove the cancerous tumour in November 2019. I was heavy breasted so the end result (whilst very glad to get rid of the cancer!!) left me looking extremely weird. Practically had one perfect breast and one a yard long on the other side?!! Not a good look!!! 
 

I was aware I would wait about 2 years, perhaps longer, to be evened up on the NHS (longer than normal owing to Covid) So I chose to have the op privately in November 2020. 
 

Certainly this decision helped me enormously psychlogically. I have felt more positive and more attractive since. I don't regret having it done at all. I did wonder at times why I was bothering, but like you I was  feeling down about the way my body had been left.  I actually didn't think at first I would care at all about having one small breast and one large one. But actually I really did. 
 

Yes life is better if we feel good about ourselves and after the shock of a cancer diagnosis it's sometimes a struggle to get back up. My lovely husband always supported me and never reacted to me any differently to the way he always had. That helped of course. 
 

I do recommend breast cancer survivors get equalled up IF the way they look bothers them. It doesn't bother everyone of course. We are all different. 
 

I wish you well. This cancer malarkey isn't for sissy's is it?

Kebbs    

Hi Hollis,

A very warm welcome to our forum. You raise an interesting point and the outcome of a research paper on this topic would highlight some interesting points. I am so sorry to hear that you feel as you do. 

I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 11 years. I had a lumpectomy the first time and had a double mastectomy a year later when I was diagnosed with another lump in the original breast. 

I had also found a large but benign lump in my other breast 6 months after my first op, so my surgeon was quite happy to carry out the double when I asked for it.  This is a decision that I have never regretted. Having had the 2 procedures so close together in my right breast, it still looks a mess though.

The fear of recurrence is always with us, irrespective of what procedure we have. You are certainly not the only person to have this problem. There are a number of posts from ladies who have had a single mastectomy, who would still have the double if they could.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx