Hello nanpig, you've been through a lot bless you, do you have a breast nurse you can call? What about Macmillan? My local centre has a fantastic support system....I know other mastectomy ladies will be along to chat with...in the meantime tell us a bit about yourself love xxx

Hi I was a Brac 2 lady with 88 % of developing breast ca. Genetics were awlful. Tried tamoxifen for a while then made the decision last Nov to go down the double masectomy and reconstruction route. Couldnt accomadate locally so transferred to another hospital. 10 days now after OP all healing g well but feel no support. Just to ask simple questions too. 

What a shock for to find your carrying that gene. I'm saddened to see there is no support for you, have you looked on the breast cancer.org forums? There is a search option....let me see if I can put the link on here for you. Construction wise there are loads of ladies on here who have had reconstructions.....I hope they pick up you post....also, try looking on the " good and the bad" thread......massive support there too....xxx

forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/.../1291946

lets see see if that link works, apologies if not, I'm not that clever with iPads.....I know it says chemotherapy threads but try looking up braca gene in search engine?

You can always talk to us x

Thank you.

Hi nanpig

Sorry you feel so alone after your surgery.

I cant give you any advice about the surgery you've had but I was diagnosed  with triple negative  breast cancer in November  2018.

Shortly after I was prompted to get tested for the Brca gene but at the time just couldn't  deal with it. I finally gave in and was tested and weeks later was confirm to be a Brca 1 carrier..

I had the cancer in both breasts and 3 nodes  were also affected too.

I had chemo and had surgery at  all the end of April which was a bilateral  lumpectomy  and full axillary  clearance.

I'm still struggling  to come to terms with the brca result and have very down stays with the anxiety and find it hard to focus.

I had my first  radiotherapy  meeting yesterday  and it kind of threw me abit as the oncologist  was saying being brca 1 that I should have gone for a double mastectomy with reconstruction and he was reluctant  to proceed with sorting  out my radiotherapy.

I questioned my decision so much at the time over what was the best decision  to make and my surgeon  said lumpectomy  with radiation  even though I was brca 1!

He said survival rates were the same for both lumpectomy  with radiation  and mastectomy.

I came out of my appointment  in tears questioning  whether I had done the right thing and been feeling very low.

I keep thinking  I should  have gone for what you've had done but life is very hard  as I have e children and no family support to get me through such  a major step if I needed it.

My mum died of ovarian cancer and the brca gene also increases my risk  of that so that's something else go deal  with. x

You are a very brave lady. I have no surviving female members of family. Lost my mum when I was 25 she was 60. I'm the only person to have been tested and I have 3 grown up daughters one who has had cancer already. Our family genetics are horrendous. My brothers are know being tested for gene as they have daughters and the connection between BRAC2 and prostate. 

Just felt a bit alone. As we do think hard about these decisions not selfishly. At least I know that my girls nieces and other family members have choices that my mother grandmother aunts uncles didn't have. 

Hi there .. and welcome to our little chat room ..

Your deff not alone .. I see our lovely Marlyn is taking care of you ..and our other wonderful lasses have popped by ... I came on here nearly two years ago .. knowing no one else with cancer .. but on here I was taken under a wing of jolomine ... she got me through the early scary days .. and I stayed on as feel like it's a family on here .. all holding each other up .. on good and bad days .. and we talk about all sorts .. not just cancer ..

I had a grade 3 and total right masectomy in July 2017 ... and lots have joined along the way .. you can join any thread .. I'm sure you'll find others with the bracca gean ... who you could help too ..

Wer all here with one thing in common ... kicking cancers butt .. so hope you stick around and join our family ... where we know how you feel .. you can vent / yell or just chat ...

Chrissie x

Hi sorry to hear that its affected so many members of your family.

My mum died of ovarian when I was 26, she was just 53. I never knew my mums mum as she died when my mum was 2, she also died  of ovarian.

Mine is the only case if breast cancer in my family.

My daughters are 4 and 5 and my son is almost  13.

None of my kids know what I have been going through as I've had to put on a brave front for them but  I cry my eyes out whenever  they're not  around.

The thought of them being without me just destroys me inside.

I dread it when they will both have to be tested at age 18 and my son if he ever has daughters they will have to be tested  too.

How is your recovery going after your operation, and I hope you have  support around you.

My father hasn't bothered to see me or speak to me since  diagnosis in November  and that's something  else I find hard to cope with.