Hi TJM, 

Wishing you all the best for your surgery tomorrow. 

I can appreciate your anxiety about losing a boob! I was diagnosed with DCIS in Feb and although I didn't have a mastectomy (had lumpectomy) it is difficult to come to terms with the changes in your body! Six months on and I am embracing my wonkiness haha!

You've got this!

Sending hugs x

Hi TJM,

A very warm welcome to our forum. I just want to reassure you that this is not as bad as you are thinking. You are fortunate that you are small busted and won't need a heavy prosthesis, to cover up the loss of one breast. I too was diagnosed with DCIS 13 years ago. I had a lumpectomy, but had fears of recurrence, as most people in this situation do. I had already lost my mum to breast cancer and naturally, thought that I would follow the same route.

Unfortunately, this was realised a year later, when I developed a second primary cancer. This time I had a double mastectomy. Due to previous unrelated surgeries, I was not a suitable candidate for reconstruction, so have coped with various types of prostheses for different activities ever since. My only complaint with these has been the weight, as I was a 46C at the time. I have since found lighter alternatives. I still live a busy and fulfilled life, which I never foresaw at the time.

You say that you are worried about losing part of your body. I had already lost some parts, prior to my diagnosis, but now look back on these as battle scars, which portray how I have overcome my adversaries. It is impossible to be positive all of the time - we all have our down days. By, tomorrow, when your surgery is over, you will begin to feel better. What treatment is planned for you post-surgery? This can be another challenge, but you will get through it.

I shall be thinking of you tomorrow and hope that all goes well for you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi TJM

Wishing you all the best for your surgery.  I had a mastectomy back in March and felt just as you did.  
The surgery wasn't nearly as bad as I thought.  You will be sore and stiff afterwards, but as long as you do the exercises you should heal very well.  I was quite surprised how little pain I had.  You may or may not wake up with drains (I didn't), and along with surgical stockings things are a bit tricky for a week, with showering etc but then things start to feel better.

I don't regret my mastectomy for a moment as I had 2 areas of DCIS and a very small area of IDC.  I find it helped so much to focus on the positives of my situation which was all very low grade and stage.  There is every chance you will be the same as DCIS is early change, a big tick!  

Like you I didn't want reconstruction as I just couldn't face the surgery.  As soon as your nurse gives the ok it's important to massage along the scar to keep it flat and smooth.  Use an arnica cream/gel as you will probably be bruised too.

It still makes me feel very sad about the loss of my boob 6 months on.  It's that feeling of just wanting to be back as you were before and those feelings are normal. This journey is such a rollercoaster of emotions but you will get through it and you will be okay.  You need to give it time to adjust.

I haven't worn my silicon prothesis much over the summer as they can get hot so my life savers were ' knitted knockers'.  I can't recommend them enough and the ladies who knit them for us are so great so do order some.  There is no charge but you can make a donation if you want to.
 

After surgery you will be given a cotton front fastening bra and a soft prothesis (softie) which will be your best friend for a while.  There's a great choice of mastectomy bras on Amazon.  Amoena are nice and I managed to get some fabulously comfortable pure cotton ones from France!  You will probably want to try loads of different ones to see how they feel.  My breast clinic also offer a service of sending standard bras to a seamstress to have pockets sewn in, so it might be worth asking if yours does to.  They will run through everything with you a month or so after surgery about bra and prothesis fitting.

Best of luck.  
 

Mary x

Hi Lovely ladies,

Thank you so much for your posts Really helped me to read them this morning whilst getting prepped for surgery.  Makes me feel comforted knowing I'm not alone in this.  I have excellent family and friends, but hearing from people who are also personally affected by cancer is so invaluable (from a supportive perspective), thank you. 

Thank you for sharing your personal stories.  I feel sorry to hear of what you are all going through / have gone through.  You are all an inspiration!  I do hope you are all doing ok. 
 

Surgery went well this morning; a drain is attached.  Not too uncomfortable or much pain at the moment.  Starting excercises tomorrow.  Results hopefully on 29th September.  The consultant said because of very little fat, she had to extract very close to the skin; because of this it's likely that radiotherapy will be necessary to mop up any extra cells, or as a precaution.  
 

In the time waiting, I managed to get my head a bit clearer with the help of reading your messages.  I think now it's actually done I feel I can hopefully start to move forward.  Very strange, but feeling more positive than last night and first thing this morning.  I know it's really important to try to keep a positive mindset, so trying my best with this of course. 
 

I was given a soft prosthesis at my pre-op appointment, so in the coming days I'll research bras.  Thank you very much for the tips!  I think I get an appointment for a silicone prosthesis in about 6 weeks.

 Thank you again, love to you all xx

Hi TJM, 

So glad to hear your surgery went well and you aren't too uncomfortable and everything crossed for positive results on the 29th.

I had five sessions of radiotherapy which was pretty much a breeze to be honest so if you do have to go down that route you will smash it!!

Take it easy and have lots of box sets at the ready for your recovery.

Lots of love x

Thank you

Glad to hear your radiotherapy went well.  A friend of mine said she was fine with it too, just made her feel very tired.  
 

The TV is ready!  I was tempted to watching tv with a snack around 4am this morning.  I've had rubbish sleep for several weeks now; find it difficult to get back when I wake.  I suppose this will improve in time. 
 

Thank you again.  Take care, lots of love xx