Hello!

I was hoping I wouldn't need to come here, but here I am, having learned this morning that I need a mastectomy for widespread DCIS in my L breast. Given the Covid-19 crisis I will have to wait 6 months or more (no worries, it's not likely to transform into something more invasive in that time). However, I was alarmed to find out that I will lose my entire breast. My boobs are only small and the DCIS is occupying far too much of my breast to make breast conserving surgery possible. My right breast is normal so they will leave it alone.

Can anyone advise me on reconstruction options? None of them look ideal. I have heard that implants have high failure/complication rates and don't look or feel normal. I am very sporty so I am also worried that if I have flap reconstruction from either L dorsi or rectus abdominus muscle that I will be left weak and unable to do the sports which I love (hiking, running, swimming, climbing, anything adventurous).

Are there any other intrepid adventurers out there who have had reconstructive surgery? How was it? My body image is suffering big time as I am slim and muscular and love being strong and agile. This has come as a big blow to me. I don't even feel like going out for a run...

As you can probably gather I am still reeling from the news.

Thank you,

Marisa (and Spook the cat)