Hi Rosie

I’m sorry to hear you’re going through this and you're not troubling me at all.

I had a diep flap reconstruction. My surgeon told me on the day I was diagnosed that I would be having a mastectomy, so I had that in my head from the outset and to be honest I just wanted it gone and quick. Thankfully all went smoothly for me. I was in hospital for 4 nights, the first couple of days were very painful but I was lucky that I had a relatively quick recovery.  I then had symmetry surgery and nipple reconstruction in March this year. It’s amazing what the plastic surgeons can do. 

Do you know what kind of surgery you’ll be having? 

Alison x

Hi Rebecca

I’m so sorry to hear that news.  As scary as it is to hear those words, you have to stay positive, treatment is amazing these days and you know what you’re dealing with now and have a plan of action. Your mum has the same as what I had.  Try and stay away from Dr Google and ask the surgeon as many questions as possible.

I really hope all goes well for your mum.

Take care.

Alison x

Hi Alison, 

Thankyou so much. I'm trying to stay positive as the doctor really reassured me and told me everything and told me I shouldn't worry as this cancer will be cured. So I feel better knowing that. I just wondered if you know why you had to have a mastectomy if you had the same cancer? I'm just curious as  My mum was offered mastectomy or lumpectomy with radiotherapy but she isnt 100% sure of what she should do. But they said both treatment options give them same success rates however with the lumpectomy theres about 0.5% chance of it returning. But they would give my mum regular checks and the tablet for 5 years. They said her cancer is very slow growing and if they was to have found the cancer in another year it would have only grown about 1mm. So it is very unlikely it would spread from now to the surgery in 3/4 weeks. Which is good news. Thankyou for your help and support. It's very difficult and I cant quite believe we are going through this, I keep looking at my mum and thinking I cant believe she has cancer right now. I never thought I would be going through this with my mum, but I feel better than I did before when we was waiting for the results as we know 100% now what is going on but I'm sure we will get through it. 

Best wishes,

Rebecca 

Hi Rebecca

That is good news that your mum won't have to wait too long for her operation. You'll get through it for sure. Time goes so quickly, your mum will have had her op and be recovering before you know it! 
I had to have a mastectomy as I had a 5cm area of DCIS. My surgeon told me on the day of my diagnosis that I would probably have to have a mastectomy and to be honest I just wanted it gone out of my body as quickly as possible. 
Let us know how your mum gets on.

Alison x
 

Hi Alison

Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it.  When I was told last week the cancer had spread and that I would need a mastectomy with reconstruction thereafter, I just accepted all they said.  Due to other ongoing isses that need treatment they said we would discuss reconstruction at my next appointment so at this stage have no idea.  My husband has done some research and said there are options but at this point in time I haven't discussed this further with him as the thought makes my stomach turn.  I was coping great with everything that was thrown at me until last Wednesday, now it just sees I cannot think forward to the next stage hence I've joined this forum to try and get some advice from people who have been through this and can offer really practical advice.

I think I do need to look at the options though as I need to understand what they are.

Thanks Alison and great to hear that you have come through this so positively!

Rosie