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Trying To Get My Nerves Settled: Tonight's Thoughts
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Mar 6 12:12am | Replies (36)Comment receiving replies
@wews
We are all human and how we react is as different—and yet similar—for each of us! I’ve been dealing with all this for over two years as I was first told “nothing to worry about” 1-1/2 years ago. But last February my OB appointment turned into the help that was needed. Finally was examined and another ultrasound where I was immediately told I have ILC, then a phone call saying I would need mastectomy. PANIC—followed by new oncologist surgeon who put me on AI to reduce tumor after 9 more months. Lots of hills and valleys emotionally and most “friends” seemed to disappear from my radar, too. At 79 I’m facing surgery on 3/26. I’m not looking forward to it and have plan on talking to my surgeon to do mastectomy rather than the Lumpectomy originally planned as I don’t want to be told not enough margin removed from tumor and have to redo a second time. Let us know how you get along post surgery and keep confident knowing you have the support of “new friends” here. All the best.
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@buckokey
My dear, I found i told few people about my mastectomy. Few know now that i had it. My family, but only my younger sister speaks as she also carries the genetic BRCA2 mutation. I have a group of six i see regularly and we are together to share as we do here.
I know i was not likely to get a lumpectomy, but from you and others i have heard that AI's were given to shrink a tumor. Noone ever spoke of that at the City of Hope. I had both removed not wanting to think it could return on the other side.
I had my final surgery Dec28th 2022. Today, just today as i walked my daily walk in the morning, I realized I do not feel my fake boobs. Honestly, our friends on this site sometimes go flat. The flap. Me, I had never had big breast so I never thought anything but that i would get implants. Big !! Bigger as i thought i always wanted? Nope. I look exactly the same. I am 65, and what i got made me feel the most normal.
I have treasured friends in the bone marrow stories on this site. I found mayo then but have since crossed to breast cancer where my story began.
Your body, your choice. I have not regretted my decision at all. I had n=so much nerve block manager with my surgery, I had no real boob pain. What i did have was the stomach pain feeling like i had done 2000 setups from my women parts also being removed.
I was ultimately amazed at the work done by my surgeon and plastics dr.
Hoping you give yourself the love you need at 75 to know all of us are here.
@buckokey
So sorry to hear that!
In 1998, my small town general practitioner took out a mass the size of a walnut. Testing came back benign.
Fast forward to 2020, my DCIS was diagnosed next to the scar from the previous surgery. I don’t think the 1998 GP was concerned about margins.
When I was diagnosed in 2020, I wanted a mastectomy. The oncologist assured me that they are more aware of margins now.
I guess time will tell.
My prayers for your successful surgery and recovery.
@buckokey I will give an update after my surgery when I get the pathology back. My surgery is 3/10/26. I hope that your surgery goes well and that you heal quickly. I didn't want to do any of this a second time either and family history that's why I chose the Bilateral Mastectomy.
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@buckokey I didn’t same thing choosing mastectomy because I didnt want to worry about clean margins or having it come back in my other breast which I was told ILC sometimes does. We are all in this together. We will prevail. Good luck with your surgery. I hope it all goes well.