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Anyone feel devasted about how you look & feel? And guilty too?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: May 30, 2023 | Replies (61)Comment receiving replies
It sounds like you have found a raod that is right for you. I have had a very long time to accept my situation, and I was left with far fewer decisions to be made. I had a Radical Mastectomy. Unfortunately there is no reconstructions from this surgery. Everything is taken down to the chest wall. My second surgery was a simple mastectomy. Reconstruction was not offered due to the fact the left side could not be reconstructed. Again, this was 1968 and I was 36 years old. I had two children age 6 and 8, a wonderful husband and life moves on. I have been lucky to have a very long life. Perhaps it was easier for me, because there absolutely was no choice. You are right it is your journey, but I think if you can accept the help that is offered to you from your family and friends the journey may not be so cold and lonely. You have a long time to enjoy this life "Gift" you have been given. May it be long and filled with love, and laughter, and many many years of happiness and joy.
Gina5009
Replies to "It sounds like you have found a raod that is right for you. I have had..."
What a wonderful response from a loving person, Gina, who went through so much but was helped by her loving husband and two children which were two other blessings which gave her the courage and stamina to go on with her life and live it to the fullest. Blessings to her and all who go through this journey.
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Hi @gina5009
When I was a kid and I first heard about radical mastectomies, it freaked me out, but not for the usual reason. I was born unusually strong for a girl and I was so happy for that gift especially since I only had brothers so it allowed me to keep up with them in sports. So I worried my whole life about getting breast cancer and losing my strength. When that fear started, I didn't even have breasts yet so I was too young to relate to that part of it.
Ultimately, I had a double mastectomy at 54, but luckily the simple mastectomies of today's medical mindset. Difficult for sure, but I was happy I wouldn't lose strength. Then when my cancer came back in chest wall and pectoral muscle, and on my dominant side, there was that fear of losing strength again that might leave me feeling weak and helpless. They only had to take a small amount of my pectoral muscle and it didn't go all the way through. I did have side effects including loss of range of motion, but no real noticeable loss of strength. Then again, I was 61 for that surgery and not nearly as strong as I used to be anyway.
Gina - My question to you, if you don't mind me asking, is how did the radical mastectomy affect your strength and daily living activities? Is/was it as hard as I imagined?