I will say i had 3 sentinel nodes removed with my left breast and the nerve blocker and the nerves removed caused me no pain. My pain was the constipation after from the chemo effects a month plus before.
Stretching as they will tell you in so important. I did not do that. I essentially had lost most muscle during chemo from working from home and super little activity, Frozen shoulder occurred. A deep vein thrombosis, blood clot on my right side. I have both breast removed now and my arms are good. The worst thing i have done is not continue daily stretches.
Ask the surgical team, as they nearly always provide how to care for your body after a mastectomy. Very odd if they do not. You can do this and you will be better for it. Cancer tissue gone. Goodbye friends who turned foe.
Thanks so much to everyone for sharing your experience as I am seriously considering having a double mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy plus radiation as initially suggested by the surgeon. I would like to know if you had the aesthetic flat closure at the same time as the mastectomy and if you have a good surgeon in the greater NY area that you can recommend. It looks like there is little information on going flat on the websites of some major breast cancer centers. Many thanks!
No regrets with the flat closure from the double mastectomy. I've heard of women having issues with implants and I did not want to deal with that. I also did not want to do the trips to get the temporary skin stretchers filled (I am two hours from the closest medical center). I did not want to go the surgery to replace the skin stretchers with permanent implants. I have a scar on each side of my chest, but they continue to fade. My surgeon spared the fascia in my chest and I wore the ace bandage as directed to ensure a flat closure.
It's okay to shop around for a surgeon you are comfortable with. Ask lots of questions. I was not comfortable with the answers I got from the first surgeon I saw, so I pursued another. My oncologist was not happy that I waited to get in for a second surgeon's opinion, but I have no regrets. I ended up having surgery at Mayo Rochester and am very happy with the care I received from the surgeon and her team.
No regrets with the flat closure from the double mastectomy. I've heard of women having issues with implants and I did not want to deal with that. I also did not want to do the trips to get the temporary skin stretchers filled (I am two hours from the closest medical center). I did not want to go the surgery to replace the skin stretchers with permanent implants. I have a scar on each side of my chest, but they continue to fade. My surgeon spared the fascia in my chest and I wore the ace bandage as directed to ensure a flat closure.
It's okay to shop around for a surgeon you are comfortable with. Ask lots of questions. I was not comfortable with the answers I got from the first surgeon I saw, so I pursued another. My oncologist was not happy that I waited to get in for a second surgeon's opinion, but I have no regrets. I ended up having surgery at Mayo Rochester and am very happy with the care I received from the surgeon and her team.
No regrets with the flat closure from the double mastectomy. I've heard of women having issues with implants and I did not want to deal with that. I also did not want to do the trips to get the temporary skin stretchers filled (I am two hours from the closest medical center). I did not want to go the surgery to replace the skin stretchers with permanent implants. I have a scar on each side of my chest, but they continue to fade. My surgeon spared the fascia in my chest and I wore the ace bandage as directed to ensure a flat closure.
It's okay to shop around for a surgeon you are comfortable with. Ask lots of questions. I was not comfortable with the answers I got from the first surgeon I saw, so I pursued another. My oncologist was not happy that I waited to get in for a second surgeon's opinion, but I have no regrets. I ended up having surgery at Mayo Rochester and am very happy with the care I received from the surgeon and her team.
Hi I recently had double mastectomy and went flat. Things are going ok and I am healing. I wanted to check what you did to care for your scars. Have you used any oil or gel to help reduce the appearance of the scars? Many thanks in advance.
Hi I recently had double mastectomy and went flat. Things are going ok and I am healing. I wanted to check what you did to care for your scars. Have you used any oil or gel to help reduce the appearance of the scars? Many thanks in advance.
Hi I recently had double mastectomy and went flat. Things are going ok and I am healing. I wanted to check what you did to care for your scars. Have you used any oil or gel to help reduce the appearance of the scars? Many thanks in advance.
Silicone strips across the scars. They are expensive. My insurance wouldn't pay for them, but my O.T. would put put one on for free and I would leave it on for 3 days. Did not come off in a quick shower.
Silicone strips across the scars. They are expensive. My insurance wouldn't pay for them, but my O.T. would put put one on for free and I would leave it on for 3 days. Did not come off in a quick shower.
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I will say i had 3 sentinel nodes removed with my left breast and the nerve blocker and the nerves removed caused me no pain. My pain was the constipation after from the chemo effects a month plus before.
Stretching as they will tell you in so important. I did not do that. I essentially had lost most muscle during chemo from working from home and super little activity, Frozen shoulder occurred. A deep vein thrombosis, blood clot on my right side. I have both breast removed now and my arms are good. The worst thing i have done is not continue daily stretches.
Ask the surgical team, as they nearly always provide how to care for your body after a mastectomy. Very odd if they do not. You can do this and you will be better for it. Cancer tissue gone. Goodbye friends who turned foe.
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2 ReactionsNo regrets with the flat closure from the double mastectomy. I've heard of women having issues with implants and I did not want to deal with that. I also did not want to do the trips to get the temporary skin stretchers filled (I am two hours from the closest medical center). I did not want to go the surgery to replace the skin stretchers with permanent implants. I have a scar on each side of my chest, but they continue to fade. My surgeon spared the fascia in my chest and I wore the ace bandage as directed to ensure a flat closure.
It's okay to shop around for a surgeon you are comfortable with. Ask lots of questions. I was not comfortable with the answers I got from the first surgeon I saw, so I pursued another. My oncologist was not happy that I waited to get in for a second surgeon's opinion, but I have no regrets. I ended up having surgery at Mayo Rochester and am very happy with the care I received from the surgeon and her team.
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6 ReactionsThanks so much. Very helpful!
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1 ReactionHi I recently had double mastectomy and went flat. Things are going ok and I am healing. I wanted to check what you did to care for your scars. Have you used any oil or gel to help reduce the appearance of the scars? Many thanks in advance.
Biocorneum cream from Amazon
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1 ReactionSilicone strips across the scars. They are expensive. My insurance wouldn't pay for them, but my O.T. would put put one on for free and I would leave it on for 3 days. Did not come off in a quick shower.
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing.