My journey as a husband supporting my wife’s mastectomy decision

Posted by gpigford @gpigford, Jan 19, 2023

So a little history. My wife sister died of Breast cancer 25 years ago. It was a second occurrence for her. Now my wife was diagnosed 2 weeks ago. Single tumor 3.5 cm stage 1. Genetically negative. No other signs of any spread. Doctor said we caught it early and suggested a lumpectomy. Fast forward 2 weeks, countless doctor appointments and mountains of information. She has decided to go full tilt and do a double mastectomy. So 4 doctors and her husband suggest a conservative approach. All the research seems to put lumpectomy ver mastectomy on a level playing field and she is hitting it with everything.

Here is my dilemma , I don’t agree with her decision. I get she is scared and tired of 25 years of worry. I understand she just wants to get to the finish line. I just think she is making a rash decision and not looking at it objectively. And I get she is not really in a state of mind to make a clearheaded decision. I feel that is where I come in. I’m the stats guy. I’m the one who can look at things from a few feet back. My job is to be the rock through this. The support when her knees give out. Every time I try to talk to her, the claws come out and she goes into a full frontal assault accusing me of not respecting her body and her decision. That is not what I am trying to do. All I’m saying is a lumpectomy can become a mastectomy, but a mastectomy can never become a lumpectomy. It is a one way street. If two years from now she gets off the emotional roller coaster she can be making a life changing decision. She will never grow them back. She will lose nipple sensation forever. Without nipple sensation she will most likely never have another organism. She is giving up everything because right now she is afraid of the future.

Sorry to have rambled on but I just don’t know how to support something that I think is a fundamentally rash and wrong decision. Anyone insight is very appreciated.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers Support Group.

@gpigford

Survey "Do I look?"

I would like to do a survey from the women on here.

History: Nancy's double mastectomy has taken an unplanned path. The right side is doing great while the left side has had several setbacks. The end result is the right side is proceeding as planned the left side no longer has its expander and will have to wait till next year for reconstruction. She will proceed with radiation on the left side. After it is done and all healed up they will come back and do reconstruction to the left side. She has become very conscientious how it looks. We have been married 30 years and I am not going anywhere. Her appearance bothers her more than it does me. She now hides it from me. I've told her she didn't have to but she does anyway.

Survey question: Do I avoid looking at her chest and let her continue hiding her scars, hills, and valleys from me? Or should push her to not hide it from me knowing I love her for who she is? I am favoring not hiding it because I don't like her thinking that it makes a difference to me.

Jerry

Jump to this post

I believe she should make the decision as to how much she wants you to see. BUT, your job is to continue to tell her how much you love her, and how much you will always love her. Support her in her decisions, give her a hug and kiss whenever she will allow it and find things that are not related to her breast to find wonderful and beautiful about her. (How much you all depend on her for her continuing love and care, and concern). Tell her she makes everyone around her happy, and how much better their lives are because of her.
GINA5009

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.