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We all deal differently, and your reaction is totally normal! It's scary to loose a body part, and to loose a breast can really mess with your self image. Getting the reconstruction with the mastectomy really helps eliminate the "loss" (I'm told). I currently only have one breast (I'm 33), most of the time it's not a big deal (with the prosthetic you can't tell unless I bend over and give you a 1/2 clevage shot). It's when I'm naked looking in the mirror that you get that "painful reminder". My hubby rarely sees me without a top on anymore, and that is my issue not his. Some women choose to do a double mastectomy with reconstruction so that they will have more symetry. That is a personal prefence and totally up to you. You need to discuss (with you, family, friends, doc, ...) things like nipple sensation, weight loss/gain effects, personal risk of recurrance, any issues you can think of, ... I also recommend finding a trained counselor to talk to. Wheter it be a hospital social worker or support group, or clergy from the church. Holding these feelings in just makes them eat away at you. http://www.breastcenter.com/welcome/ Above is a web-site for a plastic surgeon in Louisiana. They're suppose to be really good but more importantly it'll show you some pictures so you can get a good idea of what it'll look like post surgery and all the different options you have. Many cancer survivors joke that despite the breast cancer, at least they get new gravity defying boobies! As far as being a single woman, you are not alone. Lifetime movie network has a movie about a single woman and her journey through bc; it may be a good one for you to watch. I haven't seen any of their bc movies, but they are suppose to have a couple good ones. http://www.youngsurvival.org/ Young Survivor Coalition (above) is a support group for young woman diagnosed with breast cancer. I believe they already have a chat going about dating and all the other wonderful things that bc makes that much more difficult! It so helped me to talk to people about their experiences when I was diagnosed. Although each of our journeys is unique, we all have something to teach someone else. Good luck and please let me know how your doing and if I can help you in any way! FYI - since you had radiation that may limit your reconstruction options; but since your radiation is prior to the mastectomy I'm not sure how. Your doctor will go over this with you. hugs jessi 6/9/06 - biopsy positive for cancer 6/23/06 - DIAGNOSIS: stage IV (T4d N2 M1) invasive ductile carcinoma NOS with bone and liver mets; 17 cm mass (primary tumors), inflammatory breast cancer(IBC); HER2/neu+, HR- 6/26/06-12/11/06 - Chemo FEC/Taxol w/Herceptin & Aredia 12/20/06 - right modified radical mastectomy, 7 of 13 removed nodes showed evidence of prior disease 12/21/06 - No Evidence of Disease (stage IV/NED); complete remission 2/6/07-3/22/07-Radiation 28+5 boost, 6040cGy. CURRENT: Still NED, taking Herceptin and Zometa without end. Heart and kidney function remains normal.  |
