Aa
Implants - to get them or not?
I have been trying to find a forum of some sort or a place to go to find others that have had to deal with this horrible disease. So glad to find you all, although I wish it were under different circumstances.
I was diagnosed with IGM of my left breast in October of 2008, after 3 1/2 months of testing & biopsies. Once cancer was ruled out and they found the disease was in my right breast as well I made the scary, but very logical to me, decision to have a bilateral mastectomy in January of 2009. I now go once a year for a mammogram to determine whether or not any cells from the disease have reappeared. Fortunately, I have been blessed with no new findings; however, I still find it difficult, emotionally, to deal with the fact that I have lost my breasts. I had immediate reconstruction following the mastectomy and I was very impressed with the plastic surgeons work, but I'm a couple sizes smaller than before and I have a hard time looking past the scars. If I choose to, I can have implants put in, but I'm not so sure that I want to go through any more surgeries.
Is there anyone else that is struggling with this?
I was diagnosed with IGM of my left breast in October of 2008, after 3 1/2 months of testing & biopsies. Once cancer was ruled out and they found the disease was in my right breast as well I made the scary, but very logical to me, decision to have a bilateral mastectomy in January of 2009. I now go once a year for a mammogram to determine whether or not any cells from the disease have reappeared. Fortunately, I have been blessed with no new findings; however, I still find it difficult, emotionally, to deal with the fact that I have lost my breasts. I had immediate reconstruction following the mastectomy and I was very impressed with the plastic surgeons work, but I'm a couple sizes smaller than before and I have a hard time looking past the scars. If I choose to, I can have implants put in, but I'm not so sure that I want to go through any more surgeries.
Is there anyone else that is struggling with this?
Thank you for your reply..
Yes, it is still very relatively early stage for me. So far we are only trying with prednisone. 3 weeks on,1 week off, check up, repeat the process over and over again. And I still keep asking every doctor I meet (and I meet new different young doctors every week, the specialist is always out of reach)), whether we should have surgery, and everyone but myself think it is too drastic (and my husband is on my side, but probably only because it hurts him to see me in pain). Its kinda funny sometimes how "eager" I seem to be to have the surgery. But it really isn't too bad for me, my condition now that is. So we're waiting it out, seeing how it goes.
And I guess its not so bad that the steroid is making me bloat so much, its an excuse for a new wardrobe, isn't it? (",)
Yes, it is still very relatively early stage for me. So far we are only trying with prednisone. 3 weeks on,1 week off, check up, repeat the process over and over again. And I still keep asking every doctor I meet (and I meet new different young doctors every week, the specialist is always out of reach)), whether we should have surgery, and everyone but myself think it is too drastic (and my husband is on my side, but probably only because it hurts him to see me in pain). Its kinda funny sometimes how "eager" I seem to be to have the surgery. But it really isn't too bad for me, my condition now that is. So we're waiting it out, seeing how it goes.
And I guess its not so bad that the steroid is making me bloat so much, its an excuse for a new wardrobe, isn't it? (",)
Hello AiniZayana,
So sorry to just now be responding. I have not been on here in some time. I appreciate your kind words. I had an immunologist try to convince me to try Enbrel (which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis); however, the side effects of the drug were kind of scary to me. I also had hoped to have more children, and the medicine would have been a long-time treatment, preventing me from having the option to have more kids. I came right out and asked my breast specialist what his advice would be if it were his wife and he very bluntly answered, "Cut them off." (I respect my breast specialist very much and his opinion, especially after the great lengths that he went to in order to find my diagnosis) My IGM was so progressed. Prednisone was not touching it. I was having 2 to 3 doctors appointments a week and I was just tired. It really didn't take me much time to come to the decision of having the mastectomy. To me it was the logical thing to do. However, if you are in the early stages and the doctors have a treatment plan for you, it wouldn't hurt to try that out first and then make the decision to have surgery at a later date. I hope that this information has been helpful. I will keep you in prayer as you face these difficult challenges. - Georgette
So sorry to just now be responding. I have not been on here in some time. I appreciate your kind words. I had an immunologist try to convince me to try Enbrel (which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis); however, the side effects of the drug were kind of scary to me. I also had hoped to have more children, and the medicine would have been a long-time treatment, preventing me from having the option to have more kids. I came right out and asked my breast specialist what his advice would be if it were his wife and he very bluntly answered, "Cut them off." (I respect my breast specialist very much and his opinion, especially after the great lengths that he went to in order to find my diagnosis) My IGM was so progressed. Prednisone was not touching it. I was having 2 to 3 doctors appointments a week and I was just tired. It really didn't take me much time to come to the decision of having the mastectomy. To me it was the logical thing to do. However, if you are in the early stages and the doctors have a treatment plan for you, it wouldn't hurt to try that out first and then make the decision to have surgery at a later date. I hope that this information has been helpful. I will keep you in prayer as you face these difficult challenges. - Georgette
Hi everyone,
I just had a partial mastectomy last thursday. My Dr. recommends to turn the flair down and then do the complete mastectomy, so now I have to wait at least 3 months to have the complete mastectomy. I had my first appt with a good pastic surgeon he will place an expander and after 3 months will place the real implants, I was dignostic with IGM last december but been suffering from it since June last year, I just opt for surgery because the Dr.'s gave me almost no hopes of getting better with prednisone and Methotrexate not only Dr.'s but my body.
For me to having a mastectomy I think will be the best.
I hope the best to you all. Blessings
I just had a partial mastectomy last thursday. My Dr. recommends to turn the flair down and then do the complete mastectomy, so now I have to wait at least 3 months to have the complete mastectomy. I had my first appt with a good pastic surgeon he will place an expander and after 3 months will place the real implants, I was dignostic with IGM last december but been suffering from it since June last year, I just opt for surgery because the Dr.'s gave me almost no hopes of getting better with prednisone and Methotrexate not only Dr.'s but my body.
For me to having a mastectomy I think will be the best.
I hope the best to you all. Blessings
hi Georgette,
you're such an inspiration, to go through what you did and remain seemingly so positive.
I'm only at the early stages of being diagnose with GM and currently weighing whether to have biopsy or not,since my lump is half the size of my right breast. Some doctors and people are urging that i should just try any kind of treatment other than surgery. If u dont mind me asking, how did you come to the decision of having the mastectomy?
you're such an inspiration, to go through what you did and remain seemingly so positive.
I'm only at the early stages of being diagnose with GM and currently weighing whether to have biopsy or not,since my lump is half the size of my right breast. Some doctors and people are urging that i should just try any kind of treatment other than surgery. If u dont mind me asking, how did you come to the decision of having the mastectomy?
Jo - Thank you for your kind words! I will be okay whether or not I choose to get implants. I am mainly here to share my experience with others and I also want to learn from others what their experience was/is like. I began searching for a site like this in October of 2008, when I was diagnosed. I have kind of given up on it in the past year or so, but have been feeling a little down lately over losing my breasts and wishing that I had someone to talk to about it. I have family tell me to find a support group, but the only groups out there are breast cancer support groups and I just don't feel worthy of being a part of them when they are battling a life-threatening illness and I am not.
I am so sorry to hear of your continued battle with the disease. Please know that you will be in my thoughts & prayers!!
Georgette
I am so sorry to hear of your continued battle with the disease. Please know that you will be in my thoughts & prayers!!
Georgette
Thank you, Noelle!
I had the Tramflap done, where they took from my stomach and moved it up to my chest. I have since had a hernia repair surgery because of my stomach muscles not strenthening since having the reconstruction done. I do feel that I would feel better about myself if I were to go through with it and have nicer looking boobs, but I just don't know if I can handle any more surgeries? I don't know if my husband can handle me having any more surgeries? lol Are the tissue expanders painful? Good luck with everything!
Georgette
I had the Tramflap done, where they took from my stomach and moved it up to my chest. I have since had a hernia repair surgery because of my stomach muscles not strenthening since having the reconstruction done. I do feel that I would feel better about myself if I were to go through with it and have nicer looking boobs, but I just don't know if I can handle any more surgeries? I don't know if my husband can handle me having any more surgeries? lol Are the tissue expanders painful? Good luck with everything!
Georgette
Hi Geo -
sorry to hear of all you have been through, but happy to read you seem to be on the other side of the worst of it
there are a number of women on our site that have had bilateral mastectomies...generally they post quite a bit pre-surgery and then move forward to heal and we don't hear too much from them after their successful surgeries - WONDERFUL NEWS -
I can give you some names if you private message me as I do know the archives quite well and you might try messaging them direct regarding their experiences
I don't understand your experience. I elected to keep my breast, I have never known if that was the right decision as I am not well 4 years on...and have had many recurrences. I am happy to know that you made the right decision for you, it takes guts.
Jo
sorry to hear of all you have been through, but happy to read you seem to be on the other side of the worst of it
there are a number of women on our site that have had bilateral mastectomies...generally they post quite a bit pre-surgery and then move forward to heal and we don't hear too much from them after their successful surgeries - WONDERFUL NEWS -
I can give you some names if you private message me as I do know the archives quite well and you might try messaging them direct regarding their experiences
I don't understand your experience. I elected to keep my breast, I have never known if that was the right decision as I am not well 4 years on...and have had many recurrences. I am happy to know that you made the right decision for you, it takes guts.
Jo
I had my double mastectomy in June. I'm 30 years old, and I think one of the biggest things that got me through the whole ordeal was knowing that I would have some nice boobs after.
I'm not sure what kind of reconstruction you had without implants, but if they're an option for you and will make you feel better, I say go for it.
I have tissue expanders in now, and I'll have my exchange surgery for implants on 10/24.
Noelle
I'm not sure what kind of reconstruction you had without implants, but if they're an option for you and will make you feel better, I say go for it.
I have tissue expanders in now, and I'll have my exchange surgery for implants on 10/24.
Noelle
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