I consider myself a very content, self secure woman. That being said I am a woman and as most of us ladies will admit we notice every flaw on our bodies. We are judgmental and harsh on ourselves, attempting to reach for youth, beauty and to achieve all tasks even tho that regimen demands we operate at a mile a minute and sacrifice so much of our selves.
When I was diagnosed with TNBC (triple negative breast cancer) in 7/2014, among the million tasks, questions, physicians, and life altering treatments I never expected to question my vanity when forced to make the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy or to keep my breast.
Its very interesting to me that physicians can be so different (non uniform) from A to Z with advice, their suggestions and recommendations on the topic of mastectomy. Even the statics and risks can be told very differently. I realize we are all uniquely different, have different stages, and need individual treatments. I was stage three and had three different oncologist give me three different risk factors and opinions. So as a patient, confused, frighten, emotional, and realizing the decision you must make to keep your breast or to remove them can and will effect your entire life.
I took a step back from the confusion, read, did research, weighed the risk vs all benefits, had faith and prayed, and asked myself difficult questions.
It really became easy and very clear to me I was not living with my breast, that had already attempted to take my life. I wanted to know I reduced all the risk, and reduced the chance of a recurrence. I wanted to live, be a mother to my five children, and reduce my worry. To know I did all I could and gave myself the best chance to live a healthy life. I wanted to of battled cancer and WON only once.
I had a bilateral mastectomy and nipple removal on 11/13/2014 and had a PCR (no cancer cells found).
Upon my pathology report a few days after my bilateral they found non cancerous, but abnormal cells in my left breast tissue also. My tumor was in the right breast, not left. All my scans, and ultra sounds would never detect the left breast of what could of possibly been brewing. Again the bilateral mastectomy was the best decision I have ever made.
The surgery was really mild considering, I do not take narcotics so I was on a strong Tylenol for a few days and switched to ibuprofen. I was grocery shopping three days later in a large sweat shirt to hide my bandages and drainage tubes. The tubes are removed within seven days of the surgery and are really just an inconvenience. My pain was only mildly uncomfortable. My chest looked strange and flat to me as the expanderas to stretch my chest muscle where slightly filled. Over the coarse of three months I visited my reconstruction physician and had more fluid inserted to gradually stretch my muscle. Again no real pain just uncomfortable for me. February, 2015 I had my first implants placed behind my chest muscle and was home the same night. I was able to be a mom to my kids and did remarkably well. I could not lift my toddler, but had him sit in my lap instead.
My breast looked great, and my scars are sideways. They start well off to the side of my breast and are not visible in bikini tops, or low cut tops. They did look a bit strange with no nipples however 3D nipple tattoos are a "game changer" and can really make your breast look bigger in the mirror to yourself, and normal again. My suggestion is to try 3D nipple temporary stick tattoos first before making a decision. I will provided all info at the bottom of the page. I had an option to have a protrude forming a nipple, a minor surgery I was told it is in the physicians office where they pull your skin and form a nipple. After healing, it can be tattooed to look more like a natural nipple. I personalty did not want to "look cold" and love the smooth "optical illusion of the 3D nipple tattoo, as I can wear a tank top bra-less now.
So my 1st set of implants I will admit (its extremely rare) aggravated my armpit muscle, so I had them removed and a completely different set of implants placed on 11/2015. They are absolutely fabulous. They look natural, you would not be able to detect in a bathing suit top that they are implants. They truly look natural. They do get cold in the winter, so I wear a padded bra on cold days to stay warm.
Its important to realize the ones who love us do not see the scars and what we are so critical of ourselves as women.
My husband truly and honestly does not notice my scars at all. My scars have no barring and have not changed our intimate relationship at all. I look and feel sexier now in a low cut top and bikini after my bilateral than I did with my natural breast. I now personalty bypass my scars in the mirror and feel great about my decisions, and implants. I have a scene of more security and feel like a whole woman. I also lowed my recurrence risks and that alone was worth the surgeries for myself and family.
I get asked often by many women in treatment if they should have a bilateral mastectomy, or a lumpectomy.
I can not answer the question for them. I can share my personal decisions, and my experiences, and outcome in hope that it is another piece to help make their personal decision a bit easier.
Please go to this website and look at this expert in 3D nipple tattoos and view the pictures
www.ReneeMaschinot.com
www.vinniemyers.com
TEMPORARY nipple tattoos (purchase on line and try first)
www.nippletattoos.com
Please see a picture below and know life resumes after breast cancer, you can look beautiful after a bilateral mastectomy.
I am posting a recent picture of myself at a concert 8/2016 with my husband so you can see after my surgeries I look natural.
My thoughts and prayers are always with my pink sisters. Know you can prevail as I did. There is a bright light, treatment does end. Life returns to normal, you walk away stronger, wiser, and become steel. A positive mental attitude is 80% off the battle won!
May you heal in Gods speed and let your faith guide you
