This entry was posted on May 16, 2010. It was filed under Full Blog, Medical Updates, Personal Updates, Videos and was tagged with bilateral matectomy, breast cancer, breast expanders, breast implants, breast reconstruction, mastectomy, reconstruction.

4 Responses

1. 

   Kath

   On your video about what you didn’t know where you said you wrote on yourself or bumped into things and didn’t feel it, i cried. I do the same thing every day. Two years ago I had breast cancer and wanted to save my breasts, so I had a lumpectomy with mamosite radiation and 4 rounds of chemotherapy. I suffered with an infection and ended up having my surgery site opened up to heal from the inside out. Initally you could loose a golfball in the hole. It eventually healed. Then in 2010 I went in to have the small hole closed and a lump was found that had changed shape. A biopsy was done, not cancer, but I opted for a bi-lateral mastectomy for prevention sake. I had free flap reconstruction. One took bedautifully and the other half died. That second one was removed on 5/26/10 and an expander was placed. They were unable to save the flap skin, but did salavage some flap tissue to make the overlying tissue depth more natural looking. I envy your small scars from your surgery. I now have one “natural” looking breast (less the nipple) and one that will have an expander and later an implant (also less the nipple). The implant now has 240 cc of sailine in it and the “natural” breast is around 750 or 800 cc.

   I would like to send you some photos of my surgery process and death of a breast, however, I cannot allow my name to be used or my likeness (face). I work for the Department of Corrections and my clients do not need to know who I am, should they run across your web site. you can contact me at the e-mail address I provided.

   June 6, 2010 at 4:00 pm
   
2. 

   Jessica

   Hi Michele,

   I just wanted to thank you for posting the video blogs. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 8 days before my 33rd birthday. It was quite a shock for sure; but yet another shock when I found out in September of this year that I do in fact carry the BRCA1 gene. So that changed plans from chemo and radiation for me to finishing chemo, bilateral mastectomy, then radiation. I’m definitely scared, but at the same time I know this is the best decision. I’m single with no children, but have amazing support thorough family and friends. I do hope to have a family of my own some day and the thought of how I’m going to look for about the next year leads me to believe I’ll continue to be single for a while. Yet another thing to think about lol. So I’ll keep this short but feel free to check out my facebook page, I’m keeping an album on there and keep everybody pretty well updated. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/profile.php?id=1423587747 that will hopefully get you to my page. So, thank you for doing all of this, it’s a huge help! I’m looking forward to seeing the end result for you and, well, to make myself feel better lol.

   Thank you so much!!!
   Jessica

   September 28, 2010 at 8:05 pm
   
3. 

   Mimi

   I just wanted to say thank you for this posting. I am a 28yo BRCA1 carrier and have two beautiful daughters that I fear might have inherited this from me. I will be undergoing a bilat mastectomy and complete hysterectomy in the beginning of January 2011. I have a sister who had breast cancer in her early 30′s and is now dying of breast mets and ovarian cancer(stg 4). In her struggle, I was given the chance to live. I feel guilty for this every day but know that had the tables been turned that I would want the same for her. I am in the medical field and am aware of the “physical” effects of the surgery but have been worried about the emotional side. I found out that I was BRCA1+ in May 2010 and have since had most of my friends in the area turn their backs on me…”too much drama”…and I cried when you mentioned that part, it was so nice to know that I’m not alone in this. I think you are sooo brave to be so forthcoming about everything you have gone through, so thank you again for all that you do.

   November 22, 2010 at 5:17 pm
   
4. 

   Michele

   Hi Mimi! Thank you so much for writing to me. I’m sorry that you are BRCA+, and so sorry about your sister. It is very hard to watch the ones we love struggle with cancer, and thats part of why I made this choice. I didn’t want most of my son’s life to be spent watching me fight cancer. The emotional side is tough. No doubt. And the friends that leave, well, as much as it hurts, we’re better off without them. I have had some friends that have just straight out told me that they just can’t handle hearing about it. It’s too sad, or too hard, or too frightening. I appreciate their honesty and would rather know that they can’t listen rather than think they don’t care. Maybe your friends will come back when they can cope. I hope so. I agree, it’s wonderful to know we’re not alone, that we all have each other, even if we’re miles apart and just e-friends. You’re not alone, and you can write me anytime. Thank you for listening. Take care!

   November 27, 2010 at 7:47 pm