Thank you to everyone who is following along, reaching out, sharing your own stories, sharing my story and helping me to spread awareness. Cancer touches so many lives. It can feel hopeless but always has room for hope. And I hope my story brings you an ounce of that!
Surgery Decisions:
When going through breast cancer, I was faced with the option to get a lumpectomy (minor surgery where the tumor is removed but the breast remains), a single mastectomy (removal of effected breast) or a double mastectomy (removal of both breast).
This decision was a no brainer to me. I wanted to reduce every risk of recurrence as possible.
A double mastectomy was my choice. With that choice came many other choices. Would I go completely flat and not do any reconstruction? Would I get implants? Would I do a fat transfer ie Diep Flap?
I met with my surgical oncologist and heard out her suggestions. Most suggestions were trying to lean me away from the Diep Flap because that was the most extensive and difficult procedure. I was given a plastic surgeon recommendation and soon made my appointment with Plastic Surgery to consult with the dr. on my options.
Long story short, I decided to go with the most difficult surgery but also the one that I felt would benefit me the most.
A DIEP Flap type of surgery seemed like a great option for me because it was the more natural route. I had heard a lot of horror stories about implants and the silicone causing a lot of health issues. I also liked the fact that I could get my double mastectomy and have reconstruction in the same surgery. Often the implants require expanders and a process where that reconstruction doesn't happen right away.
I felt confident in my team of doctors and the decision was made. I finished up chemotherapy on November 16, 2016. My surgery was scheduled for a month later (December 12th). This would give my body a few weeks to recover from chemo and get my blood count back up.
In between the end of chemo and surgery needed to have another breast MRI to see how my cancer had responded to the chemo. I'll leave that for another post, but all this to say that the journey was not over.
More to come!
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