Maximum Fit Magazine

Hi all

Two and a half months ago you were diagnosed??? Oh, I am so envious of you, good for you for taking time to make the decision. I felt so rushed after my diagnosis, so frantic and jeopardized, they were telling me we don't like to wait more than a couple of weeks to deal with this and all I had was one small Stage 1 tumor...but I still felt so pressured, I frantically got two opinions on the reconstruction....no second opinion on the mastectomy....it's so stressful weighing all the options, I really feel for you! Unfortunately there really are no perfect decisions, you just weigh all the variables and go forward and try to be positive no matter what. I know people who have done each/both, and some have regrets and some don't. whichever you choose, you won't know what would have happened with the other. surgeons do partial reconstructions after lumpectomies, pulling fat and tissue from other parts of the breast (I didn't have a big enough stomach for the flap but wouldn't have done that anyway, too gruesome, and I want my abs)....and some women are OK with a half-breast. I had a biopsy in 2001 (turned out benign) that left my breast flatter and saggier, and I was kind of self-conscious about it, and I'd give anything to have it back now, LOL! I had a mastectomy both for cosmetic reasons and because I didn't want to do radiation. if I had it to do again, I think I would, but with a different surgeon (sigh)....and I would have been less hopeful/more realistic about the outcome. they do a lot of pie in the sky about how great the new breast will look/be..... I wish you luck. I weigh a little more than you (117) but I was puzzled about implants are out of the question because radiation doesn't obviate implants as an option, at least not to my knowledge. contoured implants are available ( anatomical is the lame term)...I loved your muffintop remark. very cute. you sound great; hang in there and just keep going, keep BREATHING no matter what! < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it wrote in message - Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text - Hi all

 ...  I felt so rushed after my diagnosis, so frantic and jeopardized, they were telling me we don't like to wait more than a couple of weeks to deal with this In fairness, I believe that most women don't want delays. In fact, here in UK it's a government decree that all diagnosed cancers are dealt with in a short time - I can't remember the number of weeks. My surgeon told me he didn't want to know what I'd decided (after he gave me the details and options) until he'd come back from his annual holiday, in two weeks. I was happy with that. I'm sorry you felt so bad about it. In Sarah's case I think the sooner it's dealt with the better, it's obviously further developed than yours and mine were. But I can't advise Sarah, things are so very different in other parts of the world. Except to stick around here and tell us your progress, then stay to help and support others. Hugs to both of you, Mary

even with the weight loss I haven't loss that much breast mass