Considering Mastectomy Without Reconstruction: Weighing My Options

Same here . I’m going flat, Ken doll . I’ve had D s my entire life and it will be a shock but I won’t miss the weight on my back .

I went flat after left mastectomy. I have been an A cup all my life. Now, with a good bra and a couple of different size foods, I can be any size I want.😉

I have to make the decision as to whether to have a lumpectomy and then 20 sessions of radiation or just have a complete mastectomy of the right breast and get on with the healing process. I am weighing out the options. I am 77 years old and I know I can get the bras with a silicone insert and I would be fine with that. I am praying that I make the right decision. Do I want to have a deformed right breast and 20 sessions of radiation or do I just want to have the right bbreast gone?

@Nancie C. Sounds like you might be leaning towards the mastectomy? Keep praying and hope that you get the guidance for your decision. Do you have friends or another support group you can talk it out loud with? That always helps me. If you live in the DFW area a local hospital (UTSW in Dallas) is doing a study where you have just one radiation treatment. But you have to be singular leasion, less than 3 cm and DCIS I think. Then surgery (lumpectomy for me) 1 year later approx. Praying for you here. Also, don't know where you are in this process, but I personally believe in a second opinion, regardless how much I agree or like the providers.

I don't recommend implants. Many problems. Some do fat transfer but my suggestion is go flat, I wish I did.

I am struggling with that decision as well. My surgeon seems hell bent on lumpectomy, but I kind of feel like seeing a scar would be easier than a deformed boob.

I did a lumpectomy 2 weeks ago and a reduction on my left breast. Glad I did that surgery mostly because when they biopsies the breast tissue from the reduced left breast they found 2 different kinds of cancer. So small they didn’t even show in the Breast MRI. Now I’m faced with a new decision. Go back into the left and attempt to get clear margins or a mastectomy with reconstruction. Just presented with these options last night. DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW🤷‍♀️

I am going double mastectomy with reconstructive using fat transfer

I’m newly diagnosed and I’m worried also about choosing mastectomy over lumpectomy. Either way it’s a big surgery.. the area to be removed will be about the size of a kiwi .. so the plan now is to get the area removed and reconstruction on both breasts to reduce my cup size to a C .. then radiation and then hormone blockers .. it’s a lot to digest .. a day at a time ..

This is such an important decision to consider carefully, and it's completely understandable to weigh the benefits of avoiding multiple surgeries and extended recovery periods. Many people in this community have chosen the flat option and found it to be the right path for them, while others have opted for reconstruction - both choices are valid and deeply personal. Connecting with others who have experience with either approach might help provide additional perspectives as you think through what feels right for your situation.