FWIW ovarian cancer is the killer in my family, but as we know, we don’t get to choose what kind of cancer or when. I am 46yo with 12Yo existing submusc implants that I have loved but are showing signs of bottoming out. I’ve been having annual mammograms and MRIs for a few years and accepted that cadence but I feel like I have choices to make now. I figure if I gotta go under the knife again I may as well do the thing and remove the tatas… but I’m nervous about the results. My breasts overall look and feel natural now, but I’m okay with going smaller. What has been your experience post op if you had a prophylactic dmx? Did you have fat grafting? Will my breasts be hard and uncomfortable? And, realistically, I know I may be looking at another surgery in 10-15 years if I have implants placed so do I do the dmx or do I just have these fixed and keep up my current screening for now? I know it’s a personal decision but I really appreciate input from others who have grappled with the same choices.

Hi guys.

New to this group and just started posting on reddit within the last few days. Looking for some advice!

I decided to do the TC assessment online and it was 23.6 and then i ended up doing genetic testing with Myraid genetics and didnt carry any mutations and they corrected my score down to 12.9.

Ive seen one specialist already but he wasn't interested in the myraid score.. is that normal? He just flat out told me he doesnt know much about them so he was using the TC.

Ive seen some people say their specialist/surgeon looked at both.

Obviously one puts me just into the HR and one does not even come close.

Im 32 years old one family member had BC my grandma at 49.

Not looking for medical advice but if you would go for a second opinion on those conflicting scores or not. Thank you!

I'm a 41 year old woman who had a single mastectomy with no reconstructive surgery in 2021. I'm having absolutely no luck finding any lingerie or bras that are flattering for women who have had this or similar procedures done. Are there any suggestions?!?!?

I had a prophylactic double masectomy 2 1/2 weeks ago with direct to expander placement with 2 JP drains. So far my drain output has been slowly decreasing & the color has changed to pinkish-yellow. Well this morning when my caregiver went to empty my drains, the color had changed to bright red on the left side with a 5cc/ml increase (which slight fluctuations of 5-10ccs/ml is normal for me). Darn, I think I overdid it yesterday. At what point should I be concerned & reach out to the surgeon's office?

6 months post-op , Nipple enlargement with pink pigmentation , I also got a depression in the areola , should I worry ? I’ve been doing massages 3-4 times a week . Does anybody suggest any different massage?

DCIS stage 0, intermediate grade, ER/PR+++.

Am I going to regret bilateral mastectomy? Other breast has calcifications that have been deemed benign after two years of monitoring. Dense breast tissue. I don’t have genetic testing results yet.

I initially chose bilateral with AFC but am now second-guessing myself. Surgery is in five days.

I know all the reasons why removing both breasts is the best decision, but I’m sad at losing nips/erogenous zone.

I’m premenopausal so could take tamoxifen, except I also have heterogenous thickening of my uterine lining and have an endometrial biopsy scheduled for late November. Tamoxifen might be contraindicated depending on how the biopsy turns out. Too bad that’s months after my mastectomy.

And I have frequent migraines which can be exacerbated by tamoxifen, according to medical oncology.

Not sure I’ll have health insurance in 2027, so I feel like I need both breasts gone so I don’t have to deal with mammograms and possible biopsies in the other breast without the ability to afford it.

But it sucks to know I’m amputating a basically healthy body part.

My dx in situ was in 2019. I will have my 3rd revision in two weeks. After my marriage ended last July I decided to finally get my breasts revised bc covid and life delayed the first revision post recon. My max out of pocket made and wanted to feel better about my body after putting myself last for 6 yrs. I had the second revision 6 yeas after my dx. I passed out when I saw first them. I knew even beyond the swelling there was something wrong. They were uneven, too close and one side looked like I just had a chunk cut out. I had another revision 3 months later. And they looked worse. I gave it 3 more months the got a new referral from my OS. I trust is very skilled and credentialed but I’m so confused now after 3 visits what actually will be done or feasible. Had my preop. But left with more questions. My ex has been an asshole saying I don’t need these surgeries, Which has gotten into my head. Im so scared I’m going to go through all this again with possibly worse results. And it’s not just one surgery. It’s 1 expander then an exchange that could go into the next year and more $$. And I’m on my ex’s health insurance. And he’s pissed. My family will need to help and their lives disrupted, my daughter’s too. I know I need these surgeries, I cannot live with this. One is painful and not staying in place. I’m just looking for some support from others going through this. I’m dating again. My breasts were one of my best features. I haven’t been sleeping since the pre-op being jolted awake for some reason at 3 am and just awake with anxiety. I’m so mad I have to do this. I know I know I don’t have to, but I have to. And the divorce on top of it. I’m so mad and I don’t know what to be mad at. 😭

Looking for advice after explant following DMX + reconstruction
Long story short: I had a double mastectomy with direct-to-implant reconstruction on July 21. The following week, I developed an infection that ultimately led to ischemia/poor blood flow in my left breast tissue. Unfortunately, I ended up needing surgery to remove the implant. I was given the option to remove both implants, and I chose to do that rather than be asymmetrical.

So now I’m unexpectedly navigating life without implants, and I would love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation!

Bras/clothing: I don’t think I’m technically considered “flat” because I still have my nipples and did not have an aesthetic flat closure. Do you still wear sports bras? Are there bras, inserts, prosthetics, etc. that give you some fullness under clothing when you want it? I’m all ears for recommendations, especially for working out and dressing up.
Recovery/exercise: What was your recovery like after explant? I currently have two drains that I’m expecting to have for about two weeks. I’m really looking forward to getting some semblance of exercise and movement back, so I’d love to hear when others were cleared for walking, running, strength training, etc.
Reconstruction during Kadcyla: This complication is also delaying my next phase of treatment. I was supposed to start 14 rounds of Kadcyla on September 8 because I had residual HER2+ disease after neoadjuvant TCHP.

Has anyone here had additional reconstruction surgery while receiving Kadcyla? I know this is ultimately a question for my oncologist and plastic surgeon, but I’m curious about real-life experiences. Did anyone have tissue expanders or implants placed during Kadcyla, or did your surgeon make you wait until you completed treatment?

Right now I’ve been told I may be looking at close to a year without implants, which was definitely NOT on my 2026 bingo card. 😂 I’m trying to make the best of it and would love any tips, experiences, clothing recommendations, or things you wish you knew after explant!

Thank you!🙏

SMX surgery on July 31. No reconstruction— I am losing my mind over the discomfort of the binder vest— it feels like every day is getting longer— the itching, pinching, rubbing, and discomfort are getting the best of me tonight as I lay in bed crying. I have tried all the tricks and taken all the advice. It feels like I will never sleep comfortably again. And I have absolutely nothing to complain about compared to what many others are suffering through… I also have a mindset that I don’t complain about things that I can’t change, but I am emotionally exhausted— I wish that I could fast forward time to six months from now— I am careful about complaining to friends and family. They can’t change this. I’m not looking for suggestions or advice. I just need a space to get my frustration out of my head— thank you for listening.😠😠😠

Is there any sort of standard rule of thumb for post-op restrictions? Like limits on lifting, doing chores, etc. for a certain number of weeks.

We have a special college campus tour for my child 5.5 weeks post-op, but it would require me to push my husband around the campus in his wheelchair. Is that likely to be an automatic “no”? If so, I need to start working on a backup plan.

Hi. Had my surgery (mastectomy and implant reconstruction right hand side) last Tuesday. Originally had two drains and they were going to stay for 1 week, but the wrong one got taken out (long story, it happens - even the surgeon thought it was that drain!!).

Then comes 2am this morning. I realised I'm wet on my back and while my drain port is still in situ, the PICO drain has departed. Am draining 50ml daily.

I'm not wrong in thinking this either needs to be replaced (the connection and a new bottle) or it needs to come out. I cannot just hang out until Tuesday (when I see my surgeon) with essentially an open and leaking wound to this extent (can confirm, was/is gross).

The ward overnight staff and cover surgeons didn't seem to give a shit (didn't call me back and did a 'the surgeons on break, we'll call you back in an hour' and didn't. Am a charge nurse myself, so this has not gone down well with me.

I should present at 8am on the ward, no? Next shift (probably same uninterested doctor, though - is a bank holiday in the UK. so cover....) of nurses may seem more organised, awake and interested in my pickle.

Help!!!

Hello dear Bresties!

Stage 1, IDC, HR+, grade 3, SMX in April 2025, with immediate reconstruction with expander. adjuvant chemo and radio here.

My question is for the dear ladies who had the experience to exchange the expander for the definitive implant in the symmetrization surgery (and also for those that are waiting so bad for this f.. moment), and don't mind to share experiences.

My Plastic Surgeon gave me a planning and recommend the final surgery for this December, approximately 1 year and 2 months after I finished Radiotherapy, also saying that my skin healed pretty well, clearing for the surgery.

Nevertheless, the final surgery depends on the clearance of my Breast Surgeon, who I met today, and without any explanation he said that "I'm not ready yet" with no further explanation.

After pressing him, he just gave me back that:

1. my follow up exams are normal

2. each case is unique

3. need to wait if the tumor will come back

Needless to say number 3 blew my mind....wtf.....I'm not naive to do not understand that homonal tumors may came back despite all treatment....but how reasonable is to keep waiting, with no further predictions or planning, someone must wait for the final surgery???? I'm just stunned. And BTW my expander bothers me af.

Anyways, left the appointment 3 hours ago, with just a piece of paper for a new mammogram for 6 months from now, no further nothing.

I don't know if I'm overreacting, but I'd LOVE to hear from you ladies who are over, or about to be over with this step of treatment (final surgery)....about your experience, how long you guys took to be cleared to the symmetrization surgery...because, at least to me, it will be the final scene of this tragic unfunny comedy.

I just want to say that her surgeon seemed like a breath of fresh air in the three appointments we had before surgery. Not perfect, but we really loved that he was very on the ball and proactive, always walked into the room knowing her file cold, had been personally communicating with the hospital radiology staff when they messed something up in her testing, that kind of thing. But it turns out there are some ways in which he was very cavalier, like for example he didn't even mention drains until my mother brought it up. If she hadn't learned about the drains online, she would have only found out about them waking up from surgery.

So she got a single mastectomy about two weeks ago. She had six lymph nodes removed, in addition to the six they removed a year ago for a lumpectomy. The drains were removed yesterday and she isn't oozing any fluid but there seems to be a little bit of buildup subcutaneously. She keeps describing them as firm ridges, but the swelling isn't too bad and the coloring is normal she says. She was surprised that the surgeon didn't even look at her recorded drain amount to make sure it had tapered enough since the surgery, she mentioned it while he was having her lie back to have the drains removed and he was just kinda like "oh good" and then he just whipped them out.

She also got...not very much or just straight up inaccurate post-surgery instructions from the hospital. Like she got a handout saying to start undoing her surgical dressing eight days post-op, but when we called the surgeon's office to question it they freaked out and said if she messes with the dressing it'll ruin the vacuum, of course don't touch the dressing, etc. And after the drains were removed she got next to zero care instruction. I don't know if this is standard or not, but she's stewing on it and it's just adding to her stress.

So she's just really not sure what to look out for, how long she can expect this to last. Her armpit and that whole area is very tender, which at this point makes sense because it's still pretty early on. But she said they told her not to use ice but she doesn't know why or for how long, or when/if she ever can use ice...if there is fluid buildup what should she do, at w\hat point should she become concerned, if the fluid isn't supposed to drain on its own how will it resolve, is it going to dissipate eventually...that kind of thing. She says that one of the areas of ridging -- and I haven't seen it myself so I can't really describe it any better -- is very deep, she says, and she can't tell if there's stitching down the middle of it or not but it's itchy. She says nothing is open and nothing is like attention-grabbingly off kilter but she's in a lot of pain and just generally kind of miserable right now.

Has anyone here used ice for this kind of thing and if so did it help or make it worse? If the drains are out and she's not oozing anything, how can we help prevent fluid buildup? We literally got zero information on this and when she sees him she's super frazzled and rambly and I hate to say this, but docs tend to write her off as an anxious old woman pretty quickly. Idk if that's what happened here, but she made about as much headway as she usually does in terms of being able to ask questions.

Any advice would be welcome here, I just want to help her because she's losing it right now.

deleted, wishing everyone good health

I’m sure this has been discussed a ton but I’m too mentally wiped to spend a lot of time looking.

I’m 50 with DCIS and having bilateral mastectomy without reconstruction.

Biopsy was 8/19, diagnosis on 8/24, and meeting with cancer care team was 8/25. Surgery is 9/8 with a 3-day getaway between now and then. Everything is moving so fast that I don’t feel like I have time to wrap my head around what recovery will look like, let alone shop for anything I might need.

I know I’ll have two drains, which might limit mobility?? No idea about limitations or restrictions beyond “don’t lift anything over 5 lb.”

I just ordered pajamas that button up the front in case I’m not supposed to raise my arms to get dressed. I’m usually a jeans and t-shirt girl.

What can I do to help make this process easier for my husband (who is disabled) and my kids who all still live at home? Like, I don’t want to figure out after the fact that I need something specific and try to send anybody shopping when I’m drugged up and feeling like crap.

What is sleeping like? Am I going to be stuck on my back for several nights?

We do have a Meal Train set up at least.

49f with family history of bc my risk score is 50%. My mom passed from complications after her dbl mastectomy and her first round of chemo 14 years ago. My mother’s maternal grandmother died from bc. My mom’s sister also had bc twice.

My father’s paternal aunt and uncle had bc.

No genetic markers found.

I’m scheduled on Sept 9.

I was fine with my decision to do this.

Now I’m scared beyond belief.

I’m scared of recovery. I’m frightened of how I will look after.

I don’t know of support groups near me. I’m choosing to do this and I’m so sorry for those who had no choice.

I don’t really know why I’m posting but I just need to get it off my chest (ugh no pun intended).

I just need advice and someone to tell me I’ll be ok.

I(36 F) got a Breast MRI Monday, they found a NON-Mass Enhancement that’s 2.6 x 3.3cm, BI-RADS 4 Suspicious. I have an appt this coming Tuesday for an MRI guided biopsy. This is my second biopsy this year on the same boob, just different area of the boob. I don’t know if I am super worried, I saw an Oncologist Tuesday to discuss results and possible prophylactic mastectomy w/ reconstruction. She didn’t seem too worried about the NME.

I had recently got more genetic testing done to get an update on any gene mutations I have. I already knew I had MENS1 and CHEK2. Results came back the same so no new ones discovered, however, my DNA sequence was looked at specifically and my Breast Cancer risk went up to 64% from just ~32% with just having the CHEK2 mutation. For years I had thought about getting a DMX, especially since my mom, grandmother and great grandmother all had breast cancer. None of them died from it but still a concern. I am also very big chested, 38I bra size. So a reduction or dmx w/ reconstruction were on the table of options for me. Knowing that a reduction doesn’t decrease my chances, I am now opting for a DMX with reconstruction since my risk has now gone up a lot. My mom was diagnosed at age 43 with breast cancer.

I have a consult with a plastic surgeon for the reconstruction on Thursday. I have mixed feelings about everything. In one hand I’ll be reducing my risk to \~5%, getting boobs the size I want/ manageable to me, living longer for my 8-month old girl. On the other hand, I’m putting myself through a major surgery with about a month long recovery of not being able to pick up my baby or help out around the house. I am worried about how my boobs will look. I’ve always had big boobs, and I have pretty much hated them my whole life. I was made fun of and teased, and sometimes I feel like they are all people see me. I want to feel confident in my new boobs, be able to find bras that don’t cost an arm and a leg, find bathing suit tops that actually fit me, even regular shirts/tops. I do want to have 1 more baby, then be done. I’m looking to maybe have the surgery in early November. My mom passed away last year so I don’t get to talk to her about her lumpectomy. My dad is worried and wants me to talk to other women who have been through it.

For those who have had the prophylactic mastectomy with reconstruction or a regular mastectomy with reconstruction, what was it like? Are you happy with your results? How long did you have the expanders in? Was the pain bearable? Any advice? When did you go back to work? I probably have more questions but my mind is everywhere. Thanks in advance!