So after days of listening to my heart, I've chosen to have a bi-lateral mastectomy with diep flap reconstruction. The bi-lateral means both breasts. I am glad I chose both because we just had another little scare with my most recent MRI results. The MRI showed something in my left breast. Fortunately, Monday they were unsuccessful with the biopsy. What they found was just a cyst because fluid came out of it. I'll know more when I meet with my doctor tomorrow. The diep flap is for padding between the skin and implant on just the right breast. The diep flap means they will take tissue from my belly along with the blood vessels and move them up to create some padding because they have to take so much tissue from my breast to be sure I have clear margins. Since chemo I have lost 10 lbs but I have managed to gain 5 lbs but there still isn't much fat in my belly to take but hopefully enough. I have had my sister and brother offer me their belly fat but unfortunately I cannot use anyone else's, lol. I will also have axillary lymphnode dissection surgery (10-12 lymph nodes removed) since the cancer had spread there. This does put me at risk of lymphedema and radiation makes the risk higher. But if you have learned anything about me from me blogging, I research. So I have been researching how to prevent lymphedema even though doctors say you can't prevent it. It either happens or it doesn't. In case there are micro cancer cells, still living in there we don't want to take any risks and have them come back with a vengeance. Stage 3C was a big enough scare for me. I just want it out.
I remember when I was in high school the kids liked to spread rumors about me that I had fake boobs. I was always proud to say "no, these are mine." Pretty soon they won't be and that does sadden me. People say well you'll have perky ones now and you wont have back pain anymore but I am still losing a piece of me. To stay positive like I have been, I see this as a reward for all I've been through, to have young perky breasts again. :)
I'm too young to gamble with my life. I have talked with other young women who have had to live in my shoes who chose the same path as me and had a complete pathology report and are doing very well which is our goal. So the date is set to Nov 5th at Smillow Cancer Center at Yale in New Haven.
Thank to you everyone for thinking of us and praying for us. We are so lucky to have so many loved ones with us. <3