Hi,
here I'm from Belgium asking myself much of the same questions I read in this forum...

I'm brca1 and I have decided to have my ovaries and breast removed:
did anybody tried to do both at the same time as to "spare" time and 2 total anesthesia?
Also, I'll have silicone implants put immediately but I'm wondering about what the best kind of incision to have (I haven't seen the plastic surgeon yet) I'll have the nipples taken away and also don't know what the best reconstruction solution is... does anybody have web sites with images to advice?
Thanks already to everyone that will answer!

Best,

Laura

Laura-

I am BRCA 1 positive. I did not have my hysterectomy and mastectomies done at the same time, although I do know that they can do it. A friend of mine had hers done at the same time. I did not have my implants placed immediately. I had expanders first to stretch my skin. They did take my nipples and I just had them reconstructed. It is an amazing process. Please feel free to ask any questions. That's what we're here for. You can look at this website under personal stories and view pictures of the different types of reconstruction. It is very helpful.


Good Luck. You are making the best decision.

Thank you Annie, thank you for encouraging me,

In fact, they found a little shadow in the last MRI and echography (sonogram?), so I had some tissue removed to check what it's made of, I'll have the answer tomorrow or on tuesday... Depending on what they find, I'll have the mastectomy and I hope they'll agree to do the oophorectomy at the same time and as soon as possible so that I don't have to think about it anymore (will it ever be possible not to think about it?! you did it, yet, here you are on the forum still!).

Can I ask you what kind of incision (scar) they did to you in order to put the implant? they told me one of the possibilities is to "cut" around the nipple area, put the implant, and then sew around as to pull the skin together as you would make it with fabric (hard to describe without a drawing), it doesn't seem to leave any scar visible...
I have looked the pictures on this site and keep searching for more on the net.
Thanks for your support, it helps,
Laura

Hi Laura,
Glad to have you participating on the discussion boards. You asked Annie if the intensity of thinking about breast cancer ever changes...and wondered about her continued involvement via the discussion board. From my perspective in working with women coping with a cancer diagnosis, the intensity decreases as one has more distance from treatment. Right now, your world is focused on the unknown and that can be all consuming. Once you have a plan, proceed with it, go through the recovery process...little by little the doctor appointments are farther apart, and you slowly resume your life and the amount of time you spend thinking of breast cancer tends to diminish.
I cannot speak for Annie, but believe that many of the women who continue to write on these discussion boards like to "pay it forward"...to pass on their experience, words of comfort, a shoulder to lean on as might have been done for them. It can also be cathartic to talk about the experience.
Sending out good wishes to you.
Mollie