Skip to main content

Breast Surgery reality



When a woman finds out that she has breast cancer, her whole world stops. Suddenly, she is afraid for her own mortality, not to mention terrified of the pain and loss that accompanies surgery. For many women, the thought of a mastectomy is devastating. It is more than just a typical surgery: Our breasts are part of our self-image and our femininity, and they nurture and feed our children.
No wonder so many women are confused and frightened when it comes to choosing between a mastectomy and a double mastectomy. Sadly, this decision is something women often face because if one breast has cancer, the risk for the other breast can increase. Although there is no guarantee that this will happen, many people view the double mastectomy as a precautionary medical measure.
The decision to remove both breasts, then, is often considered a life-saving sacrifice. The fear of cancer and the desire to prevent recurrence at any cost has caused the number of double-mastectomy procedures to jump. In fact, the number of double mastectomies performed in this country has increased 150 percent since 1998. No doubt a number of these surgeries have helped save lives and decreased the number of breast-cancer recurrences, but this doesn’t mean that a double mastectomy is the best or only option for all breast-cancer patients.
The decision to undergo any surgery is always a serious one, but when it comes to a mastectomy, the decision is especially personal and close to a woman’s heart. Making the choice can often be further complicated because of conflicting advice from loved ones. Well-meaning friends and family (and even other breast-cancer survivors) might encourage a woman to simply “take them both off” even if her particular risk of developing cancer in the other breast is very low.
Of course, for some women, the risk of developing cancer in the other breast is quite high and their own family histories and other factors might make a double mastectomy the best choice. If this describes you, make sure that you are making your decision with a clear head and not out of fear or pressure from outside sources. Yes, the thought of developing breast cancer in the other breast is scary, but if your risk is low and your doctor does not think it is necessary, you can make the decision for yourself based on your comfort level. Although it’s difficult to face such an important choice, many women also find that their breast-cancer diagnosis gives them clarity, strength, and force of will they never realized they had.
By talking to your doctor, learning more about your risk level, and researching your options, you can make the decision that is right for you. Talking to your loved ones and other survivors can help clarify your choices; but remember, the decision is ultimately yours and yours alone.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Hard nipples" - areola or nipple skin

Someone once wrote"... when i get really cold, or get goosebumbs all over my body, the whole things really scrunch up, like, my entire areola scrunches itself up into a wrinkled little mound. it looks really weird and ugly, and i haven't ever seen other people's breasts do it. what is wrong with my areola/nipples??" The answer: Well nothing is wrong. This is what my areola does too. It's a normal reaction to the coldness or to irritation / stimulation. The little muscles in the areola do a similar goosebump thing as your other skin can do. People often call this phenomenon "hard nipples". Also note that skin on areola has less feeling or sensation to it than other areas of your body. If the areola was very sensitive, then breastfeeding would probably be quite uncomfortable because the baby pulls and tugs it! The nipples are sensitive but the sensitivity changes with hormonal changes, such as occur at mestrual cycle or pregnancy. Also this v...
8 comments
Read more

Kate Jackson Breast Cancer a flash back

THE MOST MOMENTOUS CHANGE IN Kate Jackson's life began early one morning in January 1987, during her fourth season on the hit TV series Scarecrow and Mrs. King. After a phone call informed her that the show's taping was canceled because costar Bruce Boxleitner had the flu, Jackson went back to sleep. When she woke several hours later, "It was out of the blue, but perfectly clear," she recalls. "I sat up in bed and literally said, 'You have to have a mammogram.' " She did, and two days later a biopsy confirmed her vague fears: A minute growth found in her left breast was determined to be malignant. "I was forced to face, squared up, my own mortality," says Jackson. "I had to decide whether I wanted to live or to die. And if you choose life, as I did, it's never the same." For three TV seasons 16 years ago, she was famous as Sabrina Duncan, a girl-next-door gone glamorous and the character critics dubbed the brainiest o...
Post a Comment
Read more

The four stages of breast development

In Stage 1 shows the flat breasts of childhood. By Stage 2, breast buds are formed as milk ducts and fat tissue develop. In Stage 3, the breast become round and full, and the areola darkens. Stage 4 shows fully mature breasts. (Illustration by GGS Information Services.) period begins. Usually these signs are accompanied by the appearance of pubic hair and hair under the arms. Once ovulation and  menstruation  begin, the maturing of the breasts begins with the formation of secretory glands at the end of the milk ducts. The breasts and duct system continue to grow and mature with the development of many glands and lobules. The rate at which breasts grow varies significantly and is different for each young woman. Breast development occurs in five stages: Stage One: In preadolescence, the breasts are flat and only the tip of the nipple is raised. Stage Two: Buds appear, breast and nipple are raised, fat tissue begins to form and the areola (dark area of skin that ...
1 comment
Read more