Anyone gone against Mastetcomy advice

No, I hated having the mastectomy especially as had to wait a whole year for reconstruction but in hindsight, glad I did it cos I feel I know the cancer's gone. Docs did their best to save the breast, gave me two lumpectomies but when the margins weren't clear, I decided that they knew best and went with it. Now having said that, my cancer was not small, 7-8cm. I had the chemo, rads and now on tamoxifen. Whatever I can throw at it, I will!

You are within your rights to get a second opinion from on other medical practionner.

You don't say what age you are but if you are young (say less than 40) then the medics would tend to be more radical in their approach hense suggesting mast.

I went with lumpectomy first, but did not get clear margins.

I am not sorry I lost my breast. I figured that it tried to kill me so it could go!

Good luck with your decision.

Hi,

It is so refreshing to hear someone thinking "out of the Box" on this forum. Everyone else seems to be brain washed by the medical profession. Make you own decisions based on your research and how you feel.

Good luck

Hi Andrenne,

Do you mean all the people on here are brainwashed? That's not a very fair comment. You don't know me and I certainly was not brainwashed! It's up to each individual to get all the facts in relation to their own diagnosis, get a second opinion if they are unhappy, and at the end of the day they decide what's best for themselves. In my dealings with consultants and the medical profession so far I've been offered choices in all aspects of my care. At the end of the day it's down to the patient how they want to proceed. I don't see how that's brainwashing.

Perhaps I've taken you up wrong here, and forgive me if that's the case.

Mel

If it wasn't for the medical profession chances are I'd be in a very bad place with cancer out of control. I put my life in their hands and I've nothing but respect for them. I know nothing about breast cancer so how could I make a decision

Hi Wicklow lady,
I agree with you I have the doctors to thank for removing my cancer and them helping me with decisions about preventative surgery. I never felt brainwashed and always felt I had input.
I do think you have to ask plenty of questions and do as much research as you can but you do have to trust them as well.
Have a good weekend best of luck in your new job with the daffodil centre,
Bernie xx

I really don't feel brainwashed, Andrene. I think this journey of ours is very, very difficult for all of us, in different ways and to different extents. We're none of us experts - even if at times we feel we know way too much about this blooming disease. We're more like unwilling passengers who have little enough choice but to rely on what the expert drivers tell us.
Someone here made the sensible point that everyone is entitled to getting a second medical opinion, but very few of us would put our health (and lives, and the lives of our loved ones) at risk by ignoring expert advice. This does not strike me as the behaviour of brainwashed women, but of very logical ones.
We each go through this our own way, as best we can, but let's face it, without the input from the experts we all rely on, how many of us would be nattering on here? How many would have been able to do so 20 years, 40 years ago?
You're entitled to your opinion, Andrene, but those here who are just trying to deal with all this one day at a time are I think entitled to some respect.

Catherine

Hi Andrene,

I have to say that I agree with the other ladies here on taking the advice of my doctors. I wouldn't know how to repair my car or do my own plumbing. I trust car mechanics and plumbers to do a good job for me and bring their expertise, experience and judgement to the job. I might ask questions but I wouldn't ever assume I could know more than they know about their work.

The same goes for my health. I am no expert on cancer for sure, though I have acquired some knowledge along the way - stuff I wish I never had to know . It does worry me when I see advice on forums that suggests that you would somehow 'know' what the best treatment is for yourself, that your body will 'tell' you. It is a very typical approach in alternative treatments that you 'be your own doctor' and it is a very dangerous idea. The internet puts information at our fingertips but does not make us experts.

I can certainly say that my body wasn't crying out for surgery, chemo, rads and Tamoxifen and that I was petrified when all of that was announced. It was not what I wanted to hear at the time. A cancer diagnosis brings us many difficult moments and difficult treatments to accept. None of it was fun, but I have no regrets that I followed the advice of my doctors.

I am now 2 1/2 years post diagnosis, cancer free and doing well. If I had decided to think outside the box, I would probably be in a box by now and six feet under pushing up daisies. The grass is definitely greener on this side.

Best wishes to all going through treatment and recovery. It's tough but doable.

Kathleen