No shaving my legs ever again (thanks, chemo) and being forever 21 years old in my chest: perky breasts with no need for a bra. Those are positives I choose to hold on to from my breast cancer journey. But before my forever-young breasts, there was a short time I had no breasts at all.
In spring 2007, I was diagnosed with stage 2a breast cancer, which led me to have a double mastectomy. I never felt as if I used my breasts anyway since I didn't breastfeed my children. Because of all that, I had no problem telling my surgeon, without hesitation, to take them away! Even though only my right one was affected, I thought, "Better safe than sorry."
During the mastectomy surgery, the plastic surgeon literally followed right behind the breast surgeon in the operating room and placed tissue expanders under my skin in preparation for my reconstruction, which would come some months down the road, after chemotherapy was complete.
I remember waking up from the mastectomy surgery and looking at my flat chest. I had never been big to begin with, but now everything looked different. The sight of no breasts was certainly a shock — not to mention the drains hanging from my armpits (two drains coming out of each). The tubes for the drains were pinned to my shirt, so they didn't pull too much against my armpit skin.
Although I didn't really feel anything, and they seemed manageable, the nurse told me I would be begging for them to come out in a few weeks' time. I never felt any pain, but the drains were annoying to have in the way. My skin felt raw, although there was no sign of irritation. And I felt minor stinging. So as predicted, after more than two weeks of collecting and measuring drainage a couple of times a day and trying to navigate around these tubes while showering and dressing, I was more than ready to get those tubes out!
Reconstruction was an interesting and odd process. Little by little, over the course of six months, my temporary expansion "boobs" were growing, growing and growing. The skin has to be overstretched so the surgeon could have some room for the implants to be inserted just so. Then the skin then settles down around them very quickly after surgery.
In order to slowly stretch the skin where the implants would go, the expanders were injected, bit by bit, on a regular basis at the plastic surgeon's office, with a little bit of saline solution through a port. No pain, since there were no nerve endings on the skin any more. Easy in, easy out. I've heard other women express discomfort during this process, but for me, it just felt weird as the expanders got bigger and harder.
My chemo started in early July and ended in late October. I didn't have radiation because I had radiation to the chest for my Hodgkin lymphoma when I was a teen. In December, I chose from a range of implants that the plastic surgeon showed and explained to me. I was able to touch them, squeeze them — get a real sense of what they would feel like — and make my decision. Then, on to surgery a couple of weeks later: expanders removed, implants inserted and then another two weeks of drains (yay!), and done. Mastectomy in May, new breasts in December.
For a period after getting the implants, I was supposed to push my breasts inward from the sides, then up from underneath, and then down every day so they didn't harden. I was diligent about this practice and, as a result, my implants feel great. I did that massaging routine for longer than recommended because I have hugged women with hardened implants, and I didn't want to risk that happening. I went from an A cup to a C cup — nothing crazy, just more proportional — and, yes it's true, I never have to wear a bra again. Really, for me, that is one of the greatest things e-v-e-r!
There are little things that take getting used to with reconstructed breasts, like how they have no sensation to the touch and how I get phantom itches at times. Those are the most obvious on a daily basis, but like most things, you get used to it.
The crease underneath the breast that had the tumor isn't as defined as the other, but the cleavage is good. They also get colder more quickly than other areas. There are times that I roll over in the night to cuddle my husband, and he'll yelp a little because the unbeknownst-to-me chilly breasts touch his back by surprise!
Overall, I'm very happy with my new boobs. My doctor mentioned that if there is an issue years down the line, we may need to replace the implants. Fortunately, I haven't had any issues so far, 12+ years out. And, as it has been a few years since I last had them checked, I will be visiting my doctor in the next few months to ensure that they are still in good shape.
This wouldn't have been my first choice of how to get bigger, perkier boobs — I don't recommend it — but it is one silver lining from my breast cancer journey.
This resource was created with support from The Allergan Foundation.
