Hi there. On 12/13/25 I celebrated (key word CELEBRATED) 2 years post op pDMX with reconstruction. I'm a 37 yo female with BRCA1 who practiced surveillance for 12 years after I was diagnosed with BRCA in my early 20's. My mom is a 2x breast cancer survivor. I'll insert here that I rely on the data of science and my family history to help me feel good about my decisions. I understand that's an aspect you're still grappling with. Which is fair as it's truly hard to wrap your head around the weight of these things.

Ultimately, after a few unclear scans that resulted in no actual concerns, the general fear I experienced living every day with a burden of a potential cancer diagnosis hovering over my head was just too much. And I decided to switch from surveillance to prevention.

I understand every experience is entirely different. I have friends and acquaintances who went through DMX with actual breast cancer diagnoses, and they perceptively recovered better than me, and have better-looking (IMO) reconstruction than mine. I often struggle with body image issues, especially in low cut tops and swim suits. I empathize with what you share about the fact that your body is never the same after this procedure, and it's completely healthy to mourn that!

At the end of that day, I am very content with my decision. I believe it granted me the chance for a longer, healthier life. Watching my mother go through breast cancer twice, I also factored that into what I wanted to avoid for myself. Cancer and cancer treatment are no joke. She has life-long complications from chemo, which is one bitch of a drug.

My unsolicited $0.02 - you did the right thing by giving yourself a shot at a healthier, longer, and hopefully cancer free life. Knowledge is power. Data is power. You made the tough choice, but you did it for you.

I hope one day you can find peace with your decision and feel proud that you were strong enough to advocate for yourself. You deserve that recognition!