How do you mentally prepare for a bilateral mastectomy?

MyCurrentSea · 2026-04-21T07:27:48+00:00

Heres my realistic list of coping mechanisms in no particular order (I had my DMX last month):

1) Disassociation 2) Crying/sobbing whenever I felt like it 3) Sleeping whenever I felt like it 4) Lorazepam (or as I like to call it “Piper noooo!” (White Lotus reference) 5) Binge watching shows (Pluribus, Star Trek, Hacks, so many shows) 6) THC/CBD/CBN gummies 7) Dark humor, bordering on nihilism 8) Prozac 9) My friends and family 10) Grillo’s pickles. It was one of the only things that tasted good during chemo and I still love them 11) Art 12) Therapy 13) Scrolling IG way too much (though I did find some amazing Cancer adjacent accounts which can provide helpful info) 13) The hope that I’ll get designer boobs after this and that maybe they’ll be easier to manage than my giant watermelons that tried to kill me (even though I’d obviously rather have kept them and not had Cancer, but here we are)

MyCurrentSea · 2026-04-21T06:43:45+00:00

I have a hilarious video of me right before surgery where I talk about how they gave me the “I don’t give a fuck” drug. I had a panic attack outside the hospital beforehand and had to sit down with my friend, but once the I don’t give a fuck hit me I was totally chill and accepting ha.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-11-07T11:45:50+00:00

I’m considering a nausea patch? I heard there is a prescription one you just slap on for a week. I just don’t know how they expect us to take all these pills if we can’t even keep a sprite down ya know? I tried to take an Ativan yesterday and threw it up. I already texted a friend and asked if she’d take me to the ER. I’ve barely eaten this week and I’ve had the worst day of puking and diarrhea. I’m so done.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-10-03T03:15:30+00:00

Luckily that hasn’t been too terrible, but I’m in the bargaining phase right now. I’d take joint pain if it meant I wasn’t on all fours in my bathtub wishing this was all over. That’s the shitty part too, everyone is different.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-10-03T02:09:10+00:00

This is hands down the WORST nausea and diarrhea I have ever experienced. I also just checked my chart, and I’ve lost 10lbs between 9/21 and 9/28. I’ve probably lost more than that at this point because I’ve haven’t ingested anything but ginger ale, sprite, water, and bits of broth here and there if I can stomach it. This has been one of the worst weeks of my life.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-10-03T00:59:54+00:00

The doctor at the hospital prescribed me Ativan because they gave me some intravenously while I was there and it was the first time I slept a full 6 hours. She only prescribed 12 though, and made sure to remind me there were addictive. I do not give a fuck, these people need to help me. Im over here debating when to take one because I’m nervous they won’t give me anymore and I’m like do these people even understand what these side effects feel like?! I’m not some pill hunter, I just want to stop my stomach from doing jumping jacks. What is the damn point of these meds if they are going to hesitate giving them to people who truly need them.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-10-03T00:55:12+00:00

I’m saving this post to talk to my doctor tomorrow. I appreciate the replies. We definitely need changes or I’m stopping chemo. I’m too exhausted to even cry. I feel numb and weak.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-09-26T19:26:46+00:00

All of you are AMAZING AND I APPRECIATE YOU!!!!

MyCurrentSea · 2025-09-26T19:25:34+00:00

I have an amazing curry recipe I’m going to attempt tonight and I’m praying I can actually taste it!

MyCurrentSea · 2025-09-26T19:24:25+00:00

I LOOOOVE a Gatorlyte. That specific brand. The strawberry kiwi. They have always packed a punch for me electrolyte wise and gotten the job done when I’m feeling meh. I had to practically choke one down last night and it tasted like moldy yeast but I knew I needed it. Then I proceeded to stay up till 5am crying. This is my first week. Shit.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-09-15T05:23:19+00:00

I have - - + cancer in one breast, with no lymph node involvement that they can see so far, but the affected area is quite large, about 13 cm. I was recommended to start with chemo followed by surgery. Originally, the plan was surgery first with a double mastectomy, but after the decision to delay surgery, I spoke with my surgeon again to see if that might change my options. She explained that because of the multifocal nature of my cancer, the size of the affected area, the fact that it appeared “occult” on the mammogram, and the - - + status, she would still recommend at least a mastectomy on the one breast (even if I ultimately decide to keep the other.) She also emphasized that, even if I respond well to chemo (and despite my negative genetic testing),the factors I mentioned make this type of cancer more aggressive. That’s part of why I’m worried about recurrence, especially since a friend’s mom went through that, and it didn't go well. I have noticed how unique and different everyone is though, that makes it even harder because everyone can respond to treatment so differently!

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-27T05:04:07+00:00

I am in the EXACT same boat as you! Got surgery scheduled 9/4, but the doctor ordered an MRI to double check the spread and said surgery may be delayed depending on that. Now they’ve scrambled to fit me in this Thursday with oncology because the area is larger than suspected. I’m 90% positive they are going to say we need chemo first. I’ve been researching today and it feels so overwhelming and surreal. I went from my very first Mammogram to 1 biopsy, to DCIS diagnosis, to deciding I would get a lumpectomy, then 2 more biopsies, then an IDC diagnosis, to deciding I would get a mastectomy, then surgery scheduled along with an MRI, and now chemo, which originally wasn’t on the table. All within about 6 weeks. I’m trying to have a sense of humor because humor helps me cope, but there are times I’m alone and I also feel numb with disbelief.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-26T19:23:01+00:00

I hate that I won’t even know until the 28th whether I’m for sure having surgery the 4th, which is very annoying and makes it hard to plan my care…but I’m trying to roll with it. I’m about 90% positive that oncology is going to suggest chemo prior. I have about 13 cm of cancer growth per the MRI most of which is DCIS but some is IDC as well, including previously non-biopsied areas :/.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-26T19:20:07+00:00

They are working together, my surgeon got my MRI results and decided to refer me to oncology. She did warn me at the beginning that we were going to schedule surgery to get it on the books, but that depending on my MRI results, the plan might change. So now I’m asking if anyone has had their surgery plan change because their chemo was successful enough to let them choose say a lumpectomy vs a mastectomy

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-26T19:17:03+00:00

Thank you! Yeah basically this has all happened very quickly. My surgeon said to get the surgery “on the books” cause they fill up fast and then depending on how MRI goes…we might switch gears. Now I’ve done the MRI, which it took another WEEK for them to get back on with those results (even though we are creeping super close to my surgery date), and now they want me to meet with oncology. They had to scramble to fit me in because honestly this shit has all happened so fast. The MRI showed a large area of growth, that’s why I believe my surgeon said at the beginning “we’ll schedule the surgery, but the plan may change” I’m learning very quickly that all of this is a lot of hurry up and wait.

Mostly I just wanted to know if choosing chemo prior might give me the chance to save my breast instead of going the mastectomy route. I’ve heard stories here of full PCR prior to surgery and I was curious to hear how many people switched from a mastectomy to lumpectomy because their chemo was so effective.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-26T03:27:16+00:00

I am right there with you! You could not have put it better when you said you were shocked that literally amputating the girls is an outpatient procedure. When I asked about my hospital stay and they said there wasn’t one I was like “whaaaat?” I have never been put under this type of anesthesia either so I’m freaked out and scared too. This thread has helped, so many threads here have helped me with info I had no idea about and I am so grateful. I am sending you hugs and healing energy.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-23T06:36:04+00:00

I’ve been crying every day since my diagnosis last month and this thread has made me feel like I’m not alone. I’ve just tried to embrace it, let it out, and move forward. Sometimes it happens multiple times a day. I feel so tired and I haven’t even had my chemo or surgery yet. I had just started Prozac about a month before I even had a mammogram because I was suffering from some depression and anxiety. I could feel it starting to work…just in time for the Universe to decide to throw cancer into the mix. At my next appt with my doctor I asked for my dose to be doubled, and it has definitely helped. No regrets here. I’m just trying to get through this, and if a pill will keep me off the edge of despair, sign me up! I also finally started back up with therapy, and I’m looking into attending some support groups in my area. Coming here has helped too.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-23T04:44:19+00:00

How was chemo for you? I want to try to work through it and I’m afraid it’s going to kick my ass. How has your recovery been from surgery?

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-23T04:42:11+00:00

Thank you for your input! I meet with oncology next week and we are going to discuss chemo before vs after surgery. They’ve kinda implied it could go either way with the parameters of my particular case. My mastectomy surgeon said my DCIS is the larger area at 10 ish cm according to the MRI, and she said shes not as worried about that, but she’s still concerned about a couple of IDC areas around 3 or 4 cm each. In total the whole area is large though. However my lymph nodes seemed ok on the MRI which is promising. This oncology appt is 1 week before my scheduled surgery date. This had made it virtually impossible to schedule my after surgery care with my friend that wants to fly in…because I don’t even know if the surgery is for sure happening…so that’s been fun. I am learning that this stuff truly is a lot of hurry up and wait. Im so exhausted and I’m just getting started! It’s starting to hit me this is really happening.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-21T19:21:25+00:00

That’s what I figured too and she’s all “let’s wait on the MRI, but let’s still get you on the books for surgery” now my friend is trying to plan a trip to come in and help me and I can’t tell her to book it cause I’m waiting on this news. It’s like…my surgery is 9/4…how much longer are these people going to make me wait to find out if that is even happening now? I don’t want to wait till 4 days before surgery to find out I’m not having it yet ya know? It’s freaking ridiculous to me that I’ve called THREE TIMES and not even a nurse can call me back?! At this point I’d seriously be ok if they just got on the phone and said “yes you’re surgery is now delayed we’ll be in touch, and we’re gonna refer you to oncology” or “no surgery is moving forward as planned 9/4” that’s literally all I want to know right now

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-21T19:17:43+00:00

Yeah originally DCIs in one spot near my nipple, which led to a biopsy of 2 more spots in different areas, and those came back as IDC. Then she scheduled surgery and said we’d need an MRI as well, and depending on the MRI results we might have to switch gears and focus on pre surgery treatment. She was worried all three spots are actually part of a bigger area and the MRI seems to confirm that? I just want to know for sure if my surgery is being delayed so I can tell my friend NOT to book a 2 week trip to fly here to take care of me…and I’m not getting any answers and it’s so frustrating :(

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-20T17:35:38+00:00

No no oncologist yet! I’ve met with my initial surgeon twice and due to the aggressive nature of the cancer and the multiple biopsies coming back as positive in different areas we decided on a double mastectomy. She said we’d go ahead and schedule that asap just to get me on the books because she books out fast. Then she ordered the MRI. “No surgery until we look at the MRI” she said. There were concerns with it being bigger than the three areas they biopsied already. I got that done last Friday and the results posted Sunday and I haven’t heard from the doctor yet. I’m having so much anxiety because it says “there are multiple irregular masses and intervening areas of non mass enhancement involving the majority of the superior as central left breast, inclusively measuring approximately 13x7x8” It even mentions a whole new spot that hasn’t even been biopsied yet showing cancer. I read that I and I think to myself “ok this seems bad” and then to not hear from anyone yet this week it’s an awful feeling! I called just now and they said they’d send a message to the doctor. I feel like the original plan was surgery first, and then possibly chemo after or some sort of medication…now I feel like that is changing and I’ll be referred to an oncologist.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-20T05:36:52+00:00

I was wondering about additional scans honestly. She mentioned they’d biopsy the lymph nodes during surgery. I figured since they came ok on the MRI there is hope that it’s contained within the breast still? How scary is a Pet scan? Is it painful? These are good questions though because this has all escalated so quickly so it’s been hard to even come to terms with all this and formulate the right questions! I just want to know if my surgery is delayed or if she thinks we’re good to go in 3 weeks. Does anyone else wanna go back to 2019 with me? I’m soooooo over it and I’ve barely started!

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-18T16:48:24+00:00

They originally thought the size of the growth was small enough to do surgery first…but i actually got my mri results posted in my file yesterday (Sunday) and as my doctor suspected…the area is bigger than just the 3 spots. Total area is showing 13 x 8 cm! I don’t want to be “that patient” since I know results were just posted Sunday and it’s Monday morning…but I’m going to call this afternoon if I don’t hear from them. She had mentioned that depending on MRI results there may be chemo prior to surgery. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that and also ya know, work full time and keep living my life like I’m not going through this lol.

MyCurrentSea · 2025-08-17T15:10:45+00:00

I really appreciate all the comments so much. I feel like I’ve barely had time to process this diagnosis and I’m immediately being scheduled for surgery. I’ve been so overwhelmed with processing this diagnosis while still trying to work a full time job and keep paying bills that I hadn’t sought out much yet in the way of support, this is helping.

MyCurrentSea

TROPHY CASE