Going Flat: Whether To Reconstruct or Not

[daf10]

Some women are choosing to defy medical advice and social convention after mastectomies, saying they would rather live without breasts than undergo more surgery.

nytimes.com/2016/11/01/well...

[ValerieVictorious]

My name is Valerie Gulston. Back in 2005 I was diagnosed with DCIS breast cancer. I opted for a mastectomy with reconstruction with abdominal tissue from my own belly used to fashion a breast. The surgeon also tattooed an areola on my new breast . I am pleased with the results, and recently wrote to the Times to suggest this option as a viable alternative to going flat!!! Recovery was rather uneventful. In the hospital however I developed a blood clot due to inactivity and was given Coumadin. I called SHARE when I had trouble sleeping at night at home the day after the surgery and was advised to sit up in a chair to sleep and that worked like a charm!!! Financially I was in good shape because my employer's insurance company Emblem Health paid my $37,000 bill; I only paid the $200 deductible. I also had a short term disability policy from the Marsh McClennan Company, whereby they replaced 60 percent of my monthly pay for the six months that I missed work. The Marsh Company provides breast cancer disability policies through unions and professional associations. Additionally, an organization called Family Reach will pay for mortgages and other household expenses such as utilities for breast cancer sufferers. They want to help people so they don't have to dip into their 401k plans.

The main point I am trying to make here is that going flat is not the only alternative and with pre-planning a financial plan can be developed to make other options a viable alternative.

[Hidden]

I had implants, were uncomfortable, then they got infected. Removed them summer 2016. Felt much better! Now I am living flat. Don't mind it so much. I don't like breast forms, but wear them when I go out special occasions. Day to day, I wear camis w/small foam forms or no foam, (TLC catalogue) or sports bras w/foam inserts.

[daf10 in reply to Hidden]

Good for you Whether or not one reconstructs is a decision that only the patient can make Glad that you have found your choice to be satisfactory and are happy in the choice that you have made.