Thursday, October 13, 2011

To Boob or Not To Boob - That is the Question.....


I come from a family of big boobed women so when my mom had a double mastectomy last Spring - I kind of thought she was lucky to get them off - Don't get me wrong - the reason for the procedure sucked - Cancer Sucks... Lost too many loved ones to this awful horrible disease...(Thank God - mom is cancer free now) But the thought of no boobs - kind of sounded appealing to me.... This is why..

I can never see my feet - I have stepped on my dog - my cat - tripped over stools... Going down our stairs everyday - is a feat -This is NOT fun.

I can never wear button down shirts - everything is either zippered or pull over - If I want to wear a button down - I have to get about 3 sizes too big - it will fit the boobs but everywhere else I am swimming...

Whatever I am eating usually ends up on my chest.... Soup? Forget about it.. I have to bring the bowl to my lips... Most times I have to hold a napkin under my utensil to avoid an accident...

When I go out to restaurants - I have to make sure the table is not too close or my boobs will rest on it....

Having big boobs - my super sized bigger than life boobs that have never had a nip or tuck but are quite capable of hiding my belly button boobs are not fun.... nor are they sexy.. at least not anymore...

Today - my mom is currently at the hospital getting her new boobs... Over the past several months she has had a spreader and fluid bags in her chest and the doctor would inject fluids every few months... Today - they are taking out the spreaders and hard fluid bags (this will be a relief for her - they have been painful) and putting in soft squishy bags to give her back her "chest" Granted she will now be "normal" sized - but honestly boobs or no boobs - my mom is beautiful.....

Last Spring - I had my annual mammogram - and it came back abnormal... The doctor suggested that I meet with a surgeon and an oncologist to determine if I should keep mine or not... Faced with this decision is somewhat scary... I have not done anything.. yet. I am suppose to get checked every six (6) months - ultrasound/mammogram/MRI... But in all honestly - I am seriously considering having them removed... and I honestly do not know if I would want them back - regardless of the size.. I know I am "young" by some standards... I will 46 in a few weeks... My husband - of course would have some say - after all - he gets more use out of them it is a big decision.... I'm guessing that I will have a talk with my mom after she has recovered and I'll ask her if she thinks it was worth it...

What Would You Do?

22 comments:

  1. Hi there, Teresa from NanaHood here. I'm not sure I have the right to answer the question, "What would you do?" because I haven't had breast cancer. My cousin has had it three times and if not having breasts would have kept her from having it...I know what she would say. I guess i would have to ask several oncologists their opinion.
    Would love for you to do a guest post for me and share your story with my readers. Let me know.
    Blessings to you and to your mom!

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  2. I don't know what I would do...I have been big chested all my life. Like you, I have a love-hate relationship with them. It's a decision that would be hard to make! Blessings to you and your Mom....

    Thanks for sharing and making me think...

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  3. That is such a personal decision. I have known some women who have had the mastectomy and inplants at the same time. Something to think about.

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  4. Wow, Kelly. That is a hard choice. Very personal. A dear friend of mine lost her mom to breast cancer. So in a few years she is going to have hers removed. She has thought it through. She and her doctor have discussed it. It is what she wants. So, is this what you want? Only toucan decide. Good luck.

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  5. My aunt had a double mastectomy as well. She was young (40's) and had reconstructive surgery and was very pleased with the results. My mom (her sister) has had a few lumpectomies but has adamantly held onto keeping her breasts. I am not enormously-chested (just a D) but were I to have a double mastectomy, I would in all likelihood opt for reconstructive surgery and get a smaller set... I am a little older than you, for what that's worth :)

    Wishing you the very best with your situation and hoping you are able to feel super confident in your decision... because feeling good about which way to take it makes any way you go the right way :)

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  6. I so understand what you are saying. I have the same boob issue as you and have felt that if I ever had to have a mastectomy, I wouldn't be sad about that part of it. The reason for it would be hard. If I ever had a reconstruction, I would have them little!

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  7. I'm not sure what I would do but will share my SIL's story. She was diagnosised with breast cancer several years back. They had recommended she had a mastectomy but she refused, wanting to look natural in case her young son should see her naked, it wouldn't 'scar' him seeing her without a breast (weird but her logic). Well, she has had many problems due to just having a lumpectomy, even up to today. Her arm on that side is twice it's normal size and pains her most of the time. She has had issues with her limpnoids, and the list could go on and on.
    Her issues gives me the understanding that IF I was in her place, I would have them off. As for replacing them, probably not any time soon, just because I would like to enjoy the flat chest for awhile.

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  8. Oh my what a decision. Not one to take lightly for sure. I have always been big chested as well, and would love a deduction after my breastfeeding days are over. I say reconstruction versus everything. Keep us updated on your decision.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. Hi, I am your newest follower. Stop by and visit when you have a moment.

    http://celebratinghomewithcarolyn.blogspot.com
    http://lovinglifeasacouponer.blogspot.com

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  10. Hi!
    Thanks for stopping by to visit me from the blog hop, I'm now your newest follower :-)

    I can relate to this being large chested myself..:-) But a very tough decision to make, I know people that have done it even without abnormal results and have not regretted it. Follow your heart, it will come to you what is right :-)

    blessings,
    jill

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  11. Oh my goodness, what a decision to make? I will be praying for you.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and following. Now following you back.

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  12. I am happy to hear that your mom is cancer free. You have quite a decision to make. I understand how you feel about having naturally large breasts. I have always been athletic and found it annoying. Now that I am getting older the annoy me even more. I lost my Aunt to breast cancer and my cousin had to go through it as well. It is so frightening. I think the most important thing is your health and what you truly feel would be in your best interest. I wish you and your mom well.

    Mama Hen

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  13. With the history, the abnormal test, and the fact they're annoying to you, I'd go ahead with it for the sake of your health and then do the reconstruction at a more comfortable size.

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  14. I have thought about this before and I really think I would have them removed and not have the implants. Of course, I'm not faced with actually having to make this decision right now, so it's easy for me to say that. But, I can totally relate to all the things you said-stepping on the cat, spilling food on your chest-nearly all of my shirts have some sort of stain right on the chest...
    New follower from the Friday hop.

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  15. Interesting. I have a friend who had an elective mastectomy about a year ago now. She had no abnormalities during her mammo, but was so frightened of betting breast cancer (and it did run in her family), that she made the decision to remove her breasts before the chance of getting cancer. I'm not sure how I feel about it or not. I think if you're dentined to get cancer, you're gonna get it and I know how painful that whole procedure was for her, so I hope in the end it was worth it for her.

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  16. Whatever you decide I will have you in my prayers. I would do the masectomy then breast reconstruction. I never want to go through what SIL went through with a lumpecomy then a partial masectomy, chemo, radiation. Unfortunately she did pass away. I'd just get it done. Thanks for stopping by mine (blog).

    Take care, Lucy

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  17. ps just do what's right for you.

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  18. Thank you for stopping by my blog and for your kind thoughts. I received an abnormal result the very first time I went in for a mammogram. Like you I am being monitored. I am not sure what I would do, if told to remove my breasts. It scares me just thinking about it and to be honest, I'm trying not to think too much about it. In the end, you have to do what is right for you and your family, because a boob is just a boob. You can replace it but you can't replace you. Will keep you in my prayers xoxo Migdalia - aka @MsLatina

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  19. This is a real eye opener. Your openness with this issue makes it understandable why some might think breast removal would simplify life.I think there is breast reduction might help. And I think there's a test that can determoneif you care the cancer gene. Praying for you and your mom

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  20. I'm not sure what I'd do...but praying youll find peace in making the right choice. (by te way, I'm the opposite I wish I had more of it! haha..)

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  21. This is a huge decision. I really don't know what I would do.
    We had a friend recently make the decision to have a double mastectomy because it was confirmed that she was carrying the gene. So, so hard.
    Praying for you girl!

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  22. Now that Im fat my boobs are even bigger but not so heavy anymore. But in high school I wore a size 7 pants weighed 130 pounds but had a size 36F it stunk!
    I think to me the risks out way the beni's breast cancer is a scary thing and if I had to I would remove them. Beauty is what you are not what u looklike... Is it worth keeping them to look "normal" or is it worth loosing them to see your grand babies innthe future!?

    Thanks for coming over to mommy2nanny3doggy1.com

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