To be so fed up of people assuming I’m going to have breast reconstruction

Blimey, how rude!! 😠 Imagine thinking it's OK to say this to a woman who has had breast cancer surgery! Un-fucking-believable. I'm so sorry ...

@drivinmecrazy you should really learn to say 'what the hell, are you fucking kidding me?! How dare you ask me that!' But it's easier said than done to do this! Take care of yourself

My mum made the same decision as you. She has been happily lopsided and healthy for 10 years. She got this question a lot at first. I think because on TV they also show women also having it but those who haven't been through it don't realize it's just more surgery time, more anesthetic, more discomfort, more pain, more risk, after having gone through absolute hell of cancer treatment. It's just thoughtless.

They won’t normally remove both of them.

I had one removed due to cancer and am currently battling to get the second removed because I hate being lopsided and I also don’t want a 2nd cancer because I am not doing that twice. 13 months and counting, currently pending psychological evaluation to see if i understand what I’m asking for. Totally fucking ridiculous, infantilising … could rant all day.

I’ll get there eventually. Just hope I don’t get cancer whilst I’m waiting .

I’m 6 years post mastectomy and I still occasionally get asked.
I now reply with, oh yeh can’t wait to become a patient again and have a balloon inserted into my chest to have my skin expanded and probably get multiple infections and then get the fat harvested from my stomach or my thighs to be pumped in to my pocket of skin and then the fat will move and dissipate and to go through fat harvesting AGAIN!
Response is usually, omgoodness, really ? Does that happen ??
It is a massive adjustment mentally, emotionally getting through treatment and yes does upset me at times, when clothes shopping and so sometimes think twice about being a Uniboober.
However when I want to be symmetrical I have a FOOB false boob !!
You’re doing great and luckily for us, we are more than a pair of tits, as they don’t definitely US .
Welcome to the club ! 💐

Had my single mastectomy in 2016. Never considered reconstruction. My remaining breast is very large so I don’t wear a prosthetic breast, it’s uncomfortable.

I felt a bit awkward about it at first but now, honestly I don’t think about it. No-one has ever commented.

We’re retiring very soon and when our lump sum pension amount comes through, I’ll be having private surgery to remove my remaining breast (5 mammogram recalls and 3 more biopsies since then, enough is enough!). I shan’t give being flat another thought.

Go with your gut!

I had a double mastectomy with no reconstruction. It was a very quick and clear decision for me. I have had a couple of people make weird comments but most people have been understanding. My body, my decision.

My friend didn't get the option of both being removed, they would only remove one.

I felt the same when I chose not to cold cap. As if you're not trying hard enough at cancer if you don't want to suffer any more for vanity.
I only had a lumpectomy but if I'd had mastectomy (and I did ask) I certainly wouldn't have bothered with reconstruction.

I personally will be having both breasts removed if I get breast cancer in one of them. A friend refused to have hers removed and 5 years later ended up with cancer in both breasts and lungs and spreading so badly she’s terminal. She also now has 2 children she’s leaving behind and I think for the sake of 2 lumps of fat etc they are not worth keeping and she’s literally given her life for her breasts! Having had breast implants and had them make me seriously ill - google silicone breast implant illness - caused permanent long term disability and illness - I had them removed and I’m happy with the little bits of whatever I have left and don’t care if other people don’t like them - they don’t belong to them!

Good for you. Why should you endure a surgery after everything you have been through to meet some societal expectation. Fuck that!

I remember reading a novel once about a woman who got cancer, her husband left her over the stress of it and the fact she didn’t want a reconstruction. They both dated other people, she got the all clear and she decided to get the reconstruction . Once she’s cancer free and all perky he tries to win her back and succeeds!! It made me so mad