I only removed one and now i'm wishing that I had done both. I'm so lopsided and it is a real pain to even everything out everyday.. But think about what would work best in your life. Good luck.

I’m thinking about having my very painful heavy breast removed. I’m scared, yet after ready your post I think I’ll have it done. Think I’ll have a better quality of life.

At age 60, I had a double mastectomy 8/2022 with plastic surgeon and breast surgeon working together and tissue expanders placed during the mastectomy. I took only OTC pain meds. I took them right at the indicated time to stay ahead of any pain. The pain/surgery was not as bad as I had envisioned. I was careful to follow all Dr's instructions on movement restrictions and weight lifting restrictions. I rested a lot the first week home. Don't overdo it that first week. I was a teacher and I went back to work 2 weeks post surgery but it was the teacher workdays at the beginning of the year. I had a week to adjust to working, then the kids returned and I did fine. So 3 weeks post surgery, I was back to teaching middle school. Most of my pain was around the incision sites where the sentinel lymph nodes were removed. My radiation sessions started mid November. I had 33 sessions right after school everyday. I would leave when the dismissal bell rang and go straight to the clinic. As soon as I finished each session, I went home and got on the couch. My husband took care of dinner. The housework and any errands had to wait or my husband handled them. Radiation caused heavy fatigue for me, but I did not have to miss any work. Rest !! Prior to my surgery, I did do some shoulder exercises daily for several weeks. At age 60, I was worried that the inactivity after surgery might make my shoulders stiffen up, so I tried to get them as flexible as possible ahead of time. Best of luck to you. Everything went much better than I thought it would.

Hi Gloria, Welcome from another HER2+ gal!
I was diagnosed at 62, IDC Stage 2a, Grade 3, one tumor 2.7 cm but clear lymph nodes. I had surgery (left mastectomy, aesthetic flat closure, chemo and targeted therapy. The drug protocols are long- mine took a little over a year to complete, but so far so good! I am closing in on 6 years out of treatment!

The single mastectomy was not too painful. They do cut through a lot of nerves, so there is a lot of numbness. I was given an Rx for pain, but could get by with OTC Tylenol. Sometimes I would fall asleep, and wake up because the Tylenol had worn off- using an ice pack on for a few seconds, then off- and repeating that as needed until the next dose kicked in- worked well. I found, since I am a serious side sleeper, that sleeping upright in the recliner with a pillow on each side to help keep me upright was the way to go. The mastectomy surgery was actually easier to deal with- pain wise- that the pain at the lymph node removal site. The center had given me (shout-out to the volunteers that make them!) a U-shaped pillow to go under my arm. That helped reduce the pressure/friction at the lymph node site- and if traveling- I could use the pillow between me and the seat belt. A small folded towel will work as well in both scenarios!

Because I chose no reconstruction- I was able to skip radiation, so no first-hand advice there! Keeping you in prayers for every success with your procedures! Hugs!