The Procedure

The surgery I'm having on December 10th is a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. I am in fact choosing to have this operation, but it has been highly recommended by my doctors and geneticist because I have the BRCA2 mutation that puts me at an extremely high (85-87%)  risk of getting breast cancer. For the procedure, a surgeon will remove both of my breasts, including my nipples. After the procedure, there will be one long incision scar across each side of my chest, similar to the single scar in the image below.

I have chosen to have breast reconstruction as well, and I'll actually begin that process as a part of the initial surgery. After the mastectomy, the doctor will insert barely-inflated tissue expanders that I will keep for several months. Every few weeks I will go in and have the expanders slightly enlarged through an injection of saline into a sub-dermal port in the expander. The purpose of this is to expand my remaining skin enough to eventually make a pocket for breast implants to go into during a second procedure several months down the road.

(**images totally pilfered from the internet and not properly cited, I know!)

Barring complications, I should only be in the hospital for about 24 hours. The pain will be bad, and I will have restrictions on what I can lift for quite some time. There are some other gross post-op realities that come along with mastectomy - the drains! Having been through mastectomies with my mom, I've experienced these little balls of joy, and I'm really not looking forward to them. I'll stay out of work for 5-6 weeks, and then should be able to go back with only the lift restriction in place.

So for the people who like the really gross medical details, just Google "Mastectomy" "Mastectomy Drains" and "Breast Tissue Expanders."

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On a lighter note, we've decided to have a "Boob-Voyage" party for my birthday. You know, to say ta-ta to my tatas! I figure I might as well have some fun with all of this! Healing will be a long process, and will probably keep our holidays pretty low key. It will be fun to hang out and see folks. It will be on 12/6 - watch for details on Facebook!