Jshahan's Story: Getting Informed Helped Me Make Treatment Decisions
Jshahan is a Breastcancer.org Community member in Geneva, Ohio, USA.
Although I was diagnosed with breast cancer I have to say I was lucky getting the doctors I did to guide me through the process and giving me all the options available and not just saying, "This is what you should do." When you're informed you can better make decisions based on you, not someone else's preference.
I was 48 years old when I was diagnosed. My insurance was great I was able to get the BRCA test to help me decide on a double or single mastectomy. I chose single with flap reconstruction.
I highly recommend getting a therapist right away, you may think your ok but I found my mental health deteriorate and did ask for help from my oncologist, who was very helpful in finding just the right one.
After my experience, even at my age when I was diagnosed, I probably would just do the double mastectomy with no reconstruction. Going through all the extra surgeries after chemo and radiation treatment wore me down.
It's a process and you should take one step at a time. Don't be afraid to ask questions or ask for material. It's okay to say, "Let me research this and I'll let you know," when they want you to rush to a decision.
I'm 9 years out and feeling myself finally, it takes a while but you will get there.
