Mastectomy

Diagnosis: Breast Cancer.
Treatment: Mastectomy.

Coping with any breast cancer diagnosis is initially overwhelming and traumatic. Your whole world is turned upside down, there are a million questions to ask, and overnight, the new patient is thrust into a world that buzzes with unfamiliar medical terms.

Not only will your doctors' words open a floodgate of emotions, but the whole prospect of unfamiliar, gruelling cancer treatment is then immediately thrown into the mix. Mastecomy is a huge notion to undertake for any woman - the removal of the breast as a treatment for breast cancer not only signifies the removal of an unhealthy organ but for many, a loss of femininity.

Coping with breast cancer presents monumental challenges, the patient being initially innundated with a flood of verbal information, literature and decision-making. And always, there's a myriad of pressing questions to be asked and a common feeling of helplessness accompanied by a loss of control.

'How will my diagnosis affect my home and work environment? Will my partner hold me in the same way again? Will he mind? Will my children or grandchildren be afraid of my new physical change? Will people easily recognize that I have one breast missing? Will I retain my femininity? How will I view losing part of my body? Will I survive this?'

Akin to the fear of survival and the consequences of the mastectomy, the breast cancer patient is quickly confronted with the various options of breast reconstruction. But decision making can be an incredibly intense process to undertake during any circumstance of trauma and shock.

The Didyma Foundation website information aims to guide patients and their families through all of the options and choices available for breast reconstruction, as well as being a place where you can peruse and evaluate a wealth of information in your own time.