Thao Tiedt

By Previve on October 22, 2010 | Category: Previvor Stories | No Comments

My mother’s sister died of breast cancer in her early 30’s. My sister died of breast cancer in her early 40’s. My mother had breast cancer in both her late 40’s and late 60’s but didn’t die of it. Many of my female counsins on my mother’s side have had breast cancer.

In 1986, the gene research was not well developed but once I started having cysts which always had to be biopsed because of the family history, I elected preventative surgery. I had a lot of anxiety leading up to the surgery and the first time I saw myself when the bandages were being changed, I was aghast. However, my doctor said to pay no attention–it was way too early to tell how I would look. He was right. I was lucky and both the removal and reconstruct were done in one operation. I have never regretted my decision. Having lived for twenty-four years with the same kind of surgery you are going to have, I have some observations and comments:

1. You have a very good medical team. Do exactly what they ask you to do during the recovery period. Don’t push the healing. You will be very tired for some time plus have pretty weak carrying ability. When I went back to work, my law firm assigned someone to carry my briefcase for several months! Also, don’t skimp on the rehab. My doctor had me doing massage and rolling my chest against a wall 10 min. per side per day for over a year to prevent encapsulation. It worked.

2. I found wearing low cut things a bit difficult as the reconstructed breasts tend to flex since the muscles are on top. I also found that working the pecs during my workouts made it worse.

3. I chose saline implants and found that none of the men who had a chance to observe/touch during the last 24 years could tell the difference. I had really good cosmetic results so most of them would not have known of my surgery unless I had told them. I have not had any trouble with hardening, etc. but the implants are a little smaller than at first.

4. A few years after my surgery, the medical insurers in the area in which I was living at the time were thinking of not covering this type of surgery and only covering the traditional “hack them off” approach. My doctor asked me to attend a meeting with the medical advisers to the insurance companies, which I did. I discovered that the reason for considering not covering the more cosmetic procedure was not because of its cost or efficacy. It was because some not so skilled doctors were doing the surgery and then the insurance companies were on the hook for the “fix it” procedures too. I strongly expressed my opinion of that reasoning. One snippy little red headed male doctor accused me of being “vain”. I suggested he might think differently about it if it was his penis at stake. The insurance companies continued to cover the procedure I underwent.

5. I am almost 67 and often go braless around the house with no sag–kind of fun.

I wish you the very best and congratulate you on a courageous decision, particularly at your age. I hope you will keep up your blog as you progress down this path. I would be happy to hear from you if you would like to e-mail or call. If you would like to call, please e-mail me personally at tiedt@ryanlaw.com and I will send my telephone number.

Thao Tiedt