r/BRCA

I have a skin condition that makes showering a difficult task, it takes me a few days to recover from a shower.

Do we have to shower the night before, my plastic and breast surgeon haven’t mentioned anything or sent me anything saying to shower before, but my family is hellbent on me doing so, but I am already anxious about how my skin will recover from surgery, and I don’t want to really be recovering from a surgery and a shower at the same time.

How did you handle the night before your surgery or morning of, did you shower? If so with what kind of products?

Another question those of you with chronic skin issues did you use any prescription topicals after the surgery or before?

Thank you for reading any other suggestions are welcome, I am allergic to coconut which makes using products hard, as most have coconut derived ingredients, and water hurts me too for some reason.

I am 29 years old, and around two weeks ago, I started experiencing a streaking, stabbing pain in my left breast. When I examined the area by touching it, I discovered a lump that appeared very large that day, but after sleeping, its size seemed to reduce, as though it had been swollen. Since then, the lump has remained detectable, with intermittent pinching pain, and I have noticed that it feels hard and does not seem to move from its location. I consulted a gynaecologist, who recommended a breast sonogram, a 3D mammogram and a prolactin blood test. According to the imaging findings the main breast lump measures approximately 3.3 cm and is categorised as **BI-RADS 4A**. The report also mentions a left axillary lymph node measuring 10 × 6 mm with a preserved fatty hilum and a retropectoral lymph node measuring 7 × 4 mm with an altered fatty hilum. A biopsy was recommended to further investigate the breast lump.

It seems strange to be looking forward to these, but I am. I will enjoy the time off from work and hope to get some projects at home done too, and complete an online course. Anyone else ever feel this way?

I am not sure this is the right thread at all. If not, I do apologise.

I have a 13 year old boy and 11 year old girl from my first marriage. Their dad pops in and out of their life about 3 times a year for a short 24-hour visit, and they have a weekly phone call in our court orders.

Its a complicated relationship for them, and at different times, they both feel differently about him.

He told them some weeks ago he was getting tested for BRCA 1 and 2 as his mother had both. She passed last year. He has no medical deciding rights to the children, but this does fall under his own medical thing but has an obvious knock on to the kids. He didn't really explain it to them, so they weren't that concerned.

We about 3 weeks ago, he called and told them he has BRCA 1 and what it means. He was upset on the phone. He found the need to inform them they had a 1 in 2 chance now. He rattled off all the statistics for each gender and the risks of passing it on to their kids. This all happened in the span of minutes.

So, my daughter has been in a full panic for weeks. She's weighing up having kids or not. I mean, she's 11. This is adult stuff.

I was not consulted on his decision to tell the kids any of it. I have sole parental responsibility for both kids. From what I read, most people talk to their children about it after 18. The recent death of their grandmother has also made it more real for them, I think.

My 13 year old boy seems more relaxed about it, but he also said his risks are not like his sisters, and he is closer to 18 to find out.

I have them in counselling already, but I think I will need to seek further support for my daughter as she seems overwhelmed by anxiety.

I am so sad they are having to feel like this and won't have any certainty for so many years.

I am not sure if i am just venting or if anyone can offer any advice to help them?

She said I can decide to keep my uterus and scale it back if I want, but she is reserving time for both. I am 54 and I am so worried what they will find!!!

I had a consult with a breast surgeon today at a major university hospital in Colorado. I was told that the only way they would even consider entertaining a nipple sparing procedure is if I underwent a reduction first (I am a 36 DD) and she wasn’t even interested in discussing a nerve sparing procedure beyond telling me there are poor outcomes associated with it and that it’s unlikely I would get any meaningful feeling back. she told she wants to do a center elipses incision which I feel would severely disfigure my breasts. Im pursuing a second opinion but ffs that appointment was disappointing.

I’m scheduled for mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction at the end of this month. I have my own business that is mostly working on a computer. How long after having this operation were you able to use your arms again for something like working on a computer? Will I be able to sit in bed and do a bit of work after 2 -3 weeks?
I’m so scared for this surgery and on top of that managing my business and my income just adds to the stress.

Hi all - I (38F, BRCA1) had my risk-reducing salpingoophorectomy last Wednesday and am on the mend. Was feeling relief after completing both preventative surgeries (PDMX last year), until I got my pathology report back. While there was no evidence of disease in my fallopian tubes or ovaries, a sample taken from the pelvic wash they did came back with “Atypical cells present.” The doctor reached out to let me know they were connecting with pathology for further information and would keep me posted, but I’m worried. I’m trying to be rational and remind myself that it could be nothing, but of course the fear creeps in. Anyone else get similar results back? What was the outcome?