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Getting BRCA risk reducing surgeries when your mental health is already at rock bottom

  • 21-11-2023 9:33am
    #1
    shellybabyxox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5 ✭


    Does anyone have advice? 32F here. Found out I’m BRCA1 positive last week. Freaking out ever since. Was already suffering with severe depression and anxiety. I treat it with cannabis which I think I have to stop before surgery? Most likely going to be having a double mastectomy with reconstruction and also my ovaries removed. Not sure when yet. Really wanted 2 kids also but considering my bad mental health and the BRCA result also the fact that I’m single I don’t know how realistic that is anymore 😭😭😭 I really don’t know how I’m going to get through all this. Really concerned about the effect these 2 surgeries will have on my mental health. Don’t know if I should prioritise having kids first or prioritise doing the surgeries as soon as possible. Sick with stress from all of this.



Comments

  • #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    You poor thing. What a dreadful shock and some tough decisions to make.

    If you can, ask someone to accompany you on this journey, a friend or relative, who can come with you to tough appointments and be there to talk when it seems too much.

    Secondly don't rush but read thoroughly. Learn the experiences of others with the same gene and see what they did and how it worked for them.

    Thirdly consider freezing your eggs to give you the option of children later on.

    Fourthly start taking your mental and physical health as seriously as you can - give up drink and drugs, go to talking therapy, get out for a walk and eat good nourishing food.

    This is a huge shock and a big mountain to climb but it's going to save your life and you need to start thinking as positively as you can, and that's very hard without help.

    My heart goes out to you and I wish you the very best in the world.



  • #3
    amdublin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,653 ✭✭✭✭amdublin


    I am sorry :(

    What has your GP said? Is there any medical person you can discuss this with to tease out your queries and options and help make decisions



  • #4
    OscarMIlde
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,438 ✭✭✭OscarMIlde


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058323550/getting-brca-risk-reducing-surgeries-when-your-mental-health-is-already-at-rock-bottom

    How did you get the diagnosis? If you got it through a clinical genetics lab you should be put in touch with a genetic counsellor.

    They will give you advice on support services and possible medical interventions. Try not to panic. It's really tough but ultimately it's better to know than not to know.



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