I began thinking about WLS over a year ago. This past summer, I began the process. I spent many, many hours reading these boards and learning more than I ever thought I'd know about being sleeved and living a sleeved life. I started by attending an information seminar hosted by my surgeon in July. I had my one-on-one consultation with him in September. I began my adventure of hoop-jumping: two psych visits, two nutrition visits, two sleep studies (one with CPAP after OSA dx), EGD, upper GI, pulmonary check, cardio check... I learned I had high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, as well as obstructive sleep apnea. All the more reason to have this procedure. When I was almost finished with all of my clearances, I discovered a lump.

I immediately contacted my primary care doctor who sent me to a breast imaging specialist. Everyone could feel the lump, but it didn't show up on the diagnostic mammo, nor the ultrasound. I was then referred to a surgeon under the impression that I had an infected duct. Under his direction, I hot-packed my breast for two days before having the painful area excised. Two days later, I learned the excised area was entirely cancer. Positive margins, more surgery, blah blah blah. The rest was just a bunch of white noise.

I had a successful double mastectomy four weeks ago and had my tissue expanders placed for reconstruction. I've been in contact with my bariatric surgeon and his recommendation was to get started with my physical therapy and as long as the plastic surgeon was ok with it, and as long as I didn't need chemo, we could submit to insurance and get started. I am about a week away from beginning physical therapy and I've been getting more and more excited.

Today, after OncoType testing, I learned I'll soon begin 8 rounds of chemo, lasting about six months. I will likely need to wait several months after finishing chemo before I move on to step 2 of my reconstruction, let alone even think about being sleeved. My first thought was to put off the chemo for a month or so and try to put a rush on my sleeve. But what if I'm in the small percentage of patient that has a serious complication? The longer I wait on the chemo, the less effective it could be. It's a no brainer. My heart is broken. I have to put on my big girl panties and just suck it up. Do the chemo, regain my strength, then move forward with my reconstruction and sleeve next year. Although I know what I have to do, I just want to cry. I'm so disappointed.

BrickHouse, your story was very moving and inspiring. So glad they got all the cancer. Hopefully your chemo therapy goes well for you and you can continue to work towards your sleeve. Best wishes to you.

My thoughts are with you, everything happens for a reason take it one step at a time. You mentioned that all the cancer is gone and the chemo is basically so the chances of it coming back are cut in half. I would definately have the chemo first from what I have seen people tend to gain weight during their treatments and it has nothing to do with how they eat. If you have wls then your chemo, you may feel dissapointed that you do not lose weight and you would have done it for nothing. Take all you have learned about how to eat & how much to eat and start losing without the surgery, then once you have gone through all your therapies you will be in a stronger place to succeed with the wls.

I wish you the best of luck.