Mastectomy Twin

I got a call today from my mastectomy twin! We both had mastectomies on the same day, buy the same doctor, I think it was the same side, and ended up staying on the same floor for recovery. We didn't know of each other at the time. We met later at the Women's cancer support group. And our radiation treatment overlapped and we often crossed paths in the waiting room. We would spend forever talking and chatting in that funny little waiting room full of partially dressed women. We all wore the same hospital gown and spiral key chain around our wrist that went to our clothes locker. Some of us had wigs, some of us had a boob, some two and some none. But we were all there for the same reason. To get fried like a chicken. When one or both of the machines were broken there were a lot of us, and we would talk and laugh and read the same old torn up magazines. I always loved turning the corner and seeing my mastectomy twin. She had the best wigs, and the really nice wig liners. The type that Velcro-ed in and kept the sweat off of your head. Nothing like my pantyhose material ones that if you pulled down far enough made you look like a mugger. But that's not why I liked her. her and I shared a bond I can't explain. During treatment I wanted empathy, not sympathy. And with her, it was true empathy. She had been through the exact same thing. As exact as you can get in the breast cancer world anyway. So, she called me. I wasn't able to answer but I got her voice mail later. She got reconstruction! We talked about it so much. Many women are really torn on weather or not to get it. Some are lucky enough to have reconstruction immediately. I had to wait, and one doctor wouldn't even look at me until a year after I finished radiation. Ugh! I was crushed. But I ended up finding the best plastic surgeon ever and couldn't be happier. It's a big decision and some women chose not to have reconstruction at all. I read a book where women discussed what made them decide. One was in a hotel and the fire alarm went off. When she got downstairs she looked around and realized she was the only person fully dressed. But she didn't want to go out in her pj's and only one boob, so she put on her bra and prosthetic and ended up just finishing to get dressed at that point. The experience made her think about how important that breast was and that she could have died getting out because she took the time to get dressed to avoid others seeing her with one breast. Another women shared how she walked by Victoria Secret and had the sudden desire to wear pretty bras again and went to get reconstruction. I'm not sure why my twin waited so long, or what made her go and get it, but I am really happy for her and can't wait to see it! She says it is beautiful! And I totally believe her!