OP here. I think that because legislation is different now, a bilateral mastectomy, be it elective or secondary to cancer, is covered, at least by federal BCBS. I am a federal employee. There was actually a bit of a hiccup where the plastic surgeon wanted to do a mastopexy (breast lift) before the mastectomy, as this would increase the likelihood that the nipple would receive the vasculature it needed to survive. This would NOT have been covered, as it was still deemed cosmetic. Since I was on the cusp measurement-wise of the masopexy being effective, we opted not to do it. It would have been about 8,000.

I too feel amazing emotionally about not worrying about breast cancer anymore. I feel like I've been freed of 25 years (literally) of worry.

Anonymous wrote:Np here (although I think I may have also posted earlier -- this time I just read the last page). Just sending my very best wishes to the OP and the PP who also recently had surgery. The first weeks are difficult but it does get better. And I had such a feeling of relief after I woke up from surgery. It really made all of the pain and inconvenience (oh, those drains) worthwhile. I am BRCA2+ and also had an oopherectomy. Both surgeries were 6 years ago when I was 39. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 41 and died at 44. I turned 45 earlier this year -- a big "motherless daughter" milestone for me. To OP and PP, I am thinking of you and wish you both an easy recovery.

Yes, the drains are uncomfortable. Uncomfortable but not painful but it was worth it for me. I must have had them in for 3 weeks. I was up and running after my prophylactic mastectomy in 2006 in about a month. I don't regret what I did for a minute. As I said in my earlier post, I cannot tell you how happy I am to be done with the fear of mammograms. Horrible fear I had.

Happy Birthday, PP. Best wishes to you.