16. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 7:32 pm PDT

Breast sensation was extremely important to me and it was so devastating to think about losing that along with my breast. I had DIEP flap surgery on my right breast and I am very happy with the cosmetic result, but I miss the sensation that I used to have. Nipple stimulation was very much tied to orgasm for me and unfortunately, my husband wasn't willing to try something new. I can't help but feel like my new and different body and my lack of breast sensation was somehow connected to the end of my marriage.

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17. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 7:39 pm PDT

It is very important and reassuring to know there are others who value the important of breast sensation. It is a subject not often discussed.

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18. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 7:43 pm PDT

Had a double mastectomy one year ago. And yes I lost all pleasurable sensation, they removed my nipples and reconstruction is nothing to brag about. I miss it all terribly but I thank God everyday that I am one of the lucky ones. My cancer is gone and my husband loves me just the same......

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19. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 8:35 pm PDT

Oh, Lillie, you hit the million-dollar question. On a scale from 1-10, the importance of breast sensation for me was 10--the highest possible. They were my most sensitive erogenous zone. That's the main reason I felt so bereft when I had to have a bilateral mastectomy 6 years ago. And I still miss them for that reason.

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20. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 8:36 pm PDT

I find it very hopeful that research is being done in the area of reconnecting nerves damaged by mastectomy surgery. Your question: "...I'm curious to hear how important this issue is to you. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you value breast sensation?" For me, breast sensation has always been extremely linked to sexual excitement and satisfaction. It's hard to determine what one would actually do in such life altering circumstances; however, I do feel that if the option of reconnecting the nerves were explained as a viable option and a way to save my natural breast - while ridding the breast of cancer - yes ... I would take the "extraordinary steps" to do so. Scale of 1-10 ... 10 if the surgery has the same success rate for cancer removal as the traditional masectomy AND allows you to keep your natural breast and sensation.

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21. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 8:43 pm PDT

Of course, choosing my life was more important than choosing my breast. But it was a very difficult adjustment. It wasn't about how I looked. I got over that and frankly, no one but my husband, would ever know by looking at me. It was about the loss of sensation. Reconstructed breast are wonderful for filling out clothes and helping you to not look mamed when naked, but the loss of sensation is huge. Sorry, breast sensation is connected to clitoris sensation and I miss it.

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22. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 10:09 pm PDT

Lillie, I am very pleased that you have brought up this issue which is not regularly addressed by many medical personnel who deal with Breast cancer patients. I am a Breast surgeon by training and even reconstruction is not regularly encouraged and discussed at consultations in my neck of the woods. i feel attempts to preserve sensation must be encouraged and options of surgical procedures presented to patients in a clear and forthright manner. Congratulations for discussing this subject!

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23. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Aug 17, 2008, 1:13 pm PDT

I would rather die than lose sensation. My breasts are already very small as it is, and losing them completely would be too much for me. My overall enjoyment of sex depends heavily on them. I'm personally not too big on aggressive cancer treatments anyway, after watching what my father goes through. I guess I'm just an all or nothing kind of person. I do however, respect anyone elses decision to do whatever they must to survive.

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24. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Jan 19, 2009, 4:56 pm PST

I underwent a mastectomy in 2007 and I am currently planning for reconstructive surgery. If it were possible to restore sensation by reconnecting nerves, I would be elated. The reason is not to feel more erotic; the reason is to put back together as much as possible what was lost to the cancer. Numbness is a constant reminder of what was taken--normalcy. Your comment, that "the biggest erogenous zone we have is our brain" suggests that a woman who is more enlightened would recognize that breast sensation is not very important. Balderdash. I am not exploring breast reconstruction in order to restore an erogenous zone, so that I can have better sex. A man might think that, but it is a small part of why women want, need, and deserve breast reconstruction after surgery, including reconstruction of sensation, if possible.

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