Name: Liz McCary

Age: 37 

IG handle: @lizmccary 

Please share a little bit about yourself and your story. 

My name is Liz McCary and I live in Columbia, South Carolina with my husband Luke McCary. 

I am the VP of Marketing for a commercial real estate firm and project management company.

At the age of 33 I discovered a lump in my left breast during a routine self-check. After biopsy and initial MRI my diagnosis looked promising with no lymph node involvement. My maternal grandmother and aunt died of breast cancer so given my diagnosis a doctor recommended I get genetic testing (first time anyone mentioned this as an option) and I found out that I am BRCA2 positive.

Throughout the first few weeks of diagnosis, I kept asking doctors “how do we know the cancer isn’t somewhere else in my body?”

A couple doctors insisted I was good given no lymph node engagement and that it would be VERY RARE for my cancer to have spread. After advocating for myself I finally receiving a PET scan, the results showed a quarter size lesion on my left pubic bone. After a bone biopsy, where the radiologist told me he “had a good feeling this was nothing” I was told I had Metastatic Breast Cancer.  Initial diagnosis was that my cancer was HR/PR positive and HER2 negative. I completed 16 rounds of chemotherapy, 3 rounds of radiation on my pubic bone, underwent a bilateral mastectomy and partial hysterectomy.

The interesting part about my diagnoses is after my bilateral mastectomy a small amount of my tumor was left and after pathology the report showed that my cancer was in fact triple positive.

So, just when I thought I was done I started 18 rounds of Herceptin and Pejeta.

But it was all worth it because I am happy to report that 9 months after diagnosis, I was cancer free and just celebrated one-year cancer free.

I continue to have routine checkups with my oncology team and take letrozole daily. 

Where did you have your surgery?

Duke University in North Carolina.

What is your surgeons name and why would or wouldn't you recommend them?!

Dr. Gregory Georgiade is my surgeon and to be honest its because of him that I went flat.

He is a straight shooter and tough, but I think he is top notch.

Every nurse I met raved about his work, his professionalism and his expertise and to me that says a lot.

Why did you decide to stay flat after surgery? Were you given the option to stay flat?

I know this isn’t typical, but my surgeon said going flat was the only way he would take me on as a patient.

Given my MBC status he said we were walking in uncharted territory and that going flat would give me and my body time to focus on fighting cancer.

I was shocked.

My husband and I didn’t even have going flat on our radar. I even setup a second appointment with Dr. Georgiade to convinced him to put in expanders during surgery. I told him I was a fighter and I could take it – he agreed but told me this was going to be risky. 

As I prepared for surgery, I started to research what reconstruction would look like further down the road. I found my mind and body was tired of making decisions – I could not retain any more information or make any additional decisions.

Dr. Georgiade was right – priority was my life and fighting cancer.

So, with that, the week before surgery I came to the realization that he was the expert and I needed to trust his judgement. I told him no expanders – let’s go flat and plan to decide reconstruction next steps once I was cancer free. 

Thank goodness I did because at the time, none of us knew I would need to start HER2 positive infusions ASAP. Going flat meant I could start Herceptin and Perjeta right away.  This decision could have been something that saved my life. I am incredibly thankful to Dr. Georgiade for informing me about going flat. 

Dr. Georgiade said he would clear me for reconstruction surgery once I finished Herceptin and Perjeta and was cancer free for one full year.  I reached that milestone in May; however, now we are in a pandemic situation and I think its safer for me and my body to stay flat until the world is a little less chaotic.   

What do you wish you knew about being flat / surgery / etc?

At the time it felt like being flat was the odd ball decision. I wish I had known how many resources and people had made the same decision. 

Advice for people who are thinking about staying flat after surgery?

My body needed the rest. I would suggest people think about what you are putting your body through and think about going flat and letting yourself heal mentally and physically. Decision fatigue is real, and you have time. You do not have to make every decision about your life RIGHT THEN AND THERE. Additionally, going flat doesn’t mean you don’t have boobs. There are prosthetics and bra inserts that you can use when or if you want.  The weirdest thing post-surgery are the phantom sensations. There are times I truly think my nipple itches – but I do not have nipples. 

How was your recovery from your surgery?

Recovery was easy for me. I never took pain meds and was walking 2 miles a day after stitches were out. I was tired but I did not have any pain or discomfort from the surgery itself. I didn’t realize how numb my skin would be. I will say, 3 days after surgery I got a stomach bug and bending down over a toiled and throwing up after your chest was cut across was the worst. I would not recommend that.

How would you describe your overall experience? 

WAY easier than 16 rounds of chemo. Who knew removing boobs was so simple? 

Are you happy with your results? 

I can barely see my incisions. I think my surgeon did an amazing job. I think its perfect if I want to stay flat long-term but also perfect if I want to do reconstruction.

Do you have any feeling post surgery?

I was very numb after surgery. I had numbness down the back of my arms but with time it starts to come back. The weirdest thing post-surgery are the phantom sensations. There are times I truly think my nipple itches – but I do not have nipples. The sensations go away over time. I am still numb over my incisions. 

On a scale 1- 10 how painful was your surgery? Your recovery?

Surgery 5 and Recovery 3 – most uncomfortable part was the drains. Once those were out life was good.

What challenges have you faced since your surgery?

The biggest challenge has been regaining strength in my upper body. 

How do you feel about your scars? 

Sometimes I worry about them showing in V cut shirts but then I remind myself what I have been through and laugh. Life is too short. Scars and cancer don’t define you – they are just part of your story. 

What are the best ways to advocate for yourself to your medical team if you want to be flat? 

If your medical team won’t listen, find someone who will.

Do not stop asking question. Do not stop advocating for yourself. But I think its also very important to listen to viewpoints but at the end of the day its your body, your decision and only you know 100% what is right for you. Listen to that.

Is there anything else you would like to add about your surgery / experience? Any commonly asked questions? Please feel free to add whatever you would like!!

I have always had large boobs and being flat has helped my back and posture so much. Working out and laying on my stomach was always uncomfortable and now I can do both with ease. 

To make an appointment with Gregory S. Georgiade you can call his office at 919-681-3445