i have just spoken to my surgeon about my op on Thursday . I basically have two choices for the WLE and SNLB to be done under local anaesthetic having it done this way I would have a large scar and dimple at the top of my cleavage and have been told cosmetically it will not look good. Or I can have a reduction along with the lump removal under general anaesthetic but this means having a tracheostomy tube in my throat to have the general. I so don’t know what to do. At the moment I am thinking I don’t care what my boobs will look like and its not worth the risk of such a big thing having a tracheostomy for the op. Five years down the line will I feel differently. The reason I would need a tracheostomy is my vocal cords were damaged through surgery for thyroid cancer .
Obviously this has to be your decision & one you feel comfortable with & you’ve got to think long term. But if this was me going with my gut reaction I would say go for the local option. I’m sure overtime you would get used to & be accepting of what it looks like. Whatever you decide I wish you all the best xx
Hi Kim. What a dilemma bless you. Y here are so many pros and cons for both. Personally for me I’m not bothered by how my boobs and cleavage look as I just wanted the lump gone. I had the reduction and lump removal under general rather than just a lumpectomy as my boobs do make my back/neck ache. However I didn’t need a trachy so not so hard a decision although if they’d offered me a lumpectomy under local I’d have jumped at it, they just said both would be under general.
I do have some experience with trachys and assuming you can allow it to close when you are recovered it isn’t as scary as it sounds. However there would be more risks as always with a general.
I’m aware I’m not helping much but I’m sure more people will be on who have had a local anaesthetic. Good luck whatever you decide xx
Hi Kim. Sorry I didn’t finish with my name I’m so used to Bott or Botty now I don’t think. It is my nickname at work as my surname is quite difficult to pronounce and one of the teachers called me Bottyboo so it’s just stuck.
I had an axillary node clearance as I’d had a node biopsy when I had my lump biopsies. The ultrasound showed it was enlarged.
My surgeon said to me the reduction along get with the lumpectomy gives you a much better chance of clear margins which was another good reason for that.
If your trachy will be closed immediately I would personally definitely go for the general anaesthetic. If you went for the local and didn’t get clear margins you’d be back to square one anyway.
My recovery from the reduction has been hampered by lack of blood supply to the skin which then died off. It was only superficial, the main problem being it has delayed me starting chemo but fingers crossed I start on Friday. I didn’t get any nasty infections despite daily dressings at one point. I was warned about the T junction having this problem but have been looked after brilliantly.
As for the node clearance, because I had the mammoplasty/reduction it was all done through the one scar so haven’t suffered the underarm soreness. I have to say apart from my armpit feeling weird and the inside of my arm to my elbow, I’ve had virtually no side effects from the clearance. A few weird feelings early like creeping ants but not pain and have been able to do all the exercises with no problem.
Every cloud and all that as the amount of time I’ve to spend with my arm behind my head whilst the dressing is changed means I know for a fact the rads will be a breeze position wise.
Despite all my issues I can honestly say I would still opt for the mammoplasty and love my smaller non droopy boob.
Love and hugs
Sarah xx