I have just been diagnosed with breast cancer and am due to have a mastectomy and LD flap reconstruction with an implant. I am due to see the consultant tomorrow to finalise surgery plans.
I have been reading up on the procedure and have many questions but one major one - I am a keen sailer and do alot of the rope pulling including hoisting the sails. I am aware that sking and rock climbing are effected by this type of reconstruction so sailing would be too as it involves similar movements.
What are peoples experiences of how much movement and muscle strength you loose from a LP flap reconstruction and what is the time frame for recovery before you can do active sports. Also, should I be asking for some other kind of reconstruction to be considered with my hobby ?
Hi Allycat - I had my LD reconstruction on 1st Sept this year - so it is too soon to really comment on how it has left my upperbody strength - and I suspect you might not get a quick answer from someone who had this op long enough ago as once they are that stage they probably don’t feel the need to use this forum.
So at the moment I still have problems closing a heavy car door with the affected arm, changing gear (3rd to 2nd) and various daily tasks - so if I were a sailor, I reckon it would take time to get back.
My surgeon did say there was a lady tennis pro playing with a LD recon though!
It is prob worth trawling the reconstruction strings - here is one (if this works) started in 2008 so you could PM those ladies who had it done then and you might get an answer.
LD flap reconstruction will afect muscles and power. You must speak to your doctor. For active people the best is delayed reconstruction. It is my opinion. Why you are not using the latest techniques?
Hi Ally Cat,
I am 10 months down the line from an immediate LD recon (which is amazing - really good shape etc etc; no implant, has been through 25 rads fine) and am still recovering strength in my (non-dominant, right hand) affected side. I think it would be worth mentioning to your PS that you sail, and what that means, so that they can best advise you. You may have to be quite firm and press for answers, my PS is very directive, which can be good, but clealry had no clue about the physicality/physiology of many sports.
Recently I went swimming for the first time since my surgery and found I was veering off at an angle (good job it was a leisure pool not lanes!) due to the imbalance between my two sides, I was also a bit sore afterwards, but I did swim around 30 lengths which was perhaps a bit daft for a first attempt… I also hill walk with poles and find that I get a stiff/achey boob after a day’s intense walking - never knew my LD muscle was involved in that before!
In terms of general strength, I was OK after about six weeks but because of lymphedema risk I tend to be a bit careful anyway - and have managed to injure my good wrist over-compensating (stupid woman that I am!). Tend not to go over about 10lb/5kg with my affected arm on its own, but with two arms can do pretty much normal lifting.
There are certainly women on here who swim post LD (I think DJ007 but not absolutely sure), some who ride, and I am back hill walking at about 95% capacity (just find my very cautious one-handed scrambling a bit of a chanllenge and use my poles less!). I htink there are women who sail but no clue about their surgery.
Hope you get the advice you need, and that your surgery goes really well… and that you are soon sailing away from all this.
PS if i can be any help with questions you have, please feel free to PM me.
I think if you have am immediate recon then it is difficult to tell what side effects are caused by the mx and what by the recon. I had a mx in Feb 2007 followed by an LD flap in Feb 2010.
Following the mx my right (and dominant) arm was noticeably weak for the best part of three years. It was only just before I had the recon that I realised it didn’t seem weak anymore. I noticed it opening heavy doors (especially shop doors - I started doing that left handed), carrying shopping bags, and especially bellringing - I am a chuch bellringer.
Prior to the recon I asked the PS about possible loss of strength - he said my swimming would be unaffected, but thought bellringing would be affected - it’s that pulling down motion. Well I can honestly say that I have had no loss of strength whatsover. I still swim 50 lengths at a time, and my bellringing is completely unaffected. I am totally unaware of any difference in feeling in my back where the muscle came from.
I haven’t (yet) had reconstruction, but had a mastectomy and full node clearance in January this year.
If you are sailing/crewing on yachts, then winching (2 handed) shouldn’t be too much of a problem by next summer. If you are able to winch sails, genoas etc you should be OK. Sheeting in the main might be more difficult, as even with blocks they still usually need a good tug, and it’s pulling towards yourself that “twangs” the muscles. Anchor work might also be tricky, for the same reason.
If it’s dinghy sailing then it would be more difficult, I know the strength needed, and if I try the movement it pulls on my chest muscles and those under my arm. I’m not sure I could manage it at the moment.
I can swim without problem, and have been doing so since May, but it’s not the same kind of strength as is needed for sailing.
Hi Allycat
just to clarify I did have an immediated LD reconstruction - but had bilateral mastectomy so am also waiting for recon on the other side so can compare the two!
Yes there is still some tenderness on my side on the plain Mx - so not to do with the scar or anything. Similar tenderness on the LD side but much “tighter” and often far more uncomfortable. Mind you I think chemo has worsened this and temporarily halted recovery. My main problem is that the muscle left in my back on the LD side knots up at the slightest provocation - including just going for a gentle walk.
The LD arm muscles are also a lot weaker than the MX arm - but I did have full node clearance that side and only partial on the otherside.
I think whatever OP or reconstruction route you hear different stories of success or disappointment - whichever route you take you just have to accept some risk.