Hi, this is my first post on here but I have been reading comments for some months.
I am 36 years old and had a WLE in June 2007 for Pagets Disease but unfortunately when the histology came back it showed there was extensive high grade DCIS for which the surgeon would only recommend a Mastectomy. What I found the hardest part of all was that he refused to allow reconstruction of any kind, his reasons being my breast size (40J) plus I’m afraid to say my BMI (high).
I’ve been reading about other women who have a large breast size and had reconstruction at the time of the Mastectomy, and am assuming that their weight was within the healthy range.
Anyway I had the op on 2nd Oct (have 3 kids ages 6, 2 & 1 and will do anything to be with them for as long as poss) and am back home now, feeling much better than I thought I would.
My question is, is there anyone else out there who has been refused reconstructive surgery and if so, for what reason? I would really appreciate any comments.
i’ve not had surgery yet, doing the chemo first - but my surgeon seems perfectly happy to do an immediate reconstruction after my mastectomy and I’m having a reduction on side two (I did suggest a tummy tuck at the same time, but my surgeon doesn’t do them). Unless there is a health problem that would make extended use of anaesthesia risky, I think it is discriminatory and would challenge them.
I am no kate moss either, well, unless you had a gang of them together.
I’d challenge this very strongly
hugs
x
Hi Kathy
Jenni Murray on Woman’s Hour said earlier this week that it is now routine that women have reconstructions at the same time as mastectomy - and none of the experts on the show disagreed with that. It’s certainly not been my experience, however. I was told that I couldn’t have a recon at the time of mastectomy because I would be having rads afterwards and the recon probably wouldn’t heal properly. I could have asked for a second opinion on this, but decided to just get on with it.
A trawl through American breast surgeons’ sites suggests that this is certainly the case in the US - it seems common that women also get surgery to enhance the other breast at the same time! This is probably something to do with the way in which treatment is mainly paid for over there through private insurance. However, what i find interesting is that they seem to have better survival rates than we do (oh, and of course their obesity problem has been worse than ours, although we’re doing our best to catch up), so why the difference?
Anyway we’ve both had the full shebang and no recon and that can’t be undone - so how do you feel about that now? I’m small chested and am finding it OK (ish), but I imagine that it’s a very different story for large busted women. Will you be wanting to explore recon now that it’s over? Do you have to have rads at any point?
Sarah
X
My HA have refused woman until they have lost weight, I have also heard of smokers being refused too.
I was never given option of immed due to having to have emergency mastectomy, was also refused the option of chemo first, I feel I have been waiting ages as they dont like to operate until a year post rads and even then trying to get scheduled has been a right nightmare.
I had mast Dec 2005 and have just had recon date rescheduled to 11.12.07 - so 2 years.
Hi Sarah
I was also told that I couldn’t have an immediate recon due to impending chemo and rads. I am now coming up to two years post dx and finished my treatment nearly a year ago and am still undecided about the recon and what to do. I know that had I been able to have the recon at the time of mastectomy I wouldn’t have this dillemma now and that is sometimes hard, especially when you hear a comment like the one on womens hour saying that it is pretty much standard to have immediate recon. The other thing for me is the fear of anesthetic so half of me feels that I just don’t want another op and the other wants to know what it would be like to have a cleavage again. I am not huge - 36A - but when I asked about a second opinion re an implant my nurse seemed to be a bit off, saying that she wasn’t sure who to refer me to as the original surgeon was the one who took all their patients. I can’t possibly be the first person to ask for a second opinion, so I feel a bit fobbed off. Sorry to go on, but this is clearly a subject that gets me a little frustrated. I do understand and I have tried to accept, actually I DO accept most of the time, that medically I had the right treatment and that I did learned to trust my team, and that was good. BUT, when you hear and see so many conflicting reports and stories it knocks you off balance a little, don’t you think?
Any way, I am getting more used to having one boob than I could ever imagined although I never say never, so who knows? If I can find a surgeon who will do an implant under a local then maybe I will see my cleavage again!!
Hope you’re all well
Scarlet xx
This is my first visit to this section. I had a double mastectomy in June 2007 and have got 1 chemo left to go on Nov 2nd. I was told that the reconstruction would have to wait because of chemo/rads ect but once saw the onc have been told no rads now - thank god! Would like to have reconstruction and will be seeing the surgeon in hopefully March 2008 or thereabouts. Is it worth it? I have worries about surgery again but was ok when I had the mastectomies - I would love to be “normal” again. I find the prosthesis very heavy and with my age (39) I am experiencing early menopause so hot sweats and night sweats that are not great when you have these heavy things attached to you!!! Any info will be greatly appreciated. Love to you all
I wanted an immediate reconstruction when I had mast in March, but like others I was told my surgeon didn’t do that, I would have to wait till after all treatment over. My surgeon said he would discuss it with me when I see him for the follow up appointment next March.
Now it would mean another operation I’m really not sure that I will want to do it, although I would love to have had an immediate reconstruction.
hi
I was refused recon when i had my bilateral in March due to chemo/rads. I finished chemo at the end of July & i was told no rads. I am going to see the plastic surgeon on the 26th to discuss my options. I think i have already decided in my mind that i do not want to have a huge operation, so all being well i will be offered implants that will be inflated over time & then permanent implants put in. I was warned by my bcn that with any of the operations i may need implants anyway as i am slim. She also told me that he also had a policy of taking peoples BMI into account & has been known to refuse peoples operations on these grounds.
JulieG - i’m 37 & hate not being ‘normal’ , also having lots of sweats so with you there! I am hoping one day i will be able to put a top on wihout thinking ‘is it to low’, ’ will people see if i bend over’ or go swimming with my children without it being a military operation. Generally, sometimes i hate being me!
Louise xx
Hi Kathy,
I too have been having problems with recon due to an above average bmi.My op has been cancelled twice now and I was distraught to say the least, it has taken me 10 years to reach the decision to have the recon. This time however my consultant went into greater detail about the extra risks with surgery on larger ladies, ie . poorer healing and the possibility of an unsightly hernia .I dont think your breast size should be too much of a problem though, Im assuming that you will be opting for a diep or tram flap?
My consultant, knowing how hard I have tried to lose weight has now recommendrd that my doctor prescribe some weight reduction pills! Its day 3 on these so watch this space.
I hope you can get the help you need. Keep shouting until someone listens.