Hi everyone,i’m new to this site and this is my first post so here it goes,I have recently been dx with bc and have oppted for a double masactomy due to bad family history, i have been given three surgery options for reconstruction and i am totally confused as to which is the best in terms of results etc, can anyone advise me of their experiances and how you made your surgery choice?
Dear sappy,
I have attached a link to an animation about breast reconstuction- explaining the different techniques, which I thought may be helpful for you.
I am sure you will also soon get a lot of replies from other forum members.
Very best wishes
Janet
BCC Facilitator
Hi Janet
Thanks for the link, went to see plastic surgeon yesterday about a double diep, freaking out a bit !! But iam thinking this is the way to go for me.
Would love to hear from any one eles out there who has had/or considering the same op and would be willing to share thier experience.
Sappy xxx
Hi,
Sorry you had to get on this bus, but I have found it a great help since my op.
I had mast with ld flap recon same time, in May this year. , I am the biggest wimp in history, but i can honestly say i felt no pain , not a lot of discomfort and the recovery was very quick, oh and no stiches
I had great faith in my breast surgeon, she offered me the options and then my BC nusrse helped me decide by giving me all the facts. it did take me two weeks to make my decision, but soo glad i went for LD recon.
hope you soon reach your decision sure you will with all the suppport you will receive.
take carexx
I had a fairly new mastectomy which was skin-sparing and nipple-sparing, with an implant but without using back or stomach muscles. I recovered from the operation very fast and my oncologist (who is probably less biased than the surgeon who did it and is at a different hospital) always praises it highly to the students that (always, it would seem) sit in on the appointment.
Hi Sappy,
Sorry I can’t give you any advice on DIEP, but I just had a mast with LD flap recon at same time (just over a week ago). All is going fine, had to have an implant as well but getting used to that. Like Truffle Shuffle, I have to say it was painless, just a bit of discomfort (mostly due to drains before they came out), and I have been careful about moving around (sitting up, rolling over, etc) - otherwise fine.
Poddle, you were lucky to keep the nipple - haven’t hear of that type of recon, good for you. Mine had to be removed due to possible close involvement with tumour tissue. But - hey - my nice surgeon will be making me a new one in due course!
The decision making is difficult, I know - I dithered and fretted over it. I didn’t want to sacrifice my back muscle (which now doesn’t seem to bother me nearly as much as I thought). I thought about not having a recon at all, but am glad that I did. Find out as much as you can from other people and quiz your surgeon. My surgeon only does the LD flap, so I would have had to go further afield had I wanted a different type of recon. (I am in north of Scotland).
Good luck, Sappy, and I hope you reach a comfortable decision soon.
With love,
Oops - forgot to say, it is worth contacting the helpline here to try and be put in touch with someone via the peer support system who has been in the same position, or has had the type of surgery you are considering. I spoke with a lovely lady who was really helpful and gave me plenty of her time, and didn’t mind me quizzing here to the nth degree or having a bit of a weep!
(0808 800 6000)
Thanks Girls I feel so much better knowing this site is here is to get help and share your worries.
I am going to give the help line a call and see if I can get to talk to someone that has had the op.
I am going in on 18th to have the lump removed and the nodes tested/removed, so hopefully I will know more then about whats happening.
Thanks again Gardengirl,Poddle and Truffleshuffle.
Sappy xxx