Diagnosed recently,awaiting op.,reconstruction or not?

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Been a very emotional time having being diagnosed 3 wks ago. Still very tearful, wondering how this has happened, just trying to get throught the days as normally as possible for my children. I am having a mastectomy on Monday followed by chemo. Won’t know if radiotherapy needed until after op. Am unsure whether to have an immediate reconstruction or not because of possibility of radiotherapy. I would be gratedul for anyones advice/experience about this.

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Hi Lou - so sorry you’ve found yourself here. The early days are so tough but it does get a bit easier i promise. Recon or not is a hugely personal decision - you haven’t said your age or your initial thoughts about having it done.

It was presented to me at diagnosis pretty much as a done deal and looking back i’m pretty grateful for that. The consultant said “i’m recommending an MX with immediate reconstruction” all in one breath! I was 46 and i wanted to have a breast shape - who knows, perhaps if i’d been older i may have thought differently. I think also the fact that i wasn’t able to a have a lumpectomy made it more automatic in my head ie this is what you do - “if you have an MX you have an immediate reconstruction”

I haven’t had radiotherapy but had i needed it i was told that the expander implant would not have been inflated until after the radiotherapy. I’m sure lots of ladies will jump on to give you their views. I wish you well and send you lots of hugs for your decision.

Lynn

x

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I had bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with implants. I then had 5 weeks of radiotherapy on the scar line of the affected breast and had no problems with the implant at all. More than 5 years later and it is still ok. Hope all goes well for you.

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Hi Lou,
I have had an immediate recon (2008) followed by rads in 2009 when they found a bit they missed at Mx!.I was terrified the rads would damage my recon/implant.But my rads finished at the end of Oct 2009 and no signs of any change so far!
My rads were given over 5 weeks instead of 3 to reduce the daily dose thus limiting any damage.
Love n hugs
Dot
xxx