Hi all not been on for a bit as internet keeps crashing and keep writing posts and losing them grrrrr! I Had lumpectomy on high grade DCIS 2 weeks ago, had results last week and also got grade 3 invasive, whole tumour size 4.2 cm. Recommending mx right with immediate recon followed by chemo. Lymph nodes were clear thank god! I want both breasts done as i do not want to do this again, I’m 35 and could have 40 + years of waiting for it, and not sure I can do that. They agreed to 2nd mx but not at same time as they want cancer breast sorting asap and do not want to wait on councelling and delay surgery.
So Next problem what surgery??? Have plastics appt on monday so of course need to see what is suitable. Where to go for surgery??? I need to know who does what best! I’m from Northampton. My head is buzzing have fab support inc 3 friends who have had mx but most recent one is 3 yrs post surgery. Any ideas ladies would be gratefully received
Michelle
P.S Saw take that last night at wembley it was fantastic - not normally my thing but it was very good anyone else go???
Hi
I’ve done a lengthy response on the ‘LD flap + implant’ thread so I won’t repeat it here.
It’s a real worry isn’t it, choosing the best option. I got a second opinion to make sure we were all happy with the options. I got the surgeons name from a daily mail article that listed the top breast surgeons according to other breast surgeons. I’ll pm the link if I can find it, there might be someone closed to you.
X
Hi Michelle
I am from Northampton too!
I had a mastectomy March 2010 and am now about to start reconstruction.I have had an appointment with the PS at Northampton who explained all the options.I have also got an apppointment next week at Leicester to see the PS who can carry out reconstruction using tummy fat as they don’t do that op at N’pton.When you go they will run through the options.As it turned out I haven’t got many options as not enough fat to do the muscle/fat from back and apparently borderline on the tummy fat one too.(Hence the referral)So will probably end up with expander/implants.I am having a mastectomy and immediate reconstruction on the good side at the same time.
Tracy
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Hi ladies
Princess I had an idea today and it seems to be what you have done - have mx right then do chemo then have risk reducing surgery and bilat recon using tummy (got enough to round if you can wait) as that surgery can only be done once? am i right? then will get matching pair at same time time… Hows it been using prosthesis during this time of waiting for recon? Did they offer you mx and recon in one surgery back in march 2010 and have you opted to wait? so many Q’s nosy me. I went to N’pton support group on Monday was lovely to meet other ladies - I went as I have 2 friends who are post BC 3 and 10 years who go along so they encouraged me to the social very mixed bag of ages but nice all the same.
Stay calm- would love that link if possible, hows scarring on your back? Need to stay focused and I want to know everything I can so I know what he’s talking about when I go in Monday… This is hard work eh!
Hope this helps.x
Hi
I wasn’t given the option of immediate recon due to needing radiotherapy.Just finishing up a year of Herceptin.The PS said that if I went down the implant route the biggest cup size would be a B/maybe C but as I am a DD on the unaffected side if made sense to have risk reducing mastectomy and immediate recon so they would hopefully match and be the same side.I have also been through genetic counselling and have a strong family history so do not want to go through all this again.
As for wearing a prosthesis, I have found it ok.I have to be careful what tops I wear but apart from that it’s been fine.I just want to get the mastectomy on the good side done asap and wasn’t that bothered about recon for a few years but they said they would rather do both ops at the same time.
I haven’t been to any of the support groups yet.Was lucky enough to meet someone (a friend of a friend ) who was going through it the same time as myself.
Looking forward to finishing Herceptin in 3 weeks and trying to get back to normal-if possible:)
Tracy
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Have now also heard of a recon at Salisbury that they use the inside of your thighs if you do not have enough tummy for TRAM flap, only done 9 of these so far but i know one of those ladies who is very happy with results. This was done as risk reducing surgery due to BRCA so worth thinking about I have surgeon name on my FB messages if you want it.
I had heard about that too.Think I have a bit more fat there than my tummy:)Yes please could you forward the info if you have it,thanks.If you would like to add me on facebook send me a pm and I will send you the details.I go on facebook more than I do here:)
Thanks again
Tracy
x
Hello,
I went on the BCC Young Women’s Forum at the weekend and there was a fab seminar on reconstruction with lots of pics. I’m researching this loads at the moment. I’m only 3/8 through my chemos and will then have a double mastectomy followed by radiotherapy and reconstruction.
There were some ladies there who were BRCA carriers and had had double ms and reconstruction and were delighted with the results. One had a tram flap and the other implants as she had big boobs and didn’t have enough fat.
I’m a DD and not sure that I want to go smaller… And apparently, if you’re going to have implants you can have immediate reconstruction as you can simply replace the implant when it is damaged by the radiotherapy - whereas if you are using your tissue, you don’t want to waste it and then ruin it and have nothing to fall back on. Another option is for them to do immediate reconstruction and make a bigger boob on the radiotherapy side as it will contract and shrink. I don’t know if you can then have it redone at a later date if it doesn’t end up looking symmetrical…
There was also a 33-year old who’d had the tissue taken from her thigh - and she was also very happy.
One of the ladies who had the tissue taken from her back showed me her scars and they were very neat and small and lay under her bra - so would be fine in a bikini.
If I find out anything super interesting I’ll let you know! Will you do the same for me…? 
It’s a minefield of opinions and information!! And I know deep down that the best result for me having a double mastectomy is to live breast-free for a year and let my skin heal etc as I will then have the best chance of having a nice, matching pair of knockers made up! But it’s just the thought of going from a curvy 36DD to having a completely flat chest…
xx
Hi everyone,
yes the reconstruction issue is a complicated one, isn’t it ? Lots of different types depending on the woman’s body and circumstances and every hospital seems to specialise in some of the types.
Sandytoes, after thinking long and hard I am going to go for the immediate recon option that you describe. What you say coincides with what the doctors told me. If it doesn’t end up looking good they can try to fix it with minor surgery and if that doesn’t work they can still go to the option of using the woman’s tissue, say from the back.
Good luck to all, I’ve just taken the plunge with my decision and I’ll have it done on 25 July. Wish me luck!
Isn’t it interesting how did hos and surgeons do things I had mx 09 but my surgeon wldnt let me have recon at the same time because of rads just wldnt Here of it so now developing sec I’m unsure if I’m allowed to have it prob won’t spend money on me
GOOD LUCK BARBWILL!!! Let us know how it goes. xxx
OK PS happy for free TRAM flap for bilat recon, however getting mx next week for BC breast then chemo then mx for healthy breast and recon all together at Leics (HER2 result dependant)! I’m happy with plan - got to put on a bit of weight which should be easy as just lost 2 1/2 stone on WW so pretty sure I can bulk up a bit to allow for better boobage after tummy tuck! Also have a risk that may need rads and do not want to spoil any recon work but some places seem to go ahead, but as i want 2nd breast have to wait for 2nd mx as TRAM recon can only be done once, but it’s a minefield of information hey ladies and no 2 situations can be compared.
Hope everyone else gets their plans straight and how they want things to happen, shame no-one funding the magic wand as yet but watch this space xXx