hello everyone. I am new to the site only recently having been diagnosed with DCIS.I had biopsy, then lumpectomy but now face a MX (think that’s the abbreviation) as the DCIS too widespread to do another lumpectomy. Really confused as I have a choice of MX (don’t do choices really well prefer to be told what is best) but it’s only between the MX using muscle from back or the implant. the surgeon seems to prefer to do the MX using muscle from the back as he said it will have better result that the implant. I was just wondering if any ladies here could advise me from their own experiences. thank you
Hi bunnies,
You might want to ask the moderators if they could move your thread to Living with breast cancer - Reconstructive Surgery. I am afraid your thread might get lost in this part of the forum.
Dawn
xx
thanks Dawn just wondering how i do this sorry
Hi Bunnies and welcome to the BCC forums
I have moved your thread as Dawn kindly suggested, thanks Dawn
I am posting to a couple of BCC publications, one is about different types of breast reconstruction and the other DCIS and you can download or order copies here:
www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/treatment-side-effects/breast-reconstruction-bcc7
www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/diagnosed-breast-cancer/ductal-carcinoma-situ-dcis-bcc39
Our helpliners will also be happy to talk to you about any concerns you have and you can call weekdays between 9-5 and Sat 9-2 on 0808 800 6000
Take care
Lucy
Having read about all the different types of reconstruction, I decided on an implant. I have quite small breasts to start with and the surgeon said I could have the implant at the same time as the mastectomy which would only entail one surgery. Most of my discomfort is from where the lymph nodes were removed. The surgeon was able to conserve all the skin and the nipple, so my result look very good even though my operation was only 12 days ago. My breast is a bit swollen, however, the plastic surgeon said this is normal. Others I have spoken to who had muscle taken from other parts of the body have said this has caused them the most pain and discomfort. My thoughts were that if they remove muscle from the back, how do you get comfortable in bed? I do not regret my decision.
Hi Bunnies,
I had the same as you, my choice was implant or nothing, I went for the implant, that was four months ago its been fine , Im seeing consultant in dec about nipple recon.I wasnt in any pain after the op, just a bit uncomfortable, I was back playing golf 12 weeks after all the best xx
Hi,
I have had a similar path to you, though they told me immediately that it was too widespread for wle and it’s therefore been a matter of choosing which recon. It was important for me too that I have an immediate recon. I was glad not to have the option of a wle because I would not have been happy which ever way I had gone! Poor you having to go thro a needless op. You seem braver about it than I would be!
The NICE guidelines say that all women should be given the full range of options. This is wider than just the LD flap ( back muscle) or implant. You haven’t said whether you wouldn’t be suitable for other recon methods, but you should have the choice of asking to be considered for these. Not all surgeons are able to perform the full range of ops, and possibly women are steered towards just the ops that the particular hospital or surgeon can do.
In my case I have chosen a DIEP recon so it will be done in a bigger hospital by a specialist PS. I gather this is the most complex and therefore costly op, but from what I’ve heard and read it seems to offer the bat outcome in the end. The length of the op depends on the skill of the team I have been told, between 6 and 10 hours. If it’s done at the same time as the mastectomy there’s no need for any implant. It does mean an incison on the bikini line too, but I’m regarding it as a free tummy tuck!
Best of luck with all this, it’s taken me a good few weeks to come to terms with it, I was devasted and a total wreck. I still can’t believe it all has to happen when I seem fine and everyone now says I look better than usual.
thank you all for your messages. Apparently I can’t have the abdominal flap as I don’t have enough flesh there (although surprised as always seems pretty fat to me) and also I have had a hysterectomy and also I have asthma and the surgeon says it can cause problems for asthmatics (something to do with deep breathing/coughing I think).
I think from what he was saying the implant option is a bit hit and miss for older women (I’m 49) as breasts have started to move south a bit and so it’s impossible to replicate the droopyness (although mine are so small not sure they are really all that droopy). Not sure I want a really pert breast and a droopy one though or is he painting the worst possible scenario as it seems ladies on here who have had the implant are happy with it? Gosh how hard is this I really have no idea which way to go. Also if you have the implant how does that work? where does the skin come from? I have read the booklets but am still a little unsure. I am feeling fairly matter of fact about it as I have been through the biopsy/mammogram/needle test of lymph glands followed by sentinal lymph node removal and lumpectomy and I think when the surgeon was finally able to confirm DCIS and no invasive cancer and no lymph node involvement I was just so relieved a MX didn’t seem too bad. Now I am starting to get nervous about it especially as I have to have made a decision by Wednesday. Thanks again and how wonderful to have such great support here. have looked many times but didn’t want to post until I knew what I was dealing with. I know there are ladies going through much worse than me so that keeps me brave also as you are all so very brave x
Hi Bunnies,
when they do an imediate recon with an implant its a skin sparing masectomy, basically they make an insision take out the tissue then put the implant in and close the insision. I am very small too, with a bra on nobody can tell the difference.for me without a bra on took some getting used too, but Im hoping to feel different when the nipple is done. xx
Hi Bunnies
I had an immediate LD flap + implant recon and I don’t regret it in the slightest.
I’ve posted several times about my experience…
share.breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=31629&p=543675&hilit=+ld+flap#p543675
My experience is on page 2.
Good luck with your decision.
Dx
Hi Bunnies
I am 59 and I have droopy ones! The implant is a tear shape one - in a bra, no difference - might give the right one a boost at a later date, depending on how I feel!
Hi Bunnies
I had a MX with immediate LD reconstruction at the end of June. Like you I’m small breasted so consultant said he’d be able to get the volume without the need for an implant. I felt I was definately steered away from the implant route. I’m reasonably happy with the results but my boob has shrunk. It’s a good cup size smaller than the other one.
Saw consultant in October and he said either I could have implants in both boobs to even them up and also so that they’d both be pert rather than just the recon one or I can have lipofilling in recon to fill the dents at the top of the breast and to make it a bit more rounded where I should have a cleavage!Also I think he said about taking tissue from somewhere and adding that to increase the volume.
Really confused about what to do cos my initial reaction was that I didn’t want my good boob messed about with but now wonder if that would give me the best result. Seeing him again in 3 weeks so can go through it all again and make a decision.
As far as the surgery goes I’d say it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.I was out of hospital after 3 days having had the drains removed and off painkillers after 5 days. You must do the exercises the physio gives you and take it easy for a few weeks. I was back running 6 weeks post op. I get the odd twinge now and again and find that my ribs are still quite tender but in the grand scheme of things that’s nothing!
Good luck with your decision making!x