I got my date today for my prophylactic mx and diep recon. Thankfully I haven’t had BC but have lost family members to BC and I carry the BRCA 1 mutation. Feeling mixed emotions. I feel very positive and I still know it’s the right thing for me to do but it’s all feeling very real. The surgeon told me it could take 12-14 hours. I know I’ll be asleep but it is such a long time under anaesthetic! I’ve been told all the risks and complications after surgery. I understand that having anaesthetic carries risks but do those risks go up the longer you’re under for?
Lisa x
Hi,
I am also BRCA1, but only found out about it after having BC, I haven’t yet been down the route of prophylactic mx (only got the BRCA diagnosis in Jan), but did have a reconstruction using LD flap after the BC. I was told the op would be 4hrs, but it only took 2, so nowhere near as long as yours.
All I can say is that your team know what they are doing, and they wouldn’t suggest the surgery to you if they didn’t think that you couldn’t cope with it, especially as it is prophylactic.
The helpline on here may be of some help, but you may want to try the National Hereditary Breast Cancer helpline as well (website link below)
breastcancergenetics.co.uk/
I haven’t called them, but have read Wendy’s book, she was the first person to undergo prophylactic mx, and her daughter has also had the op.
Hope everything goes well,
Jen
Hi Pocahontas,
My daughter aged 28 had the brca 1 gene and had tram flap mastectomies on july 5th so she is now almost 3 wks post surgery.She was under anaesthetic for 9hrs and we were waiting for her as she came back onto the ward.She felt a little sick and very groggy but otherwise fine.Now she is in a little discomfort,still a little bent over when walking but her wounds are healing well.When you 1st see the wounds they look pretty awful but its amazing how quickly they heal and seem to fade each day.and she feels so much better mentally knowing that she has minimal chances of being diagnosed with this awful disease.Good luck with your op,
Di.x
Thank you. Feeling much better about it now. Just all felt a but real on Monday. Feel really good about everything. Di, I hope your daughter is doing well. I am 30 with 2 small children and am doing it for the same reason. I am so lucky to know I am high risk and can do something about it. I know some people aren’t as lucky. I want to have the peace of mind that I have done everything I can to prevent getting BC x