Hi everyone, I’m new to this site but it looks like a really great way to get information. I’ve nearly completed my chemotherapy treatment and now have to decide whether to have an immediate reconstruction with my lat dorsi (back tissue) operation. I can either have this operation or have a mastectomy then an implant 12 months later. Does anyone have any advice on the success of lat dorsi reconstructions? Also details of possible complications and what the recovery process is like? I understand that having implants at a later date can be unsuccessful following radiotherapy does anyone have any experience of this?
Many thanks x
Hi broadbean and welcome to the BCC forums
I have moved your thread to the reconstruction room where I hope you will receive some peer support and useful replies. In the meantime, here 's a link to the BCC ‘Breast Reconstruction’ information booklet which I hope you find helpful:
http://www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/treatment-side-effects/breast-reconstruction-bcc7
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Broadbean. I had a mastectomy with LD flap and implant and reconstruction done and am very happy with the outcome. I too had chemo first to reduce the large tumour which was 5.5 cm. The chemo did help to reduce it. My op was way back in 1989 and I am still alive and kicking. Is there a Breast Care Nurse in your hospital who could perhaps introduce you to patients who have had these operations done? I was introduced to a lady who very kindly came to my house to talk about the op which she had done a year or so earlier. She kindly showed me her scars which gave me the confindence to go ahead with the op. I went on to do the same for new young women who wanted help. I was 39 at the time and was so scared. If you want to send me a private message at any time feel free to do so, if you have any questions you do not want to put on the threads on here. Val
hi broadbean,I had mx with ld flap last august.not as bad as i feared.came home on day 5 with 4 drains in,that was more uncomfortable than anything else.had 2 removed on day 7 then other 2 a week later.are you having expanders in too? i had these which were expanded 3 times from jan to march,which is uncomfortable for a day or 2 but these are due to be removed on july 18th to be replaced with implants.i am happy with the results,my back is numb in places and because of the expanders i feel as i have cricket balls strapped to my chest but the implants will be much softer so im looking forward to getting the op over and done with,then its just nipples and tattoos to go. good luck with your op.xxx
The problem with radiotherapy is if you have the recon before, not after, as the radiotherapy can damage the skin and tissue surrounding the implants. That is why a lot of recons are delayed, so that the radiotherapy is done before the recon. I had a delayed LD flap with inplant two years ago and am very pleased with the result.
I had an implant at the same time as the mastectomy, followed by chemo and radiotherapy. Its fine. But from what I’ve been told the bigger op gives a more natural feel. I feel as though I’ve permanetly got a bra on my right side. As my tumour was small my surgeon didnt think I’d need chemo or even radiotherapy but unfortunately the tiniest amount was found in first node. The onc tells me that it takes at least a year for radiotherapy to settle down so will see nhow it goes but I am happy with it and it was immediate. Hope I’ve not confused you!
Hi There! Just wanted to let you know my experience. I had immediate LD flap surgery with implant in November 2010 as at the time I did not need radiotherapy. I was then offered radiotherapy when my chemo finished it was decided I was a borderline case - (oncologist said it was my decision, surgeon said dont have it you don’t need it!!) However, I did go ahead and had 5 weeks of radiotherapy was fine until Nov 2011 when I got an ulcer caused by the radiotherapy and had to have the implant removed and an expander fitted. This has meant that my breast is much smaller than when I had the immediate recon as some of the skin had to be taken away. However! I had a reduction and uplift on my other side last week and it’s all looking good but this is over 12 months down the line … if I could have my time again (hindsight is great isn’t it) I would have opted for the delayed recon 12 months later but at the time it was important to me to wake up from my MX with a recon. It’s a very hard decision to make and this is my experience which I have been told is very rare - but just wanted to let you know!. All the very best.
Rachelx