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?
I can’t seem to post this in the reconstruction section - can anyone help?
Many thanks x
Hi Broadbean - sorry you haven’t had any replies yet but the website is being updated and changed around quite a bit and as a result of this there are quite a few glitches. Your post may not have been seen by anybody because in the old forums we used to be able to see new posts easily but at the moment new posts aren’t showing up - hopefully all of these things will be fixed in the next few days. Anyway in relation to what you’re going through good that you’re nearly done with chemo. In terms of reconstruction, I didn’t have mine straight away for various reasons and therefore had plenty of time to think about what I wanted and what was best for me. Later on down the line, you may just feel that you don’t want to go through any more surgery so while you’re having it anyway (I presume to remove the area that was affected) you may feel you want to get it over and done with. Hopefully somebody in a similar situation will come back to you soon. Ruby x
Hi broardbean
Sorry for the delay in welcoming you to the forums.
I’m sure more users will be along to support you soon. In the meantime you may find it useful to contact our free helpline on 0808 800 6000, opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.00 – 5.00 and Saturday 10.00 – 2.00.
I have also attached a link to our publication on reconstruction
www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/treatment-side-effects/breast-reconstruction-bcc7
Best wishes
June, moderator
Hello Broadbean, I had chemotherapy before my Mastectomy to reduce the size of the tumour which it did. I had mastectomy with reconstruction and implant (LD Flap like you) and that was in 1989 when I was in my late 30s. I did have a small op later on as my first implant went hard and went hard and there was a wee pucker of skin that they removed from the first op. I have never looked back. The scaring has faded and it looks good. Even now the younger doctor say how good a job the surgeon made. (The doctor in question still operates in the same hospital that I attend,) I had the operation in the June and was back to work in the October. It was a physical job in parts but my workmates were so supportive and wouldn’t allow me to do anything awkward or carry anything heavy. Depends what job you do of course. Are there any other questions you have? I don’t mind if you want to know more. Wishing you all the best for a speedsy recovery when you have your op. Love Val
Hi Broadbean,
It is good you’re nearly done with chemo, I hope it wasn’t too bad for you.
I had mx in March 2011 with potential delayed reconstruction, then chemo and I finished rads in Oct 2011, I have just been discharged by the onc and handed back to the surgical teams who I’ll see in a couple of months. I’m still not sure whether I’ll want further surgery in another 6 months for the recon, however, I’m still having tightness/soreness in the mx area 12 months on, chemo/rads/Herceptin all seem to take their toll on the area.
My plan was always to have a recon (as I’m quite slender and don’t have enough ‘material’ on stomach/back to work with, apparently) and at the moment I have found that it isn’t a problem for me looking ‘normal’ (I was particularly large in the first place) and given everything I’ve been through, I would like a period of stability before I commence down the recon option in 6 - 12 months time.
I can’t make friends with my prosthesis properly either, (it seems heavy) and hardly use it, still using the softie from post-op, but this could be just me, with the area still not settling down fully.I was told by my surgical teams that having an implant during Rads could also cause difficulties for me but I’m sure there are plenty of ladies on here who have had no trouble what-so-ever also.
I hope you get further responses from other ladies’ experience and good luck with whatever decision you make and your surgery, it will be personal to you, and only you will know what is right for you.
Take Care, Bev.
Hi
I had my MX first (before chemo or rads) last October. My surgeon seemed to assume that I would want immediate reconstruction and like Beverlie didn’t have alot of spare on either my stomach or back. So I have implant with Strattice Mesh to make the muscle long enough to fit round it.
It has coped well with both the chemo and the rads (only 2 more to go) and I don’t seem to have any puckering. The team here seemed quite confident that it would work.
With the op I had, the muscle over the breast still feels “odd” and I am still wary of doing too much with my arm. But most of my issues are probably down to my missing lymph nodes (my armpit swells slightly for the slightest excuse). I was back at work within 3 weeks of the op and driving before that (I think I drove to some of my follow-up appts), but my job is a desk job and I can work from home when I wish. Also, dh works in the same office so can drive me and carry my laptop bag for me.
One side-effect of immediate recon is that you don’t have to come to terms with losing a breast. You wake up from the op feeling quite tight across the chest, but with everrything looking normal except for a bandage over the scare. I am still not sure whether I needed to come to terms with the loss and whether I am actually still in denial.
Good luck, whatever you decide.
Sue
hi broadbean,i had double mx last aug with immediate recon from back muscle,have had expanders in with saline being injected in till correct size reached,this is uncomfortable but not too bad,have been to breast clinic today and they are happy with everything.i now return in 2 wks time to get a date to take the expanders out and put implants in.These will be more comfortable as the expanders feel like cricket balls.later on i will have nipples put on and finally tattoos done,then i will be at the end of the journey,hopefully!!Good luck. Di.x
Hi Broadbean
I had a mx with immediate skin sparing LD recon at the end of June last year. I can honestly say that it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I had the op on a Thursday afternoon and was discharged from hospital on the sunday lunchtime. I had discomfort but no pain. I took all the advice about being careful not to lift or stretch on that side but after 2 weeks of this decided I needed to get back to as near normal as possible so started hanging out the washing again myself. Oh the excitement! I was given lots of exercises to do by the physio and I did them religiously. This helped me to regain the strength and movement back reasonably quickly. I didn’t drive for the recommended 6 weeks but was back at work at the beginning of Sept.
I was very happy with the recon and felt my consultant had done a good job matching it to my good side. Unfortunately after a few months it started to shrink and I ended up going back in and having an implant put in in Jan.I am pleased with how my new bionic boob looks but don’t really like the feel of it.
If,god forbid,I ever had to go through this again I would have no hesitation in going for the LD flap.
Hope this helps.
Anne