I was told last Monday that I am to have a mascectomy on my right side.They advised me to go away and think about reconstructive surgery,that is if I want it and if so would I like it immediately. I feel that most of the time since then is spent considering these options rather than coming to terms with the cancer itself!
I’m seeing the plastic surgeon tomorrow for more advice but I think I will probably opt for DIEP flap or the back op (cant remember the names) The thing is my breast care nurse said when I was diagnosed that I may be given all therapies after surgery as I am 40 and in gen good health.I know therefore that an implant wouldn’t be an option.Then I start thinking what if it has spread am I putting myself through this now unnecessarily?- grrrr I get so confused!
I’ve been looking on this discussion board but I haven’t found anyone who has had immediate reconstruction,can anyone advise me?
Hi Jennief,
I had immediate recon, right breast too, I cant have radiotherapy so my option was surgery then chemo, everyone is different, diagnosis, treatment plan etc. You really must discuss all the options with your BC nurse and Plastics Dr. Friends and loved ones. Im 45 and active, still go to festivals, wear bikinis, small tops etc. So it was important to me to have recon straight away. I didnt want to live with my mast scar and a prothsesis, though many women do comfortably.
Also I didnt want a 2nd op later on, it was all done in 1 go. only nipple recon to do which is a simple procedure. I have a ‘new boob’ to put in a bra now, which you wouldnt know unless naked.
Good luck with your surgery and recovery, I found this site full of wonderful brave supportive women,
Julie xxx
I was diagnosed in October 2006 and had immediate reconstruction from the back LD with no implant. I have not once had any regrets that I went ahead and had this done immediately and my surgery was also followed by 8 cycles of chemo and 5 weeks of radiotherapy.
Making the decision as to which type of reconstruction to have is a difficult one though and I was offered implants, DIEP or the LD. I went for the LD as it’s a shorter op and my plastic surgeon said there would be enough muscle to match up with the other breast. I’m only a B cup!
My daughter had mastectomy and recon at same time on Nov 12th … she had LD Flap (back muscle) … had no pain, only a little discomfort … has been really pleased and not regretted one bit having it done immediately … only scar to back along bra line … very neat and under arm where lymph were taken. Only scar in breast is around where nipple used to be… whole op was done through the nipple area… incredible. She went out on New Years Eve wearing a low cut top too. Her confidence is back.
Hope this helps. Ask any questions if you want … I will answer truthfully.
Sue x
hi i had mastectomy with immediate reconstruction back flap as you call it. i put things on here as was in two minds i read some horror stories as well. then i put a thread reconstruction positives please and got so many from happy people i couldn’t believe it. if you put reconstruction positives please in search you should find it. anyway i had mine in DEC i couldn’t face the fact of looking down and only seeing one. if i needed a double it would have been OK. i am really happy with the shape size etc. i am going on to have fec chemo as a preventive treatment although my consultant thinks over treatment i got to go for it. i must say when i woke from op i couldn’t believe how good it looked and no pain. i didn’t have sentinel node biopsy then as had it done previously. the next day still no pain but began to swell its normal and i did look like lopsided Jordan for a day or two. now 10 weeks later i have odd twinges etc but wouldn’t have had it any other way. i am 49 housewife with three children all grown up and left home so had no pressures to get on and do things so i have looked after myself and become lazy. i think i would have been fitter a lot sooner if i had commitments. still i enjoyed the rest. you must do the exercises though. anyway good luck. i hope this helps and do read my old thread.
x julie x
It is difficult to decide, I hope you have been given lots of literature, there is also lots of info on the net.
I had mastectomy and immediate back flap recon. last Nov. no implant needed. Sentinel node dissection done in Oct. and was clear. I feel great now and can do everything I could before. I had almost no pain, only discomfort more where the drains were. My back was a bit stiff but it is easing up. I have an 11 inch scar, not quite sure why it is so long, but it is healing well and mostly hidden under my bra. The result is great, good match and I am happy, could not have faced being lopsided and it was great to get it all done at once. I also am now having radiotherapy for peace of mind as my tumour was large and close to skin and chest wall. My surgeon says the recon. should be OK as there is no implant.
I had a mastectomy and immediate DIEP flap reconstruction in July. I chose the DIEP after looking at lots of pics on the net and because I go skiing and having the LD operation might have interfered with that. Another reason I chose the DIEP was that it gives you a tummy tuck at the same time, and I’m very pleased with that, because although I’m slim, my tummy used to wrinkle when I bent, which it doesn’t any more - so I’ll be wearing bikinis this summer for the first time in years. Because I’m slim, the surgeon wasn’t sure whether I had enough fat for a DIEP, but I said I would eat more until the op and, yes, I did have enough to match my other small healthy breast. I’m now waiting for the nipple reconstruction and tatooing, which will take place in April. Only then will I let my partner and young sons see it. Despite my breast’s good shape, I would still feel very upset if they were to see it now.
I am so glad I had the reconstruction. Personally, I would have felt devastated to have been left flat on that side. My new breast feels very like the other one to the touch and I still have a natural cleavage. I feel very thankful that such an operation is possible and grateful to my surgeon for doing a superb job.
Hope that telling you my story helps, and good luck with whatever you decide.
I had the reconstruction done at the same time as the mastectomy had the muscle from the back etc no implant (42D) Do not regret having it done at the same time had mine done approx 6 weeks ago. Everything is tidy as they say.
Slight discomfort but nothing a pain killer wouldnt sort out. Shape of the new boob fine looks good and feels ok… Came home with a drain for a couple of days easy to sleep with.
I have showed my friends the new boob and they cant believe how good it looks.
Personal choice really. As soon as they told me that I needed a mastectomy I said I wanted a reconstruction. When I was in hospital in October having hysterectomy (no link) a lady had recontruction in the bed opposite she was up and about before me couldn’t believe it.
I have had a left mastectomy with LD back flap and implant, 4 weeks ago. I am having right side done in a few weeks. I plan to have nipples recon with tatooing also and, like Moira, I will let my partner see the end result when all is complete. I am still a bit bruised and my new breast feels a bit hard still.
I have managed on simple analgesia, but have to admit I have not done my exercised as often as I should. I am back to virtually full activity now though.
Hi, i had immediate recon, but my surgeon took the lymphs out first so that he could see if i needed rads or not, luckily i didn’t but if i had have needed rads he would have just put an implant in and done the back flap at a later date (the rads can make the muscle hard and can damage any implants), so i had mine all done two weeks after the lymph removal, i also had an implant, i have to say if i wear a t shirt without a bra you can’t tell that I’ve had a recon its that good, i also had a nipple recon but unfortunately some of it died but that’s a different story, all the best in whatever you decide
Alisonxxxxxxxx
thanks everyone for your stories they have been a great help!
I saw my plastic surgeon today and was very impressed.I have decided on the DIEP procedure.I’m quite large (all over) and thought a tummy tuck maybe a good idea!! The surgeon seemed to agree and offered to lift the left breast at a later date.
As for should I put myself through this if it may have spead- well the surgeon was very reassuring ,telling me that the order of concern is - me,the cancer,then the reconstruction.So at any stage I decide and no one else what and when things happen.
I saw plenty of photos of befores,durings and afters and I now know I have made the right decison for me.Unfortunately my breast surgeon was in surgery so unable to make the meeting so no date has been set yet.Hopefully it will be soon!! Watch this space
Hi Jennie, I have opted for immediate DIEP but my surgeon is now saying possibly muscle-sparing TRAM would be better. I made a huge fuss about the length of time not driving, which may be longer with DIEP, but I thought it would give better results. Have you seen Elaine Sassoon’s book, The Boudicca Within? Nice pics of brave ladies. I suggested the plastic surgeon should give copies to every patient!
Yes, that’s what I thought, and I’m intrigued to see what he ends up doing… I know I’m not remembering conversations as accurately as I’d like, but he seems to be talking about using a tiny piece of abdominal muscle along with tissue from below my navel. I will try to get this clarified during my various appointments next week!
I am new to this site, but I suspect it is really going to help me get through the next 6-8 months! I found a lump about 5 weeks ago, it was considered small by the consultant and I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, my results were not good - the lump was almost twice the size they thought and I have one node affected. From thinking I would just need some radiotherapy to now facing a mastectomy (right one), lymph clearance, chemo and probably radiotherapy my head is everywhere!
I have decided to have an immediate reconstruction, but because there are options, I am always thinking I have chosen the wrong one. Reading your messages help. I am 42 with two young children and just angry that my Easter and Summer holidays are now not possible! Anyway, I am seeing the plastic surgeon next Friday and the thought of a flat tummy is the only positive thing I can think of at the moment!
Looking forward to ‘chatting’ with you all
Rebecca
I’ve got to have a mascectomy on my right side soon although a date hasn’t been arranged.I saw my plastic surgeon on Wednesday and have opted for an immediate DIEP reconstruction.This is from the abdomen but no muscle is taken. The surgeon was quite excited he wants me to go back for a lift on the left breast and a nipple reconstruction afterwards! That I’ll think about later.
As for any other treatment I have been told that I may have all therapies as I am young (40) and in good health. But personally I’m taking one thing at a time.I can’t seem to cry anymore just feel a bit numb.
I have 2 children too (6+13) and half term was awlful as I was given the news on the Monday and I really didn’t feel up to much for the rest of the week. As for Easter and Summer hols I’m the same can’t plan too much.But both my kids have been fantastic.Friends and family have bee so supportive and have offered to have the kids at any time which so far has been good.
Well good luck on Friday let us know how you get on
from your future flat tummy and pert boobed new friend! Jen x
I haven’t cried much yet, but know the rivers will flow soon… Like you, I have a great support network - everyone is pulling out the stops and all my friends are acting really ‘normally’ with me - brilliant.
Yes, I do wonder about the left boob (especially if I lose weight after the op! - fingers crossed), but I’ll wait to hear what he says, but that can wait as you say.
When you say ‘therapies’, what do you mean? Are you having chemo and radiotherapy too, or are you ‘lucky’ just to have a mastectomy?
Yes, my half term was a bit odd - thankfully the weather was great so I was out and about with the children (4 and 8) a lot. Everything is still surreal - nothing seems the same any more.
Nice to hear from you - we’ll get through it!
Rebecca
xx
Hi, I know what you mean, I haven’t cried either. Don’t know if it’s head in the sand denial, numbness, or just stiff upper lip. My kids are older, 16, 19 and 21 and I sometimes think they’d rather I stopped being so perfectly normal, though the younger two refuse to discuss it and the youngest just changes the subject.
I want recon for myself but also because I think it’s important for them that I look as normal as possible. I am getting the feeling they’re worried about coming to visit in hospital in case it looks terrible. I wish I could wind the clock back - or forward - and escape these weeks since the dodgy mammogram.
Hi, I am new to this site. I was first diagnosed in 1999 and had WLE chemo and radiotherapy, since then I have had another occurence in same breast and had segmenctectomy and was advised by oncologist to have my ovaries removed, which I did. I take Aromasin daily. My cancer has now come back in the same breast again and I am now facing mastectomy. I feel numb and somehow detached from my own body. I feel angry that I had my ovaries removed, which in turn caused immediate menopause, only to have the cancer return anyway. I think I would like to go for the immediate DIEP reconstruction and feel encouraged by your comments on this site. I want it all done at the same time as the mastectomy so I can come out of this one “finished”. I know I am ranting but I have had enough now.