Hi there,
Nearly finished my chemo so looking at having a lumpectomy in Sept. Just wondering about on peoples reconstructions. They want to take fat from my back, dif any of you guys have this and how was it? Especially after radio, and how is symmetry and scaring? Many thanks
Happy Thursday Starburst,
Well done for getting this far with your treatment.
Was wondering if you have spoken to your consultant about a reconstruction after a lumpectomy as most of us don’t need one unless they are taking a large area away. If so maybe this could be a small implant.
Please let us know how your outcome, wishing you well
With the biggest hugs Tili 
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I was wondering why there wasn’t many posts about it. They said I will be having licap procedure, and maybe some extra fat from the thighs.
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Hi - I had licap surgery with ANC in Feb 22. I had surgery first, then chemo and radio.
The surgery went well and my surgeon did a great job with symmetry. Have they shown you photos? My surgeon did before-hand, so I had an idea what it would look like. My ANC was all done through the same cut, so I don’t have a scar in my armpit. Radio was fine, and didn’t affect the scar. I had a stiff shoulder for a while but they said it could have been from the ANC or musco-skeletal from the actual surgery. It wasn’t painful - but ached when I had done too much. Feel free to ask anything else. Good luck with finishing your chemo and for your upcoming surgery xx
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Thank you so much for responding, you’ll regret saying I can ask anything?
can I ask how long you had a drain for if you remember?
How long were you out of action for, I have a 2 year old!!
Do you have like a dent under your arm pit where they removed tissue?
And you recon radio didn’t affect it all?
Thanks so much
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Hi - it’s no problem 
. I remember trying to understand how the surgery was going to affect me. I had never been in hospital until then, apart from giving birth, so the thought was really daunting … The anxiety was worse than the actual recovery period. At least after the surgery I felt like I improved every couple of days, chemo was harder to deal with.
I had 1 drain in for 3 weeks - the hospital wouldn’t remove it until it was less than 30ml of fluid per day. However I was stubbornly stuck on 50ml of fluid each day for about 7 days. I remember now feeling really frustrated at that 
I was out of hospital the same day, and was able to get up and move about the next day. My hubby was around for the first few days, and our kids were older at 11 and 16, very different to having a 2 year old around. Let people help you if you have support around. Sometimes the tiredness can hit you quickly, but I imagine if you are going through chemo, you understand that feeling. I managed to sleep fairly well - I got a v-shaped breast-feeding type pillow and used that to prop me up for sleep, and when I was sitting on the sofa. It just seemed to give really good support.
So my armpit doesn’t have a dent as such, but looks flatter than the other side. I have a bit more of a dent I suppose around my back where the tissue was taken from. The issue I had in the early days was that it sits around where a bra would be, but I just wore the sports type seamless zip up front bras for weeks after while the scar healed.
For me because the scar is around your side and back it meant that the scar didn’t get sore from radio directly damaging the skin around it. I had 20 sessions and toward the end it felt a tight, because the rays go all the way through. That never occurred to me before … I carried on moisturising for several weeks after. I guess also your scar will be newer - as I had chemo after surgery, so mine had healed well by the time I had radio.
My biggest tips are to have front fastening bras, and pyjama tops. I also tended to wear a cardigan or zip up hoodie over a t-shirt in the early days, as pulling clothes over my head felt hard until I had more range of movement in my shoulder.
Please don’t worry about asking anything else - I’m happy to help.
How is your chemo going? xx
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Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I have 2 weddings at the end of Sept, beginning of October and I didn’t factor in the drains at all. Sorry for slow reply I had norovirus at the weekend with a temperature so I’m hoping I can have my 7th chemo tomo. It’s going really well tbh, not massively effecting me., expect the first doxetaxol with hurt.
Good to know about bras, I never take mine off, I like to feel snug, I even like to wear a vest all year round😂!!
I had a v shaped maternity pillow lying about the house for like a year after the 2 year old was born as I don’t like getting rid of things and it was on market place forever, my hubby will kill be if he sees another one.
saying that it might be in the loft knowing me.
Just one more question, is it quite similar looking in general to how it looked before?
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Oh sorry to hear you weren’t well. Hope your chemo has gone ahead. I had one of mine delayed as I caught covid and was in hospital with high temp. I was more fed up about the chemo being delayed than anything else. Good that it’s not been too bad for you I tolerated EC ok, but docetaxel was harder. Fingers crossed it’s OK for you 
Get up in that loft then and try to find your pillow - or your hubby anyway
Yes the surgeon did a great job and honestly no-one would ever know that I have had anything done - until they saw my back 
The scar is easily covered by tops / bikinis / bras etc without having to get a specific style / design to cover it x
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Hey! I had this procedure done in May and I had a drain in for 10 days which was the worst bit for me, not pain wise just very annoying and restricting. My surgeon did an amazing job and I was feeling fine 2 days after. My scar is healing nicely too.
I haven’t had treatment as yet though. My scar can’t be seen wearing a bra etc but I honestly didn’t mind about that anyway.
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