Hi everyone, I would love some advice please… seeing my breast surgeon this coming Tuesday to book my reconstruction op. Very nervous as had total A/C & radical mastectomy for Infiltrating Lobular Cancer which had spread throughout the breast and into 5 lymph nodes hence total A/C.
Whenever I touch my op site I can feel just rib bones,there seems nothing to operate on there, is this a big job and is it worth going forward with it?
I hate my prosthesis, none of them are comfortable for me… I now have almost a drawer full ( garage sale of prosthesis looming if all successful I can see). Oh by the way I should explain that I now live in France and being as my French language is very little I would welcome you ladies who have been through this to chat too as I get to feel very depressed and isolated not being able to communicate to the degree I need to.
Thank you for listening I really need your comments and advice.
Hi Naiad
I am in a similar position to you but sounds like (although I may be wrong) you haven’t had a lot of time to get your head around all of this. I had a mastectomy and lymph node removal back in Nov 07 and am still due for reconstruction which will be sometime next year. I am also very boney in that area so all I can feel and see are ribs. I’ve been told that I can have an SGAP (where they take fat and skin from your bottom and build a breast giving you the necessary skin/tissue that you need. It isn’t exactly small surgery but I feel it will be worth it. Please chat away whenever you feel like it - I’m sure there are others in a similar situation who will come and give their views/advice/suggestions.
Ruby xx
Hi naiad
I’m not in a similar situation (I had a TRAM many moons ago), but I do live in France (in the Languedoc), so can empathize with some of what you are feeling.
There are quite a few of us ‘expats’ on here and we have a thread called ‘Expat France’ (or similar).
Are you in contact with Cancer Support France? Everyone there has English as their first language.
X
S
Hi naiad
As well as the information and advice you receive from the other forum users you may find it helpful to read the BCC booklet on reconstruction. It covers information on the procedure, suitability for reconstruction and how to find a surgeon as well as possible side affects and recovery period after surgery. If you would like a copy just follow the link below:-
breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/bcc_reconstruction_final.pdf
I hope you find this helpful.
Kind regards
Sam (BCC Facilitator)
Hi naiad, i hope you manage to find the answers you are looking for. I have had a double mx 6 weeks ago, large tumour in left breast had right breast taken off by choice, was big and so i knew i would hate the lopsided feeling more. At this moment i am not going for reconstruction, obviously it is early days for me and who know what i will be like a few years from now when this is all in the distant past - my hubby is happy with my flat chest, kids dont mind and i funnily enough at the moment dont mind ( am aware this might change) - i think we have to really make sure that what ever the decision is we make we are making it for ourselves, not for other people, what they will think of us etc etc - not sure this is at all helpful, but we have to be happy no-one else on these matters…Good luck…karen xx
Naiad
It depends on what options you have.
I have had LD flop and can definitely say it was not worth it.
Reg.
Hi Naiad … I had similar situation to you, infiltrating lobular cancer, 2007, had radical mastectomy right side including lymph clearance. Now two years later I have had a TRAM flap reconstruction done and can _definitely_ say it WAS worth it!!
In Australia where I live they generally don’t do immediate reconstructions, preferring to wait till the patient gets over the surgery/chemo/radiation plus (I think) some time to consider your options.
After the mastectomy I too had just a thin layer of skin over the ribs, and didn’t think there’d be any way to construct a new one. But my brilliant plastic surgeon did it perfectly, and I have a flat tummy as a bonus. I’m 62, and never for a moment did I think I was too old to consider this surgery. I feel that I’ve now got my body back.
Of course, there was a fair bit of healing to do – it took about five weeks in my case – but that was four months ago, and I haven’t looked back.
Good luck with your decision.
Hi everyone, thanks a million for all your replies, I saw my surgeon and he does want to do the LD Flap and not the using the tummy ( of which I was dissapointed as my tummy could do with reducing). He said that many had not gone as well as expected with problems to the tummy after healing. This is his speciality and all the staff at the hospital where I had my mastectomy spoke so highly of him and told me what a good job he makes of it… Oh lore, nervous or what.
Still, I hate myself as I am and want to just get back to seeing two lumps instead of one when I get my nightie on.
Yes, I have been in touch with cancersupport France and they have been great.
Thank you ladies for your help, Naiad xxx
Hi all would like some comments on making the decision to have reconstruction due to see my surgeon next week and really want to have reconstruction but have some fears wonder if i will be pleased with it will it be worth it any stories i would love to hear them
Carolyn159
I have been told to start thinking which type of reconstruction to do aswell. I am quite active and do lots of carrying lifting etc, so thought that the back procedure would make things difficult for me for years to come. I also do not fancy the thought of having to keep going in to have the implants changed.
For anyone that has had the tummy procedure, how long does it take to recover, any difficulties…?
Paula xx