Hi all
I was diagnosed with DCIS a couple of weeks ago and last week advised to have a mastectomy and possible reconstruction. I have already gone through breast cancer treatment from July 2007 to Dec 2008, including wle, chemo, rads and a year of herceptin. This new problem was picked up on my latest mammogram last month, and after visiting the plastic surgeon this week, he has offered me a choice of an immediate delayed reconstruction with an implant, and as my BMI is over 30 I cannot have the back flap operation straight away until my weight has reduced. After revisiting him yesterday, he also offered me the choice of a recon with a strattice reconstruction which uses cell tissue over the implant and then grows to cover the breast tissue and so make a more natural looking breast. It all sounds quite amazing and I understand its also very expensive. However, he did point out it is all relatively new procedures and of course there are things to bear in mind that could fail. I know this can happen after any operation, and to use cell tissue sounds better than taking muscles and flaps from the body which can cause trauma and other problems. So, has anyone had this procedure and been successful, I would really like to know. Of course, the other pathway is for a immediate delayed reconstruction then a backflap when I am ready to commit myself later in the year.
Thanks ladies, would really appreciate some feedback on this.
Annabelle xxxxx