I’m just finishing my pre-adjuvant chemo tomorrow (6 x FEC-T), and am having a mastectomy and full lymph node clearance on 1st May.
I discussed my options with my surgeon last Friday and he agreed to remove the other breast to prevent cancer returning there at a later date, and to reconstruct both using flesh from my tummy (or thigh if my previous two caesarian sections are a problem)
He told me he won’t remove the other breast until next year, and that i can’t have reconstruction surgery until July 2015, which is a full year after the radiotherapy (I have to have 15 sessions in June).
Can anyone tell me if he is likely to remove the other breast then reconstruct both in one operation next year or whether he will probably remove the other breast first, then do another op for reconstruction…if you have had the same thing done, how did they plan it?
I was disappointed that he wouldn’t remove both breasts together, as I would have been happy to be flat-chested for a year, but now I’ll have to wear that uncomfortable falsy that I’ve heard so much about or I’ll look lopsided. He said that he was focussing on removing the cancer right now, and the cosmetic work would be done later, so I guess that’s how things are done on the NHS.
Also, can someone please tell me the proper term for when they reconstruct using flesh from your tummy - I think it has the word “flap” in it, but I’m very confused right now. I keep referring to it as a natural reconstruction, but I know that isn’t the right terminology. I was dead set against having a silicon implant, especially as I’m quite a large lady and have plenty of spare flesh!
Thanks in anticipation. :womanhappy: