options help!
options help! Hi
I am due to finish my 10th cycle of chemo in June and am due to see the breast surgeon early June to discuss surgery. It was planned from diagnosis that I would need a full mastectomy and node clearance followed by 3 weeks of rads. My surgeon is quite anti reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy because of the rads but the plastic surgeon doesn’t seem to think there should be a problem. I have had previous complications with surgery that have resulted in a life threatening infection that left me in ICU for quiet some time. I am therefore reluctant to have additional procedures and would prefer to have everything done in one hit with the least amount of surgery involved. The tram flap does not seem an option because of the risks of infection to another site in the body. The expansion seems to have the least risks.
Has anyone else had the expansion method?
Has anyone else been told by their surgeon that they cannot have reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy?
Has anyone else got any ideas or been offered different options?
Sorry to ask so many questions but it all seems so daunting!
Thanks
Chanel
For chanel Hi Chanel
Whilst you are waiting for your fellow forum users to reply you may find it helpful to read the breast cancer care booklet on reconstruction. This can be downloaded or read on line at the following link.
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/breast_reconstruction
_dec06_web_0.pdf
I hope this helps answer some of your questions.
Kind regards
On-line Forum Host
Breast cancer care
This mighrt help! Hi Chanel
I just thought I would give you the benefit(?) of my reconstruction experience.
I was dxd in June 2005. I had WLE that month but was told I needed a mastectomy following the path report.
In August 2005 I had a complete nipple sparing mastectomy with a silicone shell saline filled implant (with port to “top up” the saline) reconstruction at the same time. Original implant had 400mls of saline which was topped up to 550 over a few months. This was a wonderful job!
I started chemo in Sept 2005 which continued until Jan 2006. At the end of Jan 2006 I started rads which went on until the begining of March 2006. During this period, I suffered from capsulation of the implant. The plastic surgeon says the capsulation was due to my own body “disliking” the implant and nothing to do with the chemo or rads. In May 2006 I had further surgery to try and release the capsulation. This was not successful and my implant remained lumpy and bumpy. The plastics man decided to change the implant and this surgery took place on 10th May this year. I now have a sealed silicone shell saline filled implant (640mls) size 36D and things are looking good!
I honestly feel the capsulation of my 1st implant WAS due to chemo, I used to feel the whole boob area tightening up during treatment, but I can say even after 3 surgeries, having the recon done at the same time as the mastectomy was the correct way to do things for me. I was 43 when this bc stuff kicked off, now I’m almost 46 and I haven’t been boobless for a day since pre-teens. At the time everything was happening, I didn’t think it would bother me either way once the cancer was taken out, but now, I think it would have afterall! Hope this helps you in some small way!
Hi Chanel
so sorry you have had a bad experience of surgery. I had a full mastectomy with tram flap and i am so pleased with the results. I can honestly say its been a breeze, i really didnt have any pain and only used the morphine that i was given to make me sleepy and i didnt really have any pain, i have a nice flat tummy and a lovely natural boob. Please dont be put off with this option.
You really need to go over your concerns with your plastic surgeon who may guide you to your decision, depending on age, weight etc (there may not be enough on your tummy for a tram flap). Hopefully he will also put your mind at risk about the risk of infection and give you some good figures about the hospital your staying in, e.g. the last mrsa case, things like that, they may even give you results and figures on there own hospital web site.
Any way good luck
Tracey
x
Hi Chanel
Sorry not able to offer any advice as I am also still going through chemo. But I was reading your post with interest as you appear to be going through things at the same time as me, although I am only scheduled to have 8 chemos and have my last one on 19th June.
I am having surgery on July 9th, hopefully for a lumpectomy, (but so many people I speak to haven’t had clear margins so have had to go back to have a mastectomy.) I have been told that if I have to go back for a mastectomy, I would be offered reconstruction (expansion) at the same time.
I agree with you that this all seems very daunting! Take care and let me know how you get on,
Nicky
For baldeagel To Baldeagel
Your post has given me a bit of encouragement! I didn’t know that they could do complete nipple sparing mastectomies. I am due to have a lumpectomy, but realise that there is a high chance that it may lead to a mastectomy. Which hospital are you at? I have been given no mention of being able to preserve my nipple!! I know that it may seem very vain to some people but I really want to keep my nipple and can’t imagine having to wait a while between surgery and reconstruction. My shape is quite important to me (not as wonderful after all the steroids!) and I still like to wear reasonably close fitting clothes.
Sorry I ‘butted in’ on your post to Chanel, but you were of a help to me too, so thanks!
Take care Nicky
Hi chanel,
I have just come out of hospital after having my bilateral reconstruction using the LD method (muscle and skin from the back).
When I was told I needed to have a bilateral mastectomy I was horrified, the thought of having no boobs was just too scary so I enquired about immediate reconstruction but was told that it was not a good idea as at that time they didn’t know whether or not I would need chemo or rads and having these after reconstruction could ruin the result.
As it was I didn’t need either and now here I am 9 days post recon and well happy with the results although alittle battered and bruised
Hope this helps
Good luck and stay positive
Kaz
xx