Hi, I was diagnosed two weeks ago and have had wide local excision and sentinal node biopsy. Got my post op results yesterday and thankfully the nodes were clear but the excision margins weren’t so need more surgery. My consultant has asked me to decide if I want to have a further wide local excision or a mastectomy and immediate reconstruction, I have an appointment tomorrow with him to discuss my decision. I am edging towards mastectomy and recon as I feel I just want it gone, however I am really, really scared and am very tearful today. Can anyone give me an idea of how this surgery is and also how you are afterwards re recovery etc. They are talking of taking a muscle from below the shoulder or the abdomen for the recon. The whole thing terrifies me. Would really like to hear from anyone who can give me some insight on what to expect, please
Hi Jules
I only has a mastectomy not the rec, so it won’t be the same but i was fine really surprised it wasn’t as bad as i expected.
HI Jules,
Had mastectomy with recon in August. My recon was an expander, so a work in progress. It looks fine, I have symmetry and cleavage. It’s only when I take my bra off that I remember!!
Best wishes OC xx
jules - I only had a WLE and am very pleased with it - good luck with whatever you decide - love FB xx
Hi Jules
I had a WLE back in May 2007, but I have recently undergone a mastectomy and immediate recon in September this year due to a new tumour appearing. I have had a LD (muscle taken from the back) recon. I chose this option because the recovery time is less and I wanted to return to work asap because of the amount of time I had to take last year while having chemo (thankfully I don’t need chemo this time).
I was out of bed and sitting up in a chair the next day and I can honestly say did not experience any pain as such. Expect to be in hospital for about a week. I was showering and washing my hair after 3 days. Nine weeks on and my arm is fully mobile and I am looking forward to going back to work next week.
My arm does get tired (had all remaining lymph nodes removed) if I overdo it and I can now also sleep on the recon side without any discomfort and my back feels a little tight sometimes.
I wish you all the best for whatever option you choose and I can say that I am really pleased with the results of my LD flap. I hope this helps.
Best wishes.
Carol
Hi, thanks to all for sharing your experiences with me. I have now got my surgery booked for 15th December, I am having mastectomy and LD recon. Still dreading it but feel a bit better thanks to you all.
Thanks Julie
hi julie
just responded to your post on the terrified thread.
hang on in there - you will get through this.
x
jo
Could anyone tell me with the mastectomy and ld recon, how long the drains are left in for?? Thanks Jules x
Drains are usually left in until they produce less than X mls of fluid.
I think it is different for everybody may be three days or mine was seven days (which is longer than average)
Thanks, It would be good if drains were out when I go home after 1 week.
jules 1958
i too had lumpectomy followed by mastectomy, i was also very scared after first op, which id also had full lymph node clearance, which did prove painful. but i asked for a pre-med before 2nd op because i knew i was anxious, and it did take away some of the fear. i also was amazed at how much better i was after 2nd op, i came around quite quickly and there was no pain. i really wish you well, and i think your making the right decision about reconstruction because i would love it, but not willing to go through another op, so all the better if its done at the same time. i will be thinking of you. take carex
Hi, yes I am trying to be positive but am sure will be anxious on the day. Will come back on here once op is over, Thanks again xx
Hi Jules
I only had a mastectomy (on 12 Nov) not a recon but I feel I have made a good recovery with no real problems. A little bit of pain in my arm sometimes (had a full aux clearance too) but I am able to do the exercises and the scar is healing very nicely, albeit a bit swollen still. I was in hospital for 8 days.
I needed my drain in for 15 days, and it was such a relief when it came out much more comfortable.
If it is any help, I’ve been told they got the cancer out and I am now NED! What a wonderful feelng.
Good luck with it all, it really wasn’t as bad as I had imagined.
P xxx
Hi, I can beat that Peacock - not something to be proud of though. I’m on day 16 of my drain and still pumping out at least 150 a day! I can honestly say that it is now more painful than any of the surgery (mastectomy and LD recon). Can’t wait for it come out, am changing bottles myself at home, stayed in for 12 days hoping to get rid of drain before leaving, but waited needlessly - still had to come home with it!
Thanks for the info, hope things have improved Jacqnotyetinthebox. Very pleased for you with your results Peacock. Due my op tomorrow but have developed a bit of a sniffle today, hope that doesn’t make them postpone the op, as I have got myself mentally prepared for going in tomorrow. J x
Good luck for tomorrow!
I had a cold when I had my Mastectomy and recon and the anaesthetist wasn’t worried in the slightest.So hopefully you will be ok.
Hope to hear how it went soon,
Dot
x
Hi I am back and all went well, but my back is quite sore. Today is day 8 and I had my last drain removed today. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was but now need to recover as I get very tired. Had post op results today and it seems I will need chemo, which is a bit of a blow but if I need it, then I will have to have it. Will come back on soon as pretty tired now. Thanks Jules x
Dear Jules
good to know you are home, but don’toverdo things,christmas can be stressful. Really sorry to hear you will need chemo
Mole
Hi, just wondering if anyone can help me, I had mastectomy and levels 1,2 & 3 lymph node clearance on Dec 16th, I had my second drain removed on day 7 on surgeon’s orders even though still draining 80mls per day! My armpit and back are quite painful and uncomfortable,it feels as though I have a great big lump in my armpit, I find that although I try exercises I can’t lift my arm to more than 90% away from my body(that’s painful) and the thought of attempting the second set of exercises leaves me ‘cold’.
Am I just a wimp or has anyone else had a similar experience. I went into the op expecting to recover quite quickly so am ‘surprised’ by how I feel.
Thanks, hope everyone had a great Christmas and Happy New Year to all
Muv
Hi Muv,
in no way are you being a wimp,you need to go easy on yourself,you have just had major surgery on top of a diagnosis for cancer.
Do you have a BCN as it sounds as though you have a seroma which is a build up of fluid from the op,which would make sense if you still had drainage of 80mls. I had one it felt like a golf ball under my arm and is really uncomfortable. I rang my BCN and she drained it off for me,such a relief.
Hope your feeling better soon,take care
Tracey