Hi, I’m new to this but wonder if there’s anyone out there who can share their experience. I was diagnosed with BC in Jan 2007, had a mastectomy with recon from back, lymph glands removed, followed by chemo and rads. later had ovaries removed and am now trying to decide which type of recon to have after a risk reducing mastectomy.
Happy with initial recon although rads caused implant to harden which will be replaced at the same time as the mastectomy. have a choice of back or tummy but am concerned about whether I’ll be able to enjoy my tennis and bellringing post surgery as my surgeon said I may lose some strength from back recon. This did not affect me before as it was my left side but as I am right handed I’m more concerned this time round. Love to hear from anyone who has had a back and a tummy recon or double recon from back. Thanks
Hi Jules
I have posted on other threads re my experience of an LD flap.
I, too, am a keen tennis player and the PS warned that my game may be affected. All I can say is no, nothing is different - I was back at yoga 16 days after the op, and tennis after about a month I think. Yes, I can feel the tightness in the back where the chunk of flesh/skin/muscle is missing, but never any pain. The only “pain” I suffer from is in my hand when I serve/snap the wrist, but these are Tamoxifen-induced aches and pains. And I expect the tennis has helped strengthen the back muscles generally.
With my healthy breast, I had the breast tissue removed and replaced with an implant. However, this is not cosmetically as wonderful as the LD recon, and so I am on the waiting list for another LD flap.
Bubs x
Hi Bubs,
Thanks for your comments - it’s reassuring to know that tennis with the girls should long continue! It’s not as if I play like Andy Murray but it is such good fun. Tamoxafen aches and pains are such an inconvenience aren’t they. Hope you soon have your LD reconstruction. Jules2009
I will report my second LD experience as soon as it has happened! Any time between now and Christmas, I would imagine.
Keep up the tennis - it lifts the spirits and is jolly good exercise, with a social life thrown in. And relatively inexpensive.
Yoga’s even better, however, because there are no egos involved …