Therapeutic mammoplasty

Hi Lomalinda,

Saw the surgeon today,who after examining me said he’d be away when I would be due for surgery and as he didn’t want to delay it the other surgeon would probably do it.I’m seeing him on Friday.
He seemed in a hurry and I felt quite down when I came home.Still unclear as to what exactly they’re going to do,I’ll see how I get on this Friday when I see the original surgeon who performed by SNB(much easier to talk to but not an oncoplastic surgeon,I don’t know if that’s going to make a difference in my case or not)
I just want to know what it’s going to look like!! Husband kept saying it didn’t matter,it was more important that they got rid of all the cancer…if he’d said it one more time I think he would be the one needing surgery!!
I know,I know,he means well.
Last chemo tomorrow…surgery was always something that was happening later but now it’s suddenly here and I’m trying to get my head around it.

Best wishes,

Helen xx

Hi All

Hope you’re all doing ok.Date for my surgery is next Tuesday (14th),they’re putting in a guide wire first.Surgeon still didn’t say where the scarring would be,said it depended on where the wire was inserted,maybe he’ll tell me more on the day.

Squeezing in a few days away in Somerset,hopefully take my mind off things for a few days.

Still have my PICC in,they said to leave it in case they wanted to use it for surgery or the drip.It’ll be good to get my arm back.
Haven’t been told how many rads I need yet.

Smelltheroses,hope your results were good?

Little H xx

Hi Helen,

I’ve been away myself & lost sight of this thread, so sorry I haven’t replied to you until now.

Yay!, congrats on finishing chemo. Your surgery has come along pretty swiftly! It sounds like they’ve probably told you as much as they are able to, but I know it’s just never enough, is it?

I have a tiny scar where my guide wire was inserted, but then the doc who did it tried to go in the same place where I’d had both core biopsy AND my clip inserted…! So not surprising really! I’m still finding that my main scar is changing…. The number of rads will probably be decided once they’ve seen your path report. I got away with less than they had originally planned.

My surgery seemed a bit easier than my SNB in terms of healing & movement, but I guess it’s different for everyone.

Glad to hear that you are able to get away. I hope that you can manage to relax & get your mind off it all. You’ve done all the hard (chemo) work, now you have to let the surgeons do their thing! All the very best wishes for the 14th. I’ll be thinking good thoughts for you. Take it easy afterwards, hope the recovery goes well. Please post when you are able & tell us how you got on.

LXXX

Hi,

I’m new to all this. I’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer and my surgeon has suggested I have a wide local excision with bilateral reduction. I have read your experiences on this thread with great interest and am relieved at the positive outcomes people have had.

One of my concerns that doesn’t seem to get much of a mention is the change in sensation in the nipple and surrounding skin. I know this is a personal question but can you give me an idea of what it feels like once everything has calmed down?

Thanks for any replies and good luck with all your continuing recoveries.

L

Hello Lessa,

I had wle, snb and a bilateral reduction in June. My surgeon warned me of all the likely outcomes, including loss of sensation in the nipples. I have to say. I was so pleased with the outcome. A very tidy job! I had not even a twinge of pain or discomfort. Both nipples intact and sensation still there! One side (the non bc side)a little better than the other! Almost too much information, isn’t it… Hope this helps. Let me know if you need to know any more.

Hi Lessa, I also had a therapeutic mammoplasty. Unfortunately, I had to lose the nipple on my cancer side, as this is where my cancer was growing, The nipple on my good side was moved during the reduction of that breast, and, like you, i was warned it could result in loss of sensation. In fact, I now have very pert boobs and the remaining nipple functions exactly as it did pre-op. The skin on the areola is slightly ‘baggy’ at the top, but my lovely surgeon has promised to do any ‘tweaks’ necessary next year,including a new nipple if i want one, once i have finished rads and am feeling more like me again. He’s a brilliant surgeon, and really cares about his patients. Lovely man.

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