WLE
WLE Hi Everybody!,
I have my surgery (WLE) two weeks ago. I was really pleased with the cosmetic results and It was a big relieve when I left the hospital wearing my normal cloths and they fit me like before the surgery. However since then I have been notice some difference between both breast propaply due to the swelling what is coming down, whichs makes me feel uncorfotable. Every oportunity I have I am looking to my breast and feeling it to try to see if they look very different. Am considereing discuss with my surgeon any cosmetic possibilities if within a year I feel the same. I will need radiotherapy also and I am quite scared of the changes that this can cause to my breast. Silly I suposse to be so worry about the aspect of my boobs instead of the benefictos of the treatment!, but I supposo this is part of the ilness too. I just wanted to know if there is anybody in a similar situation and if implants can be an option in my case.
XXX
Reconstruction publication Dear Monts
Here is a link to a Breast Cancer Care booklet which contains information about breast reconstruction:
breastcancercare.org.uk
/docs/breast_reconstruction_dec06_web_0.pdf
You are also welcome to contact our confidential freephone helpline where you can speak to one of our specially trained nurses about the questions and concerns you have. The number is 0808 800 6000 and it is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
Kind regards
Forum Host
Breast Cancer Care
Reconstruction after WLE Hi Monts
I had WLE in July 03, and like you initially was OK with the look. But after several weeks as the swelling went down was left rather lopsided. BC nurse organised a partial prothesis (shell), which I wore most of the time, but didn’t bother for sport or with baggy clothes as difference wasn’t that noticeable. Did talk about reconstruction, but had to wait until after chemo, rads etc.
About 1 year after all treatment, just as I was ready to start thinking of reconstruction I got a serious abscess and had to have another WLE, (same side). This time was seriously lop-sided and given another (bigger) partial prothesis), which I wore all the time.
18 months on, I have just had reconstruction, (lat dorsi). My surgeons did not want me to have an implant, as I had 2 serious deep infections, and they felt implants were slighlty riskier. I am also going to have a small reduction on other side to even things up.
I hope this helps, as it is improtant to feel good about the way you look, and it is natural to be concerned.
which hospital were you at and did you have radiotherapy? I was told I’d need to have skin grafted from my back if I had an LD which I thought would look as conspicous as the dent I have now.
Mole
For Mole I did have radotherapy, and therefore skin grafted from back.
Given the number of ops and infections that I had, my scar was significant, and the dent noticeable. What I really hated was that my nipple was so raised by removal of skin and tissue, that the aureole was above the line of most bras, it is now pretty much where it should be.
The skin graft is noticeable, but an improvement on previous look, and the scar is less than the old one.
I have private health insurance, and after much discussion they agreed to pay for all reconstruction, including reduction to healthy side. I was treated in Milton Keynes.
thanks for your reply I was offered reconstruction as well but I decided the result was likely to be as bad as what I already had. But my nipple is at the same level as it was but moved sideways towards my armpit as that is where the tumour came from. I think yours must have been above the nipple because the nipple moves towards where the lump is removed.
Anyway I didn’t want a skin graft, particularly with my history of infection at each op
Incidentally all my treatment was on the NHS and I also was able to choose which surgeon I wanted to do any reconstructive surgery - if I went ahead. So you can do it if you insist and without paying anything health insurance or no.
Mole