risk reducing mastectomy on healthy breast with double reconstruction

[TammyM]

PS. What size do I go for? I'm a FF now, so they won't be recreated!

[TammyM]

Thank you everyone for all your comments. They really help. I've just seen a Clinical Psychologist this week, with her report due to land on my consultants desk in a week or so. After that I should get a surgery date very soon. I'm lucky (i hope) because we have a new surgeon who doesn't have a long waiting list, so he should fit me in quickly. Of course this is all dependent on whether the psychologist found me fit for purpose!! I'm only 34 so having two breasts will be so amazing for me, even if they are a bit 'frankenstein' rather than 'hollywood'!!
I feel so strongly about this decision for my body, i found it a bit maddening that I had to convince someone that I was making the right choice, but I do understand they want to make sure you have thought through all the pros and cons. I just can't wait to get in there and get it done, no matter what the outcome! I'm ready for it!
Good luck to all of you brave ladies.
xx

[Guest user]

hi ladies - just had a quick question to those you who have had a double mx and immediate recon plse... im due to have a double mx with immediate ld flap recon (no implant) sometime in oct - i have to se the psychologist first. i have already had a lumpectomy and 6 x chemo, but requested a double mx as well as i wanted to do as much as i could to reduce ever having to go through this again.
i just wanted to ask what people found the recovery time was like? how long did you have to have off work? how much pain where you in after?
im looking forward to getting it done, but nervous all the same...

[samos]

Hi Tammy. I'm just five weeks post bilateral MX with ANC and immediate DIEP recon. I don't carry the BRACA gene, but chose to have my healthy breast removed as I did not ever want to go through this again. Prior to surgery I had to see a Psycologist to ensure basically that I was of sound mind. I firmly believe it was the right decision for me, I didn't like the odds of getting BC again dropping to 1:5.
I think it's too early to really see the results yet, although everyone tells me how good they look, but for me I think they won't look right until the nipples and tattoos are done - this should be in about three or four months time.

Ask away if there is anything else you would like to know.

Sue x

[Guest user]

Hi I have a very strong family history of b.c. Diagnosed myself with a 1.2 cm grade 2 b.c on the right side in June and had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using silicone about a month after being diagnosed. I didnt struggle to make the decision and havent struggled since either as I have 3 children and they are my absolute priority. I found the surgery much easier than I had enviasged and am recovering really well. Incidentally my feeling that I have done the correct thing was backed up by the fact that I had a large area of pre cancer on the laft side which they discovered after the op. Im about to embark on chemo in a couple of weeks whcih I am borderline for. In for a penny in for apound and all that! I am 41.
My sister had a similar dilemma 3 yrs ago, chose the same option to me and is an inspiration! She was 35 at diagnosis.
I think it must be a hard decision for ladies to just be faced with if its something new to them but I feel due to my family history I came from a bit of a different starting point
I chose the silicone reconstruction as I didnt fancy the scar across my tum or my back and just wanted to recover as well/ quick as possible. As long as I look ok in a bra/ tightish top I didnt care that much how they looked actually. When I saw the plastic surgeon it was my only realistic option anyway as Im a slimish person. (In fact ironically had lost weight over the past year and then the stress of this whole thing had made me loose more!!) and as I was having both boobs done didnt have enough fat to go at! Never been told that before!! 😉
Good luck
Mandy x

[dib]

Hi Tammy,i had bc in 2010 and had lumpectomy,then found i carried brca 1 gene and sequence change in brca 2 so had double mx with reconstruction from my back in aug 2011.I had expanders in also which were taken out 2 weeks ago and replaced with implants.I have yet to have nipples put on but am very happy with results.My 28 yr old daughter also tested positive for brca 1 and had double mx with reconstruction from her tummy on 5th july,so is now 23 days post surgery.She is doing really well and is very happy with her decision to have the surgery not least because she now has a very flat stomach!!Good luck with your surgery.
best wishes,Di.x

[lisaf]

Hi, I am wee bit different but similar too lol! I had a risk reducing masectomy on my remaining side and after numerous ops ended up with a diep and tram, still need a further op but to be honest I said i wanted to do anything I could to reduce the risk and with having BRCA1 i found the decision easy - must admit had a wee wobble but more about having ellective surgery rather than loosing another boob. I can honestly say I felt a huge relief after op xxx

[Guest user]

Hi Tammy,
I am having a double mx and reconstruction in December. I have not had breast cancer but carry the faulty brca1 gene. I haven't had BC myself so am very lucky but my family members have not been so lucky. I am 30 and have 2 small children and I am so happy with the decision I've made. I can't wait to have all the worrying behind me.
I am having DIEP reconstruction which uses tissue from my tummy. Ive decided not to keep my nipples and i will have reconstruction for that too. My last appointment was on Monday when I got my date. I've still got a few appointments. One is with a psychologist to make sure I've thought about everything. Then I'm having a CT scan to check the blood supply in my tummy is good enough and then I see the surgeon again. I've been told the surgery will take anything from 10-14 hours with the possibility of a couple of touch up ops. But I will be left with the peace of mind that I've done everything I can to prevent breast cancer.

It took me a while to make my decision. Everyone is different and you need to make the decision that's right for you. Good Luck

Lisa xx

[Guest user]

Hi!
I had my initial mastectomy in Feb 2010 and opted to have my healthy breeat removed with a double reconstruction in July 2011. I am very pleased with my decision- I wanted some peace of mind and given my age, 33 at the time, I wanted to do everything that I could. I had my reconstruction done with implants only and I had my nipple reconstruction done 6 weeks ago and I am fairly pleased with the results. All I have left to do now is the tattooing in a few weeks. The double reconstruction surgery took me a good 4-6 weeks to get over and was painful as the pectoral muscles were interfered with to place the implants. But I don't regret it for a moment. I didn't feel the decision to have a second mastectomy was a difficult one at all, I wanted it off at diagnosis with the faulty boob, but the surgeon sent me to a macmillan psychologist to make sure I was sure etc and made me wait a year to see if I still felt the same.
Hope this helps, good luck with your decision.
Emma xx

[Guest user]

I am way behind you guys as I have had mx 1 and just started 6 cycles of chemo but will be having reconstruction and asked my breast consultant about having an mx on 'good' breast as I will be having reconstruction anyway and it seems like an option to consider. I will follow this closely to help with my decisons. However, I think it sounds a lot in one op - my BC suggested 3 more ops! Good luck with the decisions

[BrainyBlonde]

Hi , After being identified as having the Braca 2 gene I'm embarking on the same treatment plan. I have my second 'reconstruction' consultation on Monday so hope to get a date or at least an idea of the time scale then. I'd be interested in the decisions of others regarding types of reconstruction. I think there is a likelihood that I will have the same as you Tammy and have been told that the results will be better on the 'healthy' side than on the other as I had rads and that damages the skin.
Jan

[TammyM]

Hi everyone. This is my first post here... I am about to embark on risk reducing mastectomy on my one remaining healthy breast, and have a double reconstruction. All in the same surgery!! With nipples as well.
Has anyone had any experience of this and can give me some feedback as to their results? The surgeon and BCN want me to see if I can find someone who also had risk reducing mastectomy as they feel it is a very big decision to make. I feel it is right for me, but havent been able to speak to anyone who has actually experienced it.
I would be having the back muscle reconstruction on my already mastectomied side, and then a mesh implant on the other healty side. So any feedback on either of those surgeries would be really appreciated.
I look forward to hearing from you!
We're all in this together aren't we!!
xx