Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi all, I had recon 9 weeks ago,I had a double mastectectomy back in october 2007 and in november have just been reconstructed with ld flaps and skin taken from my back on both sides, I must admit I have sailed through this. Before going for the op I expected to be in great pain having the muscle and skin taken from my back on both sides. I had implants on both breasts with no expanders. The recon on the left side has dropped somewhat, however the right side (which had rads) has not dropped as good as it could have done, I am just hoping that with massage and time it will look just as good as the left side. I feel so much better now, I did not realise just how much I wanted this until seeing my new breasts. I hope to go on to have the nipples done and also get the aereolas tattooed on. I believe I have sailed through this op because I did my best to get myself fit and ate properly knowing I was going for the op. Good luck to all you ladies who are going for it.....I luv my twins...xx ... View more

Hi all, I had recon 9 weeks ago,I had a double mastectectomy back in october 2007 and in november have just been reconstructed with ld flaps and skin taken from my back on both sides, I must admit I have sailed through this. Before going for the op I expected to be in great pain having the muscle and skin taken from my back on both sides. I had implants on both breasts with no expanders. The recon on the left side has dropped somewhat, however the right side (which had rads) has not dropped as good as it could have done, I am just hoping that with massage and time it will look just as good as the left side. I feel so much better now, I did not realise just how much I wanted this until seeing my new breasts. I hope to go on to have the nipples done and also get the aereolas tattooed on. I believe I have sailed through this op because I did my best to get myself fit and ate properly knowing I was going for the op. Good luck to all you ladies who are going for it.....I luv my twins...xx ... View more

I have had a letter cancelling my appointment for the PS on 9 Aug, I am gutted, my appointment is now 4 October, but hey kay sera sera. A friend of mine has just had a reconstruction on one of her breasts from her back from the same surgeon I will be using, she looks bloody amazing, she says there is not really pain that one couldnt deal with (she keeps herself very fit). Keep in touch Lisa, I will be thinkin bout you on 5 August, and would like to know how that goes. luv to all Angela xx ... View more

thanks scottishlass for your reply, and 21 years later you are still happy with the result...well thats certainly something...have you ever had to have the implant taken out and replaced with a new one? lisaf when do you get your expander? and when do you hope to have your bilateral recon? Well I seem to be getting positive feedback...so far. Thanx for the replies girls and it will be interesting to weigh up the pros and cons....Please if there is anyone else out there, we would love to hear from you. luv angela xx ... View more

thank you so much for your reply Bubs, you have made me feel quite excited about it. I will probably PM you at a later date if that is ok. I am going to think about your reply and if any questions come to mind I will PM you. Once again thank you so much, you also sound very positive in your thinking. I do a bit of cycling and also, like you, do yoga and was thinking I might have to stop it for a while after the op, but maybe I will only need a couple of weeks off, who knows. I do try to keep fit which I believe one needs to when going for a big op like this. I do worry a little about having two breasts done at the same time, both from my back and I wonder if I will be able to find a comfortable position. Take care n thank you. Angela xx ... View more

thank you for your comment lisaf, good luck with your bilateral recon. One thing I note is that you are having an expander fitted first, maybe that is what they will do with me, I thought the expander was fitted after recon. Angela xx ... View more

Hi Crombie I think I am glad to hear your news that it was papillomatosis and you say you JUST have to go back in 6 months, does that mean no more treatment? If you dont mind me asking what is this? Angela x ... View more

Toronto, yes I asked my oncologist about this and she said that some women do get benefits from it, however she did not know too much about the chondroitin. I also take 1 tablet of a mix of Glucosamine 750mg, chondroitin 600mg, calcium 50mg. It took longer to get into my system (only taking 1, cos the dose is 2) but I do find I get benefit from it. Angela x ... View more

fortysomething: hope you are feeling well after your op, its a relief to get it over with, and I felt exactly the same way. hill2boy: I think the waiting is the worst, on the run up to the op I didnt know whether I should be thinking about it to try and get my head round it, or put it out of my mind. The waiting is defo the worst, looking back I think the best think is to try not to think too deeply about it at this stage. Best of luck for 17th. take care Ang x ... View more

Hya all, yeah know what you mean about the sunken chest, I had my op last october and now I have a 6 pack!!!!! I feel I look like an 8 year old boy.... I am now thinking about going the whole hog and getting a willy attached......lol (only joking.....) I agree, you need to get the cording sorted out as this could develop into lymphoedema. Maybe you need to speak with the lymphoedema nurse, Keep up with the exercises....1,2,3...1,2,3 luv ang x ... View more

crombi, just thinking about you, hope all is well and the op went according to plan. good luck and take care. Ang x ... View more

Hi Michaela, I am sure you have made the right decision, might as well get it all over with in one go. I wish you the best of luck with your op and will be thinking about you. Take care of yourself luv ang x ... View more

hy Crombi, mine is the same sort of story, I was with my partner for 12 years, we were engaged to be married. When I found out about my breast cancer I asked him to come over to my house to tell him, I did not think it fair to tell him on the phone. I told him what I suspected was going to happen to me. The very day I was to get my results he went to Tenerife to sort out the broken air con in one of his many apartments. I cannot forgive him for this. Your partner however may just need some time to sort himself out as it must be devastating news for him. Crombie you take care of yourself, you need all your strength to get through this. I sympathise with you and hope you have family/friends who will support you at this awful moment of your life. I am thinking about you and good luck for next week. Angela x ... View more

Hi Michaela, I had a bi.mx in oct last year but did not have reconstruction. I had no choice in having the right breast off but I chose to have the second one off as I would have had to have too much tissue removed and still have mammograms on the bit of breast that was left. I feel I made the right choice. I was told I would not be able to have immed recon as I may need radiotherapy. I did need radiotherapy on one side of my chest and at this moment in time do not feel the need to have reconstruction. My friend had her first breast off back in 2007 and she never felt happy being what she called 'lop sided'. She did talk to the plastic surgeon about having the other breast off and having immed reconstruction for both, but he was reluctant to take off 'a perfectly good breast'. He persuaded her to just get recon on the one side. She was going to progress with this however in the meantime she had a mammogram and had to be recalled, they discovered it was nothing to worry about, but this caused her to worry and consequently she made the decision to see her original surgeon and get the other breast taken off. She is happier now that she has had the other breast removed 3 wks ago, she feels more 'even' and confident. Dont know if this helps you. Angela x ... View more

I had a bilat in oct 08, I had radiotherapy to one side. I found that when sleeping I would often be woken up with pain in my ribs due to being laid on that side. I also felt the side that took the radiotherapy felt like the skin was fused or fusing to my ribs. I have since had physio and I think this has helped as I do not wake up now when laying on that side. Angela xx ... View more

great idea lulu think I will get a wrist monitor and get my daughter to check it on herself, on her wrist then on her calf, see what the difference is. I also think if I had one at home it may show a more accurate reading.....white coat syndrome and all that...although I am not aware that I have white coat syndrome. I will have to see if the cuff is big enough to go around my ankle. thanks for your advice angela x ... View more

I went to a lymphoedema session recently and I distinctly remember the presenter saying it did not matter how many lymph nodes you had taken away, the risk was still the same, however radiotherapy and having hypothyroidism presents more risk of contracting lymphoedema. I have hypothyroidism and had a bilat mast and had a SNB on the right side, where I believe they took 3 nodes, but also one node came away which was contained within the breast, I did have radiotherapy on that side. I started to get lymphoedema in the right hand, but saw the lymph nurse and she gave me exercises to do. I do all my exercises every day, even twice a day if I have the time and I moisturise at least once a day (bit paranoid now) and I seem to have it under control. However I still worry about getting BP, bloods, etc taken from my left arm,I did not have any lymph nodes removed from the left side but once again one node which was contained within the breast came away. My daughter who is a HCA is taking my blood pressure every week and she takes it from my leg, from the calves, but I am not convinced that this is accurate. I think its supposed to be done in a prone position (facing down) and from the thigh. My blood pressure is showing to be high. I am quite concerned about this and am wondering about wrist BP monitors, any advice on BP wrist monitors please? Angela x ... View more

Bahons2, I wonder if you could answer me a question please. I have had a bilateral mastectomy and had 4 lymph nodes removed from the right side, 1 lymph node which was contained within the breast came away from the left side. I am now due to have an operation, how would you suggest I should have my general anaesthetic, shall I just use my left arm, the one with only 1 lymph node removed, or shall I speak with the anaethetist to find his opinion. Thanks for your anticipated reply Bahons2, I know you know your stuff when it comes to lymphoedema. Angela x ... View more

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