Have you had, or considered having re... - SHARE Breast Canc...
Have you had, or considered having reconstruction? If so, why and what kind? If not, why?
Didn’t want reconstruction- I just wanted the tumour gone.
Surgery is long, implants need replacement over time. Removal of abdominal fat or shoulder ends up with some disabilities. For me also since I am chemically sensitive, I cannot have any non-tissue item in my body. I don't even tolerate bandages well (all plastic these days).
I considered it, but in the end didn't feel comfortable with implants and flaps are too limiting for someone that is very active. I'm happy being flat.
i felt very down and tired after my last surgery and not in the mood to contemplate further surgery. After awhile I started hearing about people who had had implants and how vulnerable they are. I like to run and do yoga and I didn't want to worry about ruining expensive implants so I decided to just stay as I am. I look funny, but I can run as much as I want without fear of messing up my implants
I am 73 (72) at the time of surgery and would rather be doing other things than repeated surgeries. My husband agrees.
Surgery was done at the Cleveland Clinic Dr Moriera, fantastic surgeon. No one would know I had s double mastectomy, even in a bathing suit you wouldn’t know. Great decision! Wouldn’t change it at all
Each person has reasons at the time of surgery. I had a few. My mom had a radical 45 yrs. ago. No reconstruction then. I was 66 and had just lost my husband 3 weeks prior to my surgery. Having breast cancer was nothing new to me. I helped my mom and two aunts at difficult times.
BUT I owed it to myself to see 2 plastic surgeons! One, a man, gave me no confidence. The other, a brilliant woman surgeon offered to do a double latissimus muscle reconstruction. Saw pictures of her work and thought she did a great job! Was concerned about the loss of muscle on my back and the pain which would plague in the future. Also discovered that prosthesis now, are not the horrors of 40 years ago, which my mother wore. Studied all the brands, chose Amoena; found out about "Underneath it All", run by two survivors and have the most beautiful bras and prosthesis. Above all, no pain on my back, no discomfort from my bra and prothesis.
All this said, I would never discourage a woman from having a proper, well planned reconstruction or implants. I just hate hearing that someone's plastic surgeon was going to give the patient a "tummy tuck". Especially a woman with multiple ailments and age above 70 !!!!
I didn't want to take a chance of infection and healing issues. Rather be uneven and no pain versus strugging with infections and possible multiple surgeries for complications.
I was 53 and I had a reconstruction with a smaller implant , at the same time as my right mastectomy / axillary clearance Dec 2017, which all went smoothly ( 3 /4 nights in hospital). I didn’t have radiotherapy or chemo as I went straight onto Ibrance /Letrozole after a ct and bone scan showed I had bone mets to pelvis.
Then Dec 2018 I had a reduction on my much larger ,non-affected asymmetrical left side , as a day op . This I had done while I was on Ibrance / Letrozole treatment (I had the op on my week off ibrance , I was stable at the time and my bloods good ) and had antibiotics and self injections to boost my white blood cells for a few days after the op .to reduce any risk of infection.
All went well , but I did get an infection under my breast about 6 weeks after , once healing had started , with ‘ spitting sutures’ (where the invisible internal stitches push themselves out of the breast ) becoming irritated and then became infected . I had to come off ibrance for a week and back on antibiotics for a week . Luckily it was a minor issue and all cleared up after a week or so .
Now 18 months after my mastectomy and thanks to my lovely lady surgeon , I am happy with the reconstruction / reduction results and have no pain , nor discomfort from heavy breasts anymore , my posture is good and it has been good for my mental heath too ...and I even have a cleavage! ... so something positive came out of an awful situation . I realise implants don’t last forever etc., but will address that if/when the time comes .
So just like the lady above said , I would never discourage anyone from having a proper well - planned reconstruction / implants and I think age , health and lifestyle are probably the key factors in the decision . (also I was too slight at the time to have the flap reconstruction so went for the one implant .) I still have the option to go back for a nipple on my implant side in the near future , maybe the one done as a tattoo ... it would be my first tattoo!!!!! x
I am surprised that so many said yes! I would never have reconstruction as it makes it harder to find return of cancer or progression of cancer in the breast. I have to wonder if oncs and plastic surgeons tell patients that! For me, a double mastectomy makes more sense than reconstruction.
I had the "flap" (I hate that term) tissue transfer at the time of the my mastectomy. It's been a year and I'm pleased with the recovery and the way I look and feel now.
Had saline implants in 2000, following double mastectomy. Implants were replaced years later with silicone implants when original implants failed.
I had an implant, but my body rejected it after 2 months. For now, I have opted to do nothing.
Will have reconstruction surgery when done with my treatments
I thought long and hard about what I would want. I talked to doctors about it and was surprising to me how every single professional I talked to said it was my decision not anyone else’s. That’s what I appreciate with this process. I will never want to take that individual choice and tell someone else they made a bad decision. Cancer takes away so much .. let’s not beat each other up about making such a personal decision. Cancer can resurface anywhere ... in the bone or brain.. if breasts make people feel better it’s ok to have them back.
I had DIEP reconstruction in January . I'm very happy with the results 😎
If reconstruction will make my happy why not? But l want the cancer gone forever & not resurface again. I learnt reconstruction is expensive & that's another problem entirely.
There is a separate metastatic community available to you here.
DIEP Flap in July 2019....doing great, preparing for first fat grafting next week.
