Reconstructive surgery

[Msccc13]

Any experience on whether to have reconstuctive breast surgery after radiation or before. My doctor suggested multiple surgeries after I finish chemo and radiation.

[Joan37]

I had immediate DIEP flap reconstruction in 2003. My mastectomy and DIEP flap were followed by chemotherapy and then 6 weeks of radiation. I've never had any problems with my reconstructed breast. I'm not sure what "multiple surgeries" means.

[Msccc13 in reply to Joan37]

I'm doing my chemo now, followed by mastectomy of left breast, then 5 weeks radiation, and then reconstruction of left breast first (skin from back, I have no belly fat). Then doing the expansion and implant in my right breast. And eventually nipples. So much surgery. How long is pain with mastectomy?

[Joan37 in reply to Msccc13]

I didn't really have much pain, but I was on painkillers. The hospital gave me a prescription for Vicodin, but I took instead some left over Tylenol 3 with codeine and that seemed to work. I took them for a week or less. Since my DIEP flap was from my stomach I had to stay off staircases for a week, but I had help at home. I came home with a lot of drains. Three in the DIEP flap suture and two in my underarm area. I pinned them to a long gauze "necklace" so I could walk around and take a shower easily. They were removed after a week.

[Msccc13]

Thank you. I have a low pain tolerance so the Norco will help. I wish you all God's best.