breast reconstruction options

seeknpeace said:

Hello!

I had a bilateral mastectomy in Feb of 04 and a tram. I opted to do the bilateral for a couple of reasons.

One was that I had already had a lumpectomy on the other side, albeit benign, but my risk factor increased because of that. I have a strong family history of bc and my cancer, while still contained, was the most agressive that you can have and for DCIS at 2.5 cm, not small. My surgeon is a very conservative one and really wanted me to do the bilateral.

Another reason, for me, was symetry. Look, ok, this is how it was for me. I am 52, and my boobs looked just like they should to have had four children, etc. I felt if I fixed the bad one to match the other one, I would have the same thing that I did not love, and then if I got cancer in the good one, I had to make it match the one that was made to match it and I would have the same old tired boobs. Getting a better set of breasts was the only bright spot.

Did I love the surgery, omg no. Bilateral tram is a very hard surgery and a long one from which to recover. I mostly like my new breasts. They are not the same, but, so close that lots of times I forget that I do not have the real ones.

The flap that they sewed in has all it's feeling back. To me that was amazing. The skin around it, the orig skin, is more numb. I would recommend that you get a double mesh or see if there are any better options regarding that. As with any thing, the mesh does start to strech and when it does, you have no control over that lower stomach bulge. Also, there is a bulgs beneath your new breasts where they cross the muscles over. With all that said, I plan to have more done to correct some of this.

Would I do it again? Most definately. For me it would have been too traumatic without anything. I so admire the ones who do not want reconstruction. But, that really was not an option for me.

Do you know of any doctors in your area who do the DIEP? That was what I wanted, but no one in my area did them at that time. I would have to have traveled to New Orleans and my four daughters would have killed me. But, it would have been my choice. I would not have had to lose my ab muscles. But, I have NO problem from losing it. I have found creative ways to get up, and really do not notice a change.

I am not sure if this helps you or not, there was no one that I could talk to about it before I did it. It is hard, but I would do it again.

God bless and take good care

Jan