2 years after surgery - considering reconstruction

cats_toy
cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have just passed my two year mark from surgery. March 22, 2007, just found this site recently, but it would have been great to have known about it thru the surgery, chemo and radiation. Had a partial mastectomy. I did have a positive attitude throughout, but sometimes the information your doctors give you just isn't enough, you need it from people who have already gone through it all. I went to have my lump checked out after my mom was diagnosed, had a lumpectomy and radiation, figured it was just a cyst. Hurt, they used to say if it hurt it's not cancer. Don't believe it, every lump needs to be checked. Glad to have found you. I am now considering reconstructive surgery and would like any type of feedback anyone would be willing to share.
Thanks

Comments

  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #2
    What kind of reconstruction
    What kind of reconstruction are you considering? I had a tram flap last February after a mastectomy and 8 rounds of chemo. Just finished with everything this past December. I am very happy with the results as I used my own tissue. I think you should start searching for a plastic surgeon and see what he/she advises. You can post more questions or send me a private message and I'll respond to the best of my ability. Let us know how you make out. Hugs, Lili
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #3
    mmontero38 said:

    What kind of reconstruction
    What kind of reconstruction are you considering? I had a tram flap last February after a mastectomy and 8 rounds of chemo. Just finished with everything this past December. I am very happy with the results as I used my own tissue. I think you should start searching for a plastic surgeon and see what he/she advises. You can post more questions or send me a private message and I'll respond to the best of my ability. Let us know how you make out. Hugs, Lili

    Hi Lili, I had about 1/3 of
    Hi Lili, I had about 1/3 of my right breast removed, and I don't know any of the types that might be available. Figured I would need skin from somewhere (tummy tuck?) to fill in the removed portion, but my Radiation doc said he wouldn't advise it. I said, "you don't have boobs, so how could you advise one way or another?" That also makes me want to go forward with checking it out, as opposed to not, contrary, I know. Also, my surgeon said he cut to make a good reconstructive effort. I am new to this part of my fascinating journey, so...what is a "tram flap'?
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #4
    cats_toy said:

    Hi Lili, I had about 1/3 of
    Hi Lili, I had about 1/3 of my right breast removed, and I don't know any of the types that might be available. Figured I would need skin from somewhere (tummy tuck?) to fill in the removed portion, but my Radiation doc said he wouldn't advise it. I said, "you don't have boobs, so how could you advise one way or another?" That also makes me want to go forward with checking it out, as opposed to not, contrary, I know. Also, my surgeon said he cut to make a good reconstructive effort. I am new to this part of my fascinating journey, so...what is a "tram flap'?

    The tram flap is when they
    The tram flap is when they take the skin, fat and muscle from the belly area and tunnel up to the chest to form the breast. From what you are describing it seems like you had a lumpectomy and not a mastectomy, so, you have 3 options. The tram flap which I just told you about, the DIEP flap which is similar to the tram but they don't use your muscle, just the skin and fat from the belly and re-attach it in the chest area, and then there are the implants. The plastic will be better able to determine what procedure will work best for you. I had too much muscle removed and was too concave from my mastectomy, so having an implant was not an option easily available to me, and that is why I opted for the tram flap. The surgery itself was not too bad, but the recuperation time was pretty long. I was in the hospital for 6 days. They cut you from hip bone to hip bone and also move the muscle up into the chest area so you are very sore the first week, pretty sore the 2nd week and I was able to drive myself to the doctors by the 3rd week. BUT.... I love the look. Very natural and I have some sensation in the breast area because of the nerve endings still being attached to the flap. Let me know if I can be of further help. Hugs, Lili
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #5
    mmontero38 said:

    The tram flap is when they
    The tram flap is when they take the skin, fat and muscle from the belly area and tunnel up to the chest to form the breast. From what you are describing it seems like you had a lumpectomy and not a mastectomy, so, you have 3 options. The tram flap which I just told you about, the DIEP flap which is similar to the tram but they don't use your muscle, just the skin and fat from the belly and re-attach it in the chest area, and then there are the implants. The plastic will be better able to determine what procedure will work best for you. I had too much muscle removed and was too concave from my mastectomy, so having an implant was not an option easily available to me, and that is why I opted for the tram flap. The surgery itself was not too bad, but the recuperation time was pretty long. I was in the hospital for 6 days. They cut you from hip bone to hip bone and also move the muscle up into the chest area so you are very sore the first week, pretty sore the 2nd week and I was able to drive myself to the doctors by the 3rd week. BUT.... I love the look. Very natural and I have some sensation in the breast area because of the nerve endings still being attached to the flap. Let me know if I can be of further help. Hugs, Lili

    partial mastectomy? or radicallumpectomy?
    funny they all have different ideas as to what to call the procedure, most have said "partial mastectomy", some have said "radical lumpectomy", either/or, it is concave, so the breast kind of bends to the right. I might not have even considered it if it wasn't very uncomfortable because of that, and the scar is in the "bend", which makes it hurt even more. Your surgery sounds quite involved, hopefully I can do something a lot less invasive. Glad you are happy with the results, that makes it all worthwile right? I never thought I would even consider going under the knife again for any reason, but for now I am keeping my options open. I am waiting for my referral to a plastic surgeon and then hopefully I can get all the options open to me

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