To reconstruct or not after mastectomy

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Lampasas
Lampasas Member Posts: 6
in Breast Cancer #1
I'm having a mastectomy very soon and need to decide whether or not to have reconstruction. I'm healthy and my insurance would pay but I'm 66 and don't see the point. If I do I'll definitely have implants because don't want to take skin from any other part of my body. Has anyone out there had reconstruction? Are you glad or sorry you did? Would appreciate views from someone who's been there. Thanks.
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Comments

  • mollyz
    mollyz Member Posts: 756 Member
    #2
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    not ready
    I had a mastectomy last year in June i thought i wanted reconstruction but after everything I've been through (Chemo and now radiation)I thought about it i have time to decide I need to get back to normal what ever that will be now,it's a lot of ladies on the board did it at the same time maybe they can give you their views I turned 50 in October while doing chemo. oh yes where are my manners WELCOME TO THE BOARD MOLLYZ
  • Jennifer1961
    Jennifer1961 Member Posts: 137
    #3
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    I had immediate
    I had immediate reconstruction. Quite frankly I don't think I could have handled the mastectomy without reconstruction. I think it would have been really traumatic to see nothing there. As it was I woke up with some breasts since they were able to fill the expanders a little. I just had my implant exchange two days ago and I'm pretty happy with the way things look. It's all a personal decision but this is my take on it. Do what's right for you. Also, remember if you decide you want reconstruction after all down the road, you may not get insurance coverage on it, so check into that. Good luck!
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #4
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    I did have reconstruction
    with expanders and I am almost finished with the process (just need to get the nipple tattoos now). I am so so happy I went through with it. I am 40 though, and that may make a difference. The implants are very comfortable compared to the expanders which were somewhat uncomfortable. I am happy to answer any questions you may have if you want to private message me. Good luck and whatever decision you make, I am sure it will be the right one for you personally.
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #5
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    I'm sorry you had to find
    I'm sorry you had to find us, but this is a wonderful group. It's a great place to share thoughts, concerns, questions, frustrations, jokes and more.

    As for your question...I had a bilateral on Jan 14th. Because the cancer is IBC, I'm not eligible for reconstruction for a year. So far I have been happy. I don't have my official 'foobs' yet, and I rarely wear the 'fluffies' right now (my skin is pretty tender from rads). I'm sure others will chime in too. You might also go to the search box and type in 'reconstruction' as this question has come up before.

    Best of luck with your decision. I'm sure that whatever you decide it will be right for you.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • Lampasas
    Lampasas Member Posts: 6
    #6
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    Jennifer1961 said:

    I had immediate
    I had immediate reconstruction. Quite frankly I don't think I could have handled the mastectomy without reconstruction. I think it would have been really traumatic to see nothing there. As it was I woke up with some breasts since they were able to fill the expanders a little. I just had my implant exchange two days ago and I'm pretty happy with the way things look. It's all a personal decision but this is my take on it. Do what's right for you. Also, remember if you decide you want reconstruction after all down the road, you may not get insurance coverage on it, so check into that. Good luck!

    Thanks for your response
    Thanks so much for your insight Jennifer. You really made me put things in perspective. When I found out I had cancer my first thought was .. Oh my God! Just let me live. I can do without my breast, just get me through this. Now I realize that I'm going to have to live with this body for many years to come and I don't know if I could feel good about myself with "nothing there". Especially knowing that I had a chance to do something about it at the start of my cancer journey. There's no way I could afford to pay for the reconstruction later on when my insurance closes my cancer case. Thank you for taking the time to open my eyes. You've made my decision so much easier. Good luck to you being cancer free. I will be also in a while.
  • Lampasas
    Lampasas Member Posts: 6
    #7
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    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    I'm sorry you had to find
    I'm sorry you had to find us, but this is a wonderful group. It's a great place to share thoughts, concerns, questions, frustrations, jokes and more.

    As for your question...I had a bilateral on Jan 14th. Because the cancer is IBC, I'm not eligible for reconstruction for a year. So far I have been happy. I don't have my official 'foobs' yet, and I rarely wear the 'fluffies' right now (my skin is pretty tender from rads). I'm sure others will chime in too. You might also go to the search box and type in 'reconstruction' as this question has come up before.

    Best of luck with your decision. I'm sure that whatever you decide it will be right for you.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Thanks for your comments
    Thanks for the info Linda I'm going to check out "reconstruction" in the search box and see what I find. Hope all goes well with you. I'm so glad I found this great group of gals. Best wishes, Glo in Lampasas
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #8
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    Good subject for discussion
    This is something I also have to think about as I am at the beginning of my bc journey. I go to see the surgical onooclogist this Tuesday to see about whet other information they got from my biopsy other than that I have bc. I have a bit of fear over the idea of putting foreign matter in my body as I have heard about problems with implants leaking and creating other problems. I appologize for bringing up a possible negative on this issue but I beleived in informed decisons. I guess I need to get more informed now. Considering my fear of future leakage and the problems that might result I want to be careful in my considerations and not give any undue power to the thoughts of implant leakage. I also thought that the answer to this question might be different if I were to opt for a double massectomy, single massectomy, or just a lumpectomy.

    Luckily when I asked my husband how he would like a one boobed wife he stated, "I'm not going to love you any less". Yes dear! Right answer.
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #9
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    Good subject for discussion
    This is something I also have to think about as I am at the beginning of my bc journey. I go to see the surgical onooclogist this Tuesday to see about whet other information they got from my biopsy other than that I have bc. I have a bit of fear over the idea of putting foreign matter in my body as I have heard about problems with implants leaking and creating other problems. I appologize for bringing up a possible negative on this issue but I beleived in informed decisons. I guess I need to get more informed now. Considering my fear of future leakage and the problems that might result I want to be careful in my considerations and not give any undue power to the thoughts of implant leakage. I also thought that the answer to this question might be different if I were to opt for a double massectomy, single massectomy, or just a lumpectomy.

    Luckily when I asked my husband how he would like a one boobed wife he stated, "I'm not going to love you any less". Yes dear! Right answer.
  • hikerchick
    hikerchick Member Posts: 21
    #10
    Options
    Confident no reconstruction was best for me
    I'm 49 and had bilateral mastectomy 2 months ago. I tried to keep an open mind. When I woke up from surgery, and rubbed my hands over the Ace bandage wrapped around my chest my first thought was, "Oh. It's like I was when I was a little girl." I sent a photo of myself when I was maybe 7 or 8 years old to my siblings and I said,"This is what I look like now. No boobs. Just older and wider." That felt really good.

    I know someone who had a horrible, horrible reconstruction experience. I know women who have been very happy with reconstruction. I've heard stories of women who had reconstruction and then had it removed! Myself, I didn't want to add any more surgery & recovery time and burden on my family. I recovered quickly from the BLMX except for excessive tightness across my chest. And I hear that can be so much worse if reconstruction is part of the picture too.

    "Keep a breast"?? No, for me it's "Keep Abreast" of breast health. Losing a breast or breasts is NOT the worst thing thaat can happen to a woman.

    Like a friend of mine says to her dog before surgery, and also to me before surgery, "Be brave!"

    Best of luck to you! You know yourself best.
    Nancy
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #11
    Options
    I had bilateral
    mastectomy last June and met with plastic surgeon to go over options. He told me I could always have reconstruction at a later date - years! I just turned 62 last week. My surgery was the 12th I've had in 4 1/2 years so after chemo and rads I just don't feel like it's worth it. I have silicone "boob" and mastectomy bras. I prefer wearing my leisure bras with the foam "boobs" for now. Sometimes it's annoying to put them on instead of them being a body part. I guess it's just an individual decision.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • linpsu
    linpsu Member Posts: 747
    #12
    Options
    Breastfree.org
    Check out this website for women who are considering not having reconstruction. I come from a unique perspective in that I've had reconstruction (expander then implant) on my first go-round with a mastectomy - I didn't have chemo or radiation, just a mastectomy that time. Then 2 years later (exactly one year ago this week), the cancer reoccured under the mastectomy scar, so my implant plus a lot more tissue had to be removed. I chose not to go through the reconstruction with the frequent trips for the saline fill-ups, plus another surgery for the exchange. I have been through so much in this past year (chemo, surgery, radiation) that the idea of yet another surgery is just not something I want to deal with again. I have a bra with a prosthesis, and it looks fine under my clothes. Hugs, Linda
  • PinkPearl
    PinkPearl Member Posts: 280
    #13
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    Everyone had their own take
    on this as you can tell from the comments. I am 62 and had a bilateral mx in Nov. with immediate reconstruction begun using expanders. I just knew in my heart I wanted implants from the beginning. I wanted to look okay in my clothes and never have to wear a bra again and I hope that will be my outcome. My plastic surgeon says that is what I will have in the end. I have not had the exchange surgery yet because I did have to do chemo first and I decided to do one thing at a time. I expect the exchange surgery in early summer. My surgeon only really likes to use saline implants and since he is the head of the dept. I am going to defer to his decision on that and what he feels will give the best outcome. My husband didn't care which way I went on reconstruction but being 62 I plan on many more birthdays (with perky new ones :) ]!!!
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #14
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    PinkPearl said:

    Everyone had their own take
    on this as you can tell from the comments. I am 62 and had a bilateral mx in Nov. with immediate reconstruction begun using expanders. I just knew in my heart I wanted implants from the beginning. I wanted to look okay in my clothes and never have to wear a bra again and I hope that will be my outcome. My plastic surgeon says that is what I will have in the end. I have not had the exchange surgery yet because I did have to do chemo first and I decided to do one thing at a time. I expect the exchange surgery in early summer. My surgeon only really likes to use saline implants and since he is the head of the dept. I am going to defer to his decision on that and what he feels will give the best outcome. My husband didn't care which way I went on reconstruction but being 62 I plan on many more birthdays (with perky new ones :) ]!!!

    You need to do what is best for you. Please spend some time
    researching, reading and viewing pictures .. both ways at your Plastic Surgeon's office. Personal choice, I can not weigh in. Please take your time ..if you don't have a decision either way .. post-pone surgery, until you are sure. This is your body, your choice.

    BreastCancer.org .. is another site

    Strength and Courage,

    Vicki Sam
  • sweetvickid
    sweetvickid Member Posts: 459 Member
    #15
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    VickiSam said:

    You need to do what is best for you. Please spend some time
    researching, reading and viewing pictures .. both ways at your Plastic Surgeon's office. Personal choice, I can not weigh in. Please take your time ..if you don't have a decision either way .. post-pone surgery, until you are sure. This is your body, your choice.

    BreastCancer.org .. is another site

    Strength and Courage,

    Vicki Sam

    None for me
    I htought at first I would want to but after researching I decided that it was not for me. I did decide that I could live (mentally) quite well without boobs but I couldn't handle just one boob so I had a double. Had my surgery in Many of 10 and do not regret my decision.
  • pparis
    pparis Member Posts: 2
    #16
    Options
    To Reconstruct or not after mastectomy
    I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction 13 years ago. I personally felt I had to do that for myself. You have to dig deep and make a decision. I have saline implants and they have both been replaced once. Yes, that means more surgery, something none of us ever wants to do again, and you'll need a day or two for recovery each time they are replaced. Sometimes I do have pain in my implant area, even after 13 years. I'm telling you this because it may be a part of your life too, and you have to decide if it's worth it. It was/is worth it to me. The lighter side of this is I now have the breasts of a 15 year old and I don't ever need to wear a bra! Something good came from this devastating disease....
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #17
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    Lampasas said:

    Thanks for your response
    Thanks so much for your insight Jennifer. You really made me put things in perspective. When I found out I had cancer my first thought was .. Oh my God! Just let me live. I can do without my breast, just get me through this. Now I realize that I'm going to have to live with this body for many years to come and I don't know if I could feel good about myself with "nothing there". Especially knowing that I had a chance to do something about it at the start of my cancer journey. There's no way I could afford to pay for the reconstruction later on when my insurance closes my cancer case. Thank you for taking the time to open my eyes. You've made my decision so much easier. Good luck to you being cancer free. I will be also in a while.

    I had a lumpectomy, but,
    I had a lumpectomy, but, want to wish you good luck in whatever you do.


    Hugs, Jan
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #18
    Options
    hikerchick said:

    Confident no reconstruction was best for me
    I'm 49 and had bilateral mastectomy 2 months ago. I tried to keep an open mind. When I woke up from surgery, and rubbed my hands over the Ace bandage wrapped around my chest my first thought was, "Oh. It's like I was when I was a little girl." I sent a photo of myself when I was maybe 7 or 8 years old to my siblings and I said,"This is what I look like now. No boobs. Just older and wider." That felt really good.

    I know someone who had a horrible, horrible reconstruction experience. I know women who have been very happy with reconstruction. I've heard stories of women who had reconstruction and then had it removed! Myself, I didn't want to add any more surgery & recovery time and burden on my family. I recovered quickly from the BLMX except for excessive tightness across my chest. And I hear that can be so much worse if reconstruction is part of the picture too.

    "Keep a breast"?? No, for me it's "Keep Abreast" of breast health. Losing a breast or breasts is NOT the worst thing thaat can happen to a woman.

    Like a friend of mine says to her dog before surgery, and also to me before surgery, "Be brave!"

    Best of luck to you! You know yourself best.
    Nancy

    Wanting to add my good luck
    Wanting to add my good luck to you in your decision!


    Lex
  • azgirl1957
    azgirl1957 Member Posts: 2
    #19
    Options
    Jennifer1961 said:

    I had immediate
    I had immediate reconstruction. Quite frankly I don't think I could have handled the mastectomy without reconstruction. I think it would have been really traumatic to see nothing there. As it was I woke up with some breasts since they were able to fill the expanders a little. I just had my implant exchange two days ago and I'm pretty happy with the way things look. It's all a personal decision but this is my take on it. Do what's right for you. Also, remember if you decide you want reconstruction after all down the road, you may not get insurance coverage on it, so check into that. Good luck!

    Immediate Reconstruction
    Thank You Jennifer!!
    I am scheduled to have a bilateral mastecomyn with immediate reconstruction on April 1, 2011. I have been so confused about what to do, my doctor said that I will need the expanders for 6 months then he will do the implants and again I have to wait another 6 months to get the nipples. For me that just felt like a life time to have to wait to have this completed. So it is good for me to know you are happy with the results. Did you have to go so long in between each step?
  • azgirl1957
    azgirl1957 Member Posts: 2
    #20
    Options
    Clementine_P said:

    I did have reconstruction
    with expanders and I am almost finished with the process (just need to get the nipple tattoos now). I am so so happy I went through with it. I am 40 though, and that may make a difference. The implants are very comfortable compared to the expanders which were somewhat uncomfortable. I am happy to answer any questions you may have if you want to private message me. Good luck and whatever decision you make, I am sure it will be the right one for you personally.

    Clementine,

    Thank You,

    I have been at a loss for what to do. After reading your story and Jennifer's I am sure I have made the right choice for myself.

    How long has this process taken? I am about to have bilateral mastecomy, my doctor said that I will have 6 monthes between each step. It just seems like a long time,I am sure in the end it will be worth it.
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #21
    Options
    azgirl1957 said:

    Clementine,

    Thank You,

    I have been at a loss for what to do. After reading your story and Jennifer's I am sure I have made the right choice for myself.

    How long has this process taken? I am about to have bilateral mastecomy, my doctor said that I will have 6 monthes between each step. It just seems like a long time,I am sure in the end it will be worth it.

    Hang in there!
    You know, by the time I get my tattoos, it will be almost exactly a year from the date of my surgery. It baffles me to think that a whole year has passed because it seems like much less. The thing about getting the expanders in, is that you go every couple of weeks for a while for "inflations" and so you feel like you are making progress towards your goal so the time passes pretty quickly with regards to your reconstrucion (and you feel like in clothes you look pretty normal).

    Here was my timeline (more or less)

    April 30 - bilateral mastectomy w/ placement of expanders
    Last week in May - port insertion
    3rd week in May - first inflation (many people have their first inflation on the day of their mastectomy surgery or within 2 weeks of their surgery. For me that wasn't possible b/c of muscle/skin tightness)
    First week in June - first chemo
    August 30th - last chemo
    Sept. 21st - (I think) port removal
    October 28th - exchange surgery (expanders for permanent implants)
    February 11 - nipple surgery

    I think for a lot of people, not nearly as much time needs to pass in between the exchange surgery and the nipple surgery as me. My skin and muscles are/were very tight and I had to wait longer to ensure that my skin had stretched enough. It wasn't a big deal though.

    If you have any questions regarding the specifics (like how long do inflations take, what do they feel like, helpful hints on what do do after your surgeries, how long are you laid up after the surgeries, etc... I am happy to answer any/all of your questions. I feel like the unknown is worse than any of it. I promise you that this is doable and that you will be fine in the end. I am sorry that you are going through this and I wish it weren't the case, but so many of us have made it through with flying colors. I know you will too.

    Clementine

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