Breast reconstruction after mastectomy

birdleaf
birdleaf Member Posts: 4
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi, my best friend is only 23 and she is suffering from breast cancer. She underwent a double mastectomy and is in a depression right now. I have heard about breast implant surgery from a friend of mine in Sarnia. She was also a cancer patient and underwent the surgery from The Windsor Breast and Tummy Tuck Centre in Windsor. Is it safe for a cancer patient to have breast implants? She has to undergo a chemotherapy procedure. Should the implants be placed before the chemo, or should we wait longer? Please give some genuine replies and suggestions.

Comments

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #2
    NO advice just sending pixie

    NO advice just sending pixie dust.

     

    Denise

  • cati0314
    cati0314 Member Posts: 203
    edited October 2016 #3
    Breast Reconstruction

    Hi, my journey started with chemo (neoadjuvent therapy), then bilateral mastectomy, next was radiation.  The reconstruction was done at the end.  DIEP flap meaning that the tissue and nerves were taken from abdomen and the entire abdomen was lifted to create what are called flaps...they are breasts.  The recovery from this last surgery was very difficult.  When I was healed I had implants put in to increase the size of my "breasts"...It's been quite a journey and I hope your friend gets the medical expertise she so richly deserves.  There are several kinds of reconstruction.  Best of luck, Sharon

  • crselby
    crselby Member Posts: 441
    edited October 2016 #4
    happy with reconstruction
    I have not had a mastectomy, but I did need reconstruction on both breasts after my second lumpectomy (6 years apart). My plastic surgeon held a question and answer session live on Facebook and he said that women who have reconstruction are happier in several ways with that decision after it is done. Those who had DIEP flap or some other autologous tissue transfer were significantly more happy many years out from the surgery than those women with implants. (I'd like to site the studies here but I can't.) Please tell your friend. She is so young and implants tend to fail after many years (10 or more) and she'll need more surgery. It takes longer to recover from the autologous procedures but they last forever, are warm and natural-like, and the skin has feeling.

    ~~Connie~~

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