Masectomy....happy with results?
Pammy Comments
-
I did
I had double mastectomy with tissue expanders put in place at the same time. I see a plastic surgeon in my state so he can do saline injections into the tissue expanders which were put under my pec muscles. I will have a couple more fills and then three months after my chemo (Taxol) treatment ends then the plastic surgeon in another state who did the surgery will take out the expanders and put in the implants. I am very happy :-) with my results. My surgery will be in October or November--which is also after golf season--didn't want to interfere with golf season. My golf swing has changed.
After surgery then you also have the option to have nipple reconstruction and tattooing. Some one suggested yesterday at the golf course to have the tattooing and nipple reconstruction so they look like daisies.---Not---wouldn't that be the talk around town and at the 19th hole at the golf course.
Margo0 -
LOL...Daises....tommaseena said:I did
I had double mastectomy with tissue expanders put in place at the same time. I see a plastic surgeon in my state so he can do saline injections into the tissue expanders which were put under my pec muscles. I will have a couple more fills and then three months after my chemo (Taxol) treatment ends then the plastic surgeon in another state who did the surgery will take out the expanders and put in the implants. I am very happy :-) with my results. My surgery will be in October or November--which is also after golf season--didn't want to interfere with golf season. My golf swing has changed.
After surgery then you also have the option to have nipple reconstruction and tattooing. Some one suggested yesterday at the golf course to have the tattooing and nipple reconstruction so they look like daisies.---Not---wouldn't that be the talk around town and at the 19th hole at the golf course.
Margo
Thanks for sharing. How do they get the saline in (thru your skin?) And did you choose saline or silicone implants? And now that we're talking tatooing.....might give smiley faces a thought! (just kidding)!!0 -
salineAkiss4me said:LOL...Daises....
Thanks for sharing. How do they get the saline in (thru your skin?) And did you choose saline or silicone implants? And now that we're talking tatooing.....might give smiley faces a thought! (just kidding)!!
The tissue expanders are for saline injections and there is something on the expander that is a port where they insert a small needle and inject saline in there and it seals itself when the needle is taken out. It is like you are going through adolescence again--growing some each week that you are filled.
Saline implants are harder than silicone implants. So with the expanders your boobs are like rocks. At the time of taking the expanders out I have decided to go with silicone implants since they are softer. I heard that there is a new implant overseas and should be approved by the FDA so they can use it here in the states that it is a gel type implant which actually feels more like a real breast.
Hugs,
Margo0 -
Thanks!!tommaseena said:saline
The tissue expanders are for saline injections and there is something on the expander that is a port where they insert a small needle and inject saline in there and it seals itself when the needle is taken out. It is like you are going through adolescence again--growing some each week that you are filled.
Saline implants are harder than silicone implants. So with the expanders your boobs are like rocks. At the time of taking the expanders out I have decided to go with silicone implants since they are softer. I heard that there is a new implant overseas and should be approved by the FDA so they can use it here in the states that it is a gel type implant which actually feels more like a real breast.
Hugs,
Margo
Thanks Margo, you have helped me trmendously. I appreciate all the info!! Pammy 0 -
double mastectomytommaseena said:I did
I had double mastectomy with tissue expanders put in place at the same time. I see a plastic surgeon in my state so he can do saline injections into the tissue expanders which were put under my pec muscles. I will have a couple more fills and then three months after my chemo (Taxol) treatment ends then the plastic surgeon in another state who did the surgery will take out the expanders and put in the implants. I am very happy :-) with my results. My surgery will be in October or November--which is also after golf season--didn't want to interfere with golf season. My golf swing has changed.
After surgery then you also have the option to have nipple reconstruction and tattooing. Some one suggested yesterday at the golf course to have the tattooing and nipple reconstruction so they look like daisies.---Not---wouldn't that be the talk around town and at the 19th hole at the golf course.
Margo
Margo,
I have lobular carcinoma in situ, which is a non-invasive breast cancer. My primary doctor, my oncoligist and the doctor who performed both my biopsy's all want me to have a double mastectomy to prevent future invasive cancer. I have 2 sisters that have had lumpectomey's and a sister who has had a partial mastectomy. between family and freinds their opinions are split, some say just do it so you don't have to worry, and others say wait another year and see what the next test show. Any sugestions on who or where I can go to help me on this decision?
Margot0 -
Here's my storyAkiss4me said:Thanks!!
Thanks Margo, you have helped me trmendously. I appreciate all the info!! Pammy
Hi Pammy,
I had the dbl. mast. and reconstruction done at the same time, three-and-a-half weeks ago. So obviously I am still healing.
I did not get expanders. My plastic surgeon put the silicone implants(I opted for them because they felt better, too)in immediately.
At this point, I am still sore and very tight, am prohibited from lifting anything more than 5 lbs., and can't do much of any up body stuff. The new boobs are still pretty high, but lower than first after surgery. I have to wear a very tight sports bra 24/7 (to hold the implants in place while the muscles/tissues are healing...apparently there are many, many internal, hi-tension stitches). I definitely feel better each day, as long as I don't overdo it.
I had drains for about a week and a half. They were annoying to deal with, but not a big deal (it's amazing what you can get used to!!).
The breast surgeon did a skin-sparing mastectomy (dbl.) whereby she basically cut around the nipple/areola, went in and scooped out all the breat tissue, checked the nodes, etc., and then the plastic surgeon separated my chest muscles from my upper rib cage and placed the implants underneath. The only external incision I have are purse-stringed holes where my old nipples used to be, and they are slowly filling in (I have to put Silvidine salve and gauze pads on them 2x/day under the sprts bra).
Sooooo.... there you have all the gory details. Let me know if you've got any questions!
Gentle hugs,
Debi0 -
No expanders to deal with?bfbear said:Here's my story
Hi Pammy,
I had the dbl. mast. and reconstruction done at the same time, three-and-a-half weeks ago. So obviously I am still healing.
I did not get expanders. My plastic surgeon put the silicone implants(I opted for them because they felt better, too)in immediately.
At this point, I am still sore and very tight, am prohibited from lifting anything more than 5 lbs., and can't do much of any up body stuff. The new boobs are still pretty high, but lower than first after surgery. I have to wear a very tight sports bra 24/7 (to hold the implants in place while the muscles/tissues are healing...apparently there are many, many internal, hi-tension stitches). I definitely feel better each day, as long as I don't overdo it.
I had drains for about a week and a half. They were annoying to deal with, but not a big deal (it's amazing what you can get used to!!).
The breast surgeon did a skin-sparing mastectomy (dbl.) whereby she basically cut around the nipple/areola, went in and scooped out all the breat tissue, checked the nodes, etc., and then the plastic surgeon separated my chest muscles from my upper rib cage and placed the implants underneath. The only external incision I have are purse-stringed holes where my old nipples used to be, and they are slowly filling in (I have to put Silvidine salve and gauze pads on them 2x/day under the sprts bra).
Sooooo.... there you have all the gory details. Let me know if you've got any questions!
Gentle hugs,
Debi
Thanks a bunch for sharing with me, Debi. I had not even thought to ask about not using the expanders. Do you happen to know what the advantage/disadvantage is between both methods? And just so you know.....I have tons of questions!! So I appreciate your offer!! Pammy 0 -
TOUGH choice!!sistersunite said:double mastectomy
Margo,
I have lobular carcinoma in situ, which is a non-invasive breast cancer. My primary doctor, my oncoligist and the doctor who performed both my biopsy's all want me to have a double mastectomy to prevent future invasive cancer. I have 2 sisters that have had lumpectomey's and a sister who has had a partial mastectomy. between family and freinds their opinions are split, some say just do it so you don't have to worry, and others say wait another year and see what the next test show. Any sugestions on who or where I can go to help me on this decision?
Margot
I am going thru the same decision, Margot. It's not an easy choice to make and what really stinks is that it has to be made by you in the end. I am finding tremendous comfort and gaining more confidence the more I read others stories in making my final choice. So keep reading and learning and soon in time you will know exactly what is right for you and most important will feel comfortable with your decision. Pammy 0 -
The other Margotsistersunite said:double mastectomy
Margo,
I have lobular carcinoma in situ, which is a non-invasive breast cancer. My primary doctor, my oncoligist and the doctor who performed both my biopsy's all want me to have a double mastectomy to prevent future invasive cancer. I have 2 sisters that have had lumpectomey's and a sister who has had a partial mastectomy. between family and freinds their opinions are split, some say just do it so you don't have to worry, and others say wait another year and see what the next test show. Any sugestions on who or where I can go to help me on this decision?
Margot
Margot,
My personal experience is that breast cancer ran in my family-several aunts and a cousin. Some are still living but the ones that are no longer here with us left us at young ages. One of my aunts was 55 and my cousin was 45.
When I met with my surgeon and the whole team I also met with a genetics counselor and we(Myself, my sister and my mother) did the whole family tree thing on both sides and all the cancers. It was highly recommended that I had the BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing done. The results came in before my surgery which I was negative for both genes.
My twin sister has had a lumpectomy in 2007 which showed atypical hyperplasia.
It was my surgeon and the team that highly recommended that I have a mastectomy--I had already made up my mind of a double mastectomy because I did not want to always think if it would come back in the other breast.
It is very important to look at all aspects which includes your path report.
Where are you from? If you are in New England I know a wonderful team and plastic surgeon that I would recommend to at least talk to.
It is a decision that you need to make up with your providers and what you really feel and not what family and friends think you should do.
Deep down you already know what you want to do--don't you.
Hugs,
Margo0 -
I think...Akiss4me said:TOUGH choice!!
I am going thru the same decision, Margot. It's not an easy choice to make and what really stinks is that it has to be made by you in the end. I am finding tremendous comfort and gaining more confidence the more I read others stories in making my final choice. So keep reading and learning and soon in time you will know exactly what is right for you and most important will feel comfortable with your decision. Pammy
For me, it was close to a no-brainer.
I was told that most likely, with the extensive DCIS but no node problems, if I got rid of all breast tissue I would not need radiation or chemo, and I would not ever have to worry about the "good breast" getting cancer (there were all sorts of benign lumps and bumps that I would have worried about changing, and it wasn't as if my 53-yr-old boob was something really special...so why not at least have them match?).
So, that's how my decision was made (my husband was supportive, as were all my female friends).
Love you,
Debi0 -
Here's my 2 cents worth
Mastectomy was never an option for me, I knew it was going to be done from the beginning on the cancer side. I chose to have the other one done too to reduce the chance for recurrence, and to make it easier to match when I have the reconstruction done. I had expanders put in because I had already decided to have reconstruction, but had to get chemo and radiation out of the way first. The expanders were put in to keep the skin stretched out to make the recon. easier. I chose to do recon with my own tissue because it does not have to be redone, but implants do, sooner or later. Implants are a quicker and easier surgery with quicker recovery, but they have to be done again. Of the types of recon using my own tissue, I want to use the DIEP procedure. It is a longer surgery than the tram flap, but uses no muscle and has a somewhat easier recovery (so I have heard). DIEP has not been around in the US as long as TRAM, and it is not as easy to find a Dr. to do it, but I am having it done bilaterally, so avoiding using the muscle sounds good to me. I am having the surgery in the summer because I work at a public school and this way i will have 2 1/2 months to recover without having to take off from work (not that I expect it take that long). If I had had the option of doing the complete reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy, I think I would have preferred to get it all over with at once.
I hope this information is helpful. In the end it is your decision to do what's best for YOU.
Best wishes, seof0 -
My Story
Okay mine is a bit different but I shall share anyway. My first bc was at 40 in 98 and it was located where it could be easily removed via a lumpectomy so I went that route and did the chemo and the rads. It came back within 6 months and I had to do 18 more rounds of chemo and ten more weeks of rads and my odds had dropped from 80 percent survival to 40 percent. Did great for 9 years and it returned in the other breast. At that point I decided why I am keeping my breasts when the darned things are trying to kill me (of course by now I am 50). I had wanted to have them both removed but because of the lymphedema that had developed on the lumpectomy side and the fact I had an infection going in that arm at the time they could not remove that breast and due to the infection could not put in an expander on the mastectomy side because it would surly reject it due to injection I was dealing with. I made the choice to have the second breast with the new cancer removed. For two years I wore a prosthesis which looked pretty normal on the outside and seemed okay with me. As time went on I decided I really missed my cleavage and went to a plastic surgeon. On Feb 27 of this year I had the expander put in and the saline fills began. Mine went pretty quickly and I was able to have the implant put in on May 1st. It was a bit uncomfortable for the first two weeks and steadily got better. I have had it in now for 4 weeks and must say I am ever so glad that I did it as it feels much more normal. I still need to have the nipple reconstruction which is a minor process and will occur in approx. 3 months once everything has settled a bit. After the nipple recon. they will do a tattoo around it so it resembles a normal nipple area. I hope this has been helpful to you, good luck and keep us posted.
RE0 -
Very helpful!!!RE said:My Story
Okay mine is a bit different but I shall share anyway. My first bc was at 40 in 98 and it was located where it could be easily removed via a lumpectomy so I went that route and did the chemo and the rads. It came back within 6 months and I had to do 18 more rounds of chemo and ten more weeks of rads and my odds had dropped from 80 percent survival to 40 percent. Did great for 9 years and it returned in the other breast. At that point I decided why I am keeping my breasts when the darned things are trying to kill me (of course by now I am 50). I had wanted to have them both removed but because of the lymphedema that had developed on the lumpectomy side and the fact I had an infection going in that arm at the time they could not remove that breast and due to the infection could not put in an expander on the mastectomy side because it would surly reject it due to injection I was dealing with. I made the choice to have the second breast with the new cancer removed. For two years I wore a prosthesis which looked pretty normal on the outside and seemed okay with me. As time went on I decided I really missed my cleavage and went to a plastic surgeon. On Feb 27 of this year I had the expander put in and the saline fills began. Mine went pretty quickly and I was able to have the implant put in on May 1st. It was a bit uncomfortable for the first two weeks and steadily got better. I have had it in now for 4 weeks and must say I am ever so glad that I did it as it feels much more normal. I still need to have the nipple reconstruction which is a minor process and will occur in approx. 3 months once everything has settled a bit. After the nipple recon. they will do a tattoo around it so it resembles a normal nipple area. I hope this has been helpful to you, good luck and keep us posted.
RE
Thank you RE, your story was very helpful! You went through pretty much the very scenerio I am trying to avoid... I know it still can come back, but why give it more ammo to attack you with? Lessen it's playground and maybe it will get bored (and stay that way!).
BIG THANKS to everyone who has shared their story with me....You have all been a tremendous help and very encouraging!! Pammy 0 -
Mastectomy - no regrets for me.
Hi Pammy. When it came time for me to make my decision, it seemed fairly simple. I nursed both of my young children and do not plan on having more children - therefore, they served their purpose.
My other thought....people live their lives without limbs and manage just fine. Obviously, I can manage without my breasts. And, with reconstruction, who would ever be able to notice?
A while back I remember a quote from Christina Applegate who went through mastectomy and recontructive surgery - "I will have the best boobs in the nursing home". This was before I was diagnosed, but I did think to myself that if I were ever faced with such a crisis that I would be able to handle the situation with the same attitude.
For me, there was no question that a bilateral mastectomy would give me the best odds.
Due to scheduling around the holidays, I had 2 surgeries within about 2 weeks - the mastectomy and then the reconstruction. Recovery from the mastectomy was really easy - I think I was vacuuming within a few days. Reconstruction - was a very painful recovery for me. But, time heals - I am happy with my results and I have many friends who are jealous of my perky boobs.
Good luck with whatever route you choose and don't look back!0 -
I hope I don't offend anyoneRTR22 said:Mastectomy - no regrets for me.
Hi Pammy. When it came time for me to make my decision, it seemed fairly simple. I nursed both of my young children and do not plan on having more children - therefore, they served their purpose.
My other thought....people live their lives without limbs and manage just fine. Obviously, I can manage without my breasts. And, with reconstruction, who would ever be able to notice?
A while back I remember a quote from Christina Applegate who went through mastectomy and recontructive surgery - "I will have the best boobs in the nursing home". This was before I was diagnosed, but I did think to myself that if I were ever faced with such a crisis that I would be able to handle the situation with the same attitude.
For me, there was no question that a bilateral mastectomy would give me the best odds.
Due to scheduling around the holidays, I had 2 surgeries within about 2 weeks - the mastectomy and then the reconstruction. Recovery from the mastectomy was really easy - I think I was vacuuming within a few days. Reconstruction - was a very painful recovery for me. But, time heals - I am happy with my results and I have many friends who are jealous of my perky boobs.
Good luck with whatever route you choose and don't look back!
I hope I don't offend anyone here, but, I have always wondered about a mastectomy. I have seen some photos of mastectomy's and of reconstruction afterwords. Do you have big scars? Are they hard, the implants, as, I have heard they don't feel at all like a real breast. How real do they look? Do they feel weird? If you could have, would you have had a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy? Sorry, but, after reading all of this, I just thought I might ask you some of the questions that I have had about a mastectomy. I hope I am not prying or being offensive here. I apologize if I am.0 -
Not offensive at all!jnl said:I hope I don't offend anyone
I hope I don't offend anyone here, but, I have always wondered about a mastectomy. I have seen some photos of mastectomy's and of reconstruction afterwords. Do you have big scars? Are they hard, the implants, as, I have heard they don't feel at all like a real breast. How real do they look? Do they feel weird? If you could have, would you have had a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy? Sorry, but, after reading all of this, I just thought I might ask you some of the questions that I have had about a mastectomy. I hope I am not prying or being offensive here. I apologize if I am.
Hi jnl,
Those are real questions to real concerns on this board...not offensive (not to me, anyway).
Since my surgery and recon was so recent, it's hard to answer you in totality, but here's my input:
My incisions were basically a circle cut around and removal of the nipple/areola area. So what is healing now, on each reconstructed breast, is a circular hole that was purse-stringed shut (think of taking a circular piece of material; cutting a circle out of the middle; then stitching around the outside of the middle circle and pulling it so that the material gathers in a little puckered bunch).
As it has healed (at almost 4 weeks), the center is filling in and the puckering is going away. It appears as though when the outside healing is complete, there will be a smooth, maybe pinkish area where my nipples used to be. It may not even be pink. My plastic surgeon says that when she recreates the nipple/areola, with a small surgery,tattooing and burning, she can place it where it looks best (as opposed to being exactly where the old ones were).
The implants themselves, very high, tight, and swollen at first, are starting to settle down (they're still pretty high for a 53-yr-old), but really nobody would notice anything if they didn't know me. They are also beginning to soften up, and supposedly will feel pretty much like the real thing, according to other women I've met who have had the same procedure. My plastic surgeon assures me that they will look very nice in a few more months. I'll let you know!
As for lumpectomy vs. mastectomy, I think some of the lumpectomy pictures I've seen look considerably more disfigured than the way my "breasts" look now. (For more on my feelings about having a dbl. mastectomy, see the thread "Mastectomy...questions" -- or something like that.)
Hope this helps you,
Debi0 -
I am an open book!jnl said:I hope I don't offend anyone
I hope I don't offend anyone here, but, I have always wondered about a mastectomy. I have seen some photos of mastectomy's and of reconstruction afterwords. Do you have big scars? Are they hard, the implants, as, I have heard they don't feel at all like a real breast. How real do they look? Do they feel weird? If you could have, would you have had a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy? Sorry, but, after reading all of this, I just thought I might ask you some of the questions that I have had about a mastectomy. I hope I am not prying or being offensive here. I apologize if I am.
I come here to help others jnl and to be helped of course, ask all you want. My implant feels pretty darned normal. Personaly I do have a big scar, but each of us is different. My scar is line thin and not hard at all, I was really big busted so the scar was going to be big. I had the lumpectomy first and wish I had had the mastectomy instead, live and learn for me. I am happy with my reconstructed breast and very glad I did it. Hope this helps.
RE0 -
Great questions!!jnl said:I hope I don't offend anyone
I hope I don't offend anyone here, but, I have always wondered about a mastectomy. I have seen some photos of mastectomy's and of reconstruction afterwords. Do you have big scars? Are they hard, the implants, as, I have heard they don't feel at all like a real breast. How real do they look? Do they feel weird? If you could have, would you have had a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy? Sorry, but, after reading all of this, I just thought I might ask you some of the questions that I have had about a mastectomy. I hope I am not prying or being offensive here. I apologize if I am.
These are great questions and you have saved me alot of typing as I was wondering the same thing myself...thanks Pammy 0 -
Nervous about appointment...bfbear said:Here's my story
Hi Pammy,
I had the dbl. mast. and reconstruction done at the same time, three-and-a-half weeks ago. So obviously I am still healing.
I did not get expanders. My plastic surgeon put the silicone implants(I opted for them because they felt better, too)in immediately.
At this point, I am still sore and very tight, am prohibited from lifting anything more than 5 lbs., and can't do much of any up body stuff. The new boobs are still pretty high, but lower than first after surgery. I have to wear a very tight sports bra 24/7 (to hold the implants in place while the muscles/tissues are healing...apparently there are many, many internal, hi-tension stitches). I definitely feel better each day, as long as I don't overdo it.
I had drains for about a week and a half. They were annoying to deal with, but not a big deal (it's amazing what you can get used to!!).
The breast surgeon did a skin-sparing mastectomy (dbl.) whereby she basically cut around the nipple/areola, went in and scooped out all the breat tissue, checked the nodes, etc., and then the plastic surgeon separated my chest muscles from my upper rib cage and placed the implants underneath. The only external incision I have are purse-stringed holes where my old nipples used to be, and they are slowly filling in (I have to put Silvidine salve and gauze pads on them 2x/day under the sprts bra).
Sooooo.... there you have all the gory details. Let me know if you've got any questions!
Gentle hugs,
Debi
Hey Debi, as you can see I am up in the middle of the night nervous about talking with the surgeon tomorrow. Ghez...we're not talking any proding, poking, needles, or test!!! Just talk.
Since I couldn't sleep I started reading everyones pages. We probably have alot more in common then we realize. My husband is a sargent on WPD as a detective. I understand the humor....just wish he could learn to use that as a coping mechanism. I do it all the time!! Well, I am going to try to get to sleep....will post after I find out any news. Take Care...:) Pammy0 -
cancer returned - now having to make some decisions...HELP!!?
Well...here we go again...it's been 10 years since my first diagnosis ( lumpectomy, radiation, tamoxifen) and last week received results from needle biopsy and confirmed it has returned. Soooo met with surgeon last thurs - doing mastectomy - have an appoint with plastic surgeon tomorrow. Have been reading tons about reconstruction options so any info is appreciated. DIEP, implants, tissue expanders...
Have an MRI scheduled for Wed. for other breast- but will be getting results tomorrow re BRCA, so that will determine whether need MRI and whether to do both breasts. Not even sure what I am asking...but just want to connect with others going through similar thing.
Thanks in advance - karen 0
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