reconstruction

karaokelorie

Hi everyone,
I am new to the discussion boards(written one time before)I am 54 years old.
I had my masectomy(right side)on june 29 2009.
I had a small focus of infiltrating ductal carcinoma 0.2 cm grade 1.
Extensive ductal carcinoma in situ - low grade.
Rare carcinoma-associated microcalcifications.
No vascular invasion
3 lymph nodes taken - all negative.
er positive
pr negative
her2 negative
I decided to have a mastectomy,then changed my mind and was going to have a lumpectomy with radiation.Changed my mind again when my dr.said for how small i am she would have to take more then half my breast.I am happy I had the mastectomy, All my margins were clear, no radiation or chemo.Am on fosomex and see oncologist on the 26 to be put on another type of hormone for 5 years.Dont care to much for that idea from everything ive heard.
I have been to the plastic surgeon but have decided not to have anything done untill
Feb 2010.
Right now I have decided to only have my right breast reconstructed with implants, on the left side it would get an implant and matched to the right side as much as possible.
Has anyone been there? how close can they get them? Thank you ladies!!!

lanie940

Sounds like you made the
Sounds like you made the right decision. I will tell you though that I was on Fosamax for 4 yrs, this was before I found out I had breast cancer. I quit taking the fosamax last Fall when I developed GERD, so, if you get more frequent heartburn make sure you tell your Dr, especially if you get it more than 2 or 3 times a week. I had a lumpectomy on July 30th. I see my Medical oncologist on the 31st of aug. I also have a hernia on my right side of my abdomen that I'll see a general surgeon about.
I can't tell you about implants because I haven't had them.

karaokelorie

lanie940 said:

Sounds like you made the
Sounds like you made the right decision. I will tell you though that I was on Fosamax for 4 yrs, this was before I found out I had breast cancer. I quit taking the fosamax last Fall when I developed GERD, so, if you get more frequent heartburn make sure you tell your Dr, especially if you get it more than 2 or 3 times a week. I had a lumpectomy on July 30th. I see my Medical oncologist on the 31st of aug. I also have a hernia on my right side of my abdomen that I'll see a general surgeon about.
I can't tell you about implants because I haven't had them.

Lanie940 thank you for the
Lanie940 thank you for the information I definately will remember it!Holding good thoughts
for your upcoming appointments,hang in there and take care

lolad

karaokelorie said:

Lanie940 thank you for the
Lanie940 thank you for the information I definately will remember it!Holding good thoughts
for your upcoming appointments,hang in there and take care

i wanted to say welcome
and let you know that the site is a wonderful site and all the people here give great advice. I had a double mastectomy in june and am going through the filling process right now so i havent had the permanent reconstructive surgery yet so i cant tell you about matching up part. From what ive heard from others though, they usually get it pretty close. I wish you luck and keep us posted on whats going on with you.
laura

karaokelorie

lolad said:

i wanted to say welcome
and let you know that the site is a wonderful site and all the people here give great advice. I had a double mastectomy in june and am going through the filling process right now so i havent had the permanent reconstructive surgery yet so i cant tell you about matching up part. From what ive heard from others though, they usually get it pretty close. I wish you luck and keep us posted on whats going on with you.
laura

Thank you Laura,
Let us know
Thank you Laura,
Let us know how every thing goes with you! Have you decided on saline or silicone? I think I will be going with silicone.On my left breast they wont be taking any breast out Just putting in the implant and reshaping to match the right side.Hopefully someone has chosen to do the same thing and lets me know how it looks and what to expect.Good luck to you
Lorie

Kylez

karaokelorie said:

Thank you Laura,
Let us know
Thank you Laura,
Let us know how every thing goes with you! Have you decided on saline or silicone? I think I will be going with silicone.On my left breast they wont be taking any breast out Just putting in the implant and reshaping to match the right side.Hopefully someone has chosen to do the same thing and lets me know how it looks and what to expect.Good luck to you
Lorie

Hi
HI karaokelorie. I just want to welcome you to the site. I had a lumpectomy, so, I can't give you any info on reconstruction. Good luck!

Kylez

mmsmax

I had a mastectomy last January 2, 2009, on my left breast. Initially, I tried reconstruction with the same surgery, but an infection caused me to lose the expander after three weeks. So, last May 29th, I had Latissimus Dorsi Flap surgery, which has turned out really well. I feel like I have a lot of support from the muscle that I didn't apparently have before. Plus, I had some of my skin transferred to the breast area with the muscle. As that was three months ago, I am going in next Monday, on August 31st, for my final implants. The right breast will be lifted and matched to the breast with the expander. I'm a little anxious(nervous) about having more surgery, but this should be the final step for me. I have been told that the breast size matches really well with implants. I am also having skin grafts taken to rebuild the nipple on the left "breast." Anyway, I will let you know how all this turns out a week or so after my surgery! Good luck to you and stay in touch!
Mari

karaokelorie

Kylez said:

Hi
HI karaokelorie. I just want to welcome you to the site. I had a lumpectomy, so, I can't give you any info on reconstruction. Good luck!

Kylez

Thank you
Thank you for welcoming me.How did you decide on a lumpectomy? what stage were you? Hope to be talking with you soon
Lorie

karaokelorie

mmsmax said:

I had a mastectomy last January 2, 2009, on my left breast. Initially, I tried reconstruction with the same surgery, but an infection caused me to lose the expander after three weeks. So, last May 29th, I had Latissimus Dorsi Flap surgery, which has turned out really well. I feel like I have a lot of support from the muscle that I didn't apparently have before. Plus, I had some of my skin transferred to the breast area with the muscle. As that was three months ago, I am going in next Monday, on August 31st, for my final implants. The right breast will be lifted and matched to the breast with the expander. I'm a little anxious(nervous) about having more surgery, but this should be the final step for me. I have been told that the breast size matches really well with implants. I am also having skin grafts taken to rebuild the nipple on the left "breast." Anyway, I will let you know how all this turns out a week or so after my surgery! Good luck to you and stay in touch!
Mari

Thank you Mari That is what
Thank you Mari That is what I was hoping to hear, I was wondering what they did with your breast that was left, How they got them to match. My doctor has already told me that he cant give me what God gave me but they can come close.I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery!your almost completly finished! hooray!!!.Your going to do great! please keep me informed how everything goes,I'll be waiting to hear.
Lorie

Kylez

karaokelorie said:

Thank you
Thank you for welcoming me.How did you decide on a lumpectomy? what stage were you? Hope to be talking with you soon
Lorie

Hi Lorie. A lumpectomy was
Hi Lorie. A lumpectomy was what was suggested by my onocologist. There was no reason to do anything else. I had a very small tumor. I am stage 1. I had rads 6 weeks after my lumpectomy. My oncologist has also suggested tamoxifen, but, I am still unsure of that. Good luck!

♥ Kylez ♥

survivorbc09

karaokelorie said:

Thank you Mari That is what
Thank you Mari That is what I was hoping to hear, I was wondering what they did with your breast that was left, How they got them to match. My doctor has already told me that he cant give me what God gave me but they can come close.I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery!your almost completly finished! hooray!!!.Your going to do great! please keep me informed how everything goes,I'll be waiting to hear.
Lorie

Hi Lorie and welcome. It
Hi Lorie and welcome. It seems that some of the bc survivors are giving you some helpful information. Wishing you good luck with your decision.

Hugs

Akiss4me

Hi Lorie
Wanted to add my welcome. Glad you found us, though sorry for the reason. ♥ Pammy

Tux

Hi, Lorrie, and welcome to
Hi, Lorrie, and welcome to our discussion board. Good luck with your procedures!

Alexis F

Akiss4me said:

Hi Lorie
Wanted to add my welcome. Glad you found us, though sorry for the reason. ♥ Pammy

Just want to welcome you to
Just want to welcome you to the boards Lorie!

Lex♥