Did anyone here decide not to do reconstruction?

Brooklynchele

I have been considering an option recommended to me by my breast surgeon and by the "second opinion" specialist. They are suggesting for several reasons that I consider a double mastectomy. Depending on the results of an upcoming diagnostic mamogram and ultrasound, I may be forced to make my decision fairly quickly.

I was wondering if anyone here made the decision not to do the reconstruction that would care to share how they feel about their decision, how surgery went, etc. I may be leaning toward not doing inplants if I need the mastectomy. Since I've heard a lot of you talk about your reconstruction, I'd love some feedback on the other option.

Hugs,
Michele

Rague

No recon - yet anyway
All of my Drs (surgeon, chemo, rads, and PA) all said no recon for a year. So over a year out, I'm thinking about it but not sure. I see Chemo the end of this month and surgeon the end of next month so will talk with them then. My MLD is doing pretty good with dealing with lymphedema so it's a possibility. My PA told me at my annual that she'd put in for consult with plastic surgeon when I'm ready. I don't know rather or not I will do it but will definately be checking out.

Susan

CR1954

Michele.......
I only had one breast removed, but I did not have reconstruction. For the simple reason that I did not feel like going through more surgery.

However, NOW, I wish that I had pushed for double mastectomy, for many reasons, not the least of which is being lopsided unless I wear my prosthesis.
If I matched (completely flat chested), would not bother with prosthesis or reconstruction or anything else. But that's just me. If I were even, that's what matters to me at this point.

CR

Rague

CR1954 said:

Michele.......
I only had one breast removed, but I did not have reconstruction. For the simple reason that I did not feel like going through more surgery.

However, NOW, I wish that I had pushed for double mastectomy, for many reasons, not the least of which is being lopsided unless I wear my prosthesis.
If I matched (completely flat chested), would not bother with prosthesis or reconstruction or anything else. But that's just me. If I were even, that's what matters to me at this point.

CR

Depending on the type and
Depending on the type and extent of the cancer, reconsturction is not always an option at time of mast. It was not an option for me.

disneyfan2008

CR1954 said:

Michele.......
I only had one breast removed, but I did not have reconstruction. For the simple reason that I did not feel like going through more surgery.

However, NOW, I wish that I had pushed for double mastectomy, for many reasons, not the least of which is being lopsided unless I wear my prosthesis.
If I matched (completely flat chested), would not bother with prosthesis or reconstruction or anything else. But that's just me. If I were even, that's what matters to me at this point.

CR

@michele
I can relate with your thinking..I ONLY had lumpectomy but I wouldn't want ONE MORE surgery! I am lop sided in way of mis-shaped-no one can notice but me! I TOO think I would be like you...be happy having matching sides...in some ways...

I am sorry you have gone through all you have...!

Denise W.

disneyfan2008

curious with Lumpectomy
Has any drs suggested plastic surgery? NO one has ever even mentioned to me-I wouldn't do it anyhow but I am just wondering if they suggest or the patient ususally inquires!

Brooklynchele

Rague said:

Depending on the type and
Depending on the type and extent of the cancer, reconsturction is not always an option at time of mast. It was not an option for me.

Already had 2 surgeries
I had both of my surgeries (lumpectomy followed by partial mastectomy/sentinel node biopsy) last summer. Reconstruction would have been an option had I done the mastectomy. Other issues have come to light since the last surgery so now I may be facing the decision again. I am also not inclined to want any additional surgeries other than the bare minimum that I must have - that's why I am considering not doing reconstruction if I do the bilateral mastectomy. (I'd have to do both b/c of my breast size. I've often joked that if I only had one, I'd end up perpetually spinning in circles!)

Brooklynchele

disneyfan2008 said:

curious with Lumpectomy
Has any drs suggested plastic surgery? NO one has ever even mentioned to me-I wouldn't do it anyhow but I am just wondering if they suggest or the patient ususally inquires!

@disneyfan
Denise, actually my surgeon recommended plastic surgery depending on my decision. She said that if I decided to only remove one breast I would have to have either reconstruction on the side that was removed OR reduction on the other side.

Michele

disneyfan2008

Brooklynchele said:

@disneyfan
Denise, actually my surgeon recommended plastic surgery depending on my decision. She said that if I decided to only remove one breast I would have to have either reconstruction on the side that was removed OR reduction on the other side.

Michele

thanks for info
Thanks...

Gabe N Abby Mom

Like Susan, my docs said no
Like Susan, my docs said no reconstruction for at least a year. I'm only a month out from surgery so I don't have a lot of experience. But I am happy I chose bilateral...even just works better for me.

The way I look at it, if I want reconstruction later I can do that. But if I end up liking the prosthesis, then I keep 'em.

You might try looking for previous posts about this topic...I remember this coming up a couple of times in the last few months.

Good luck with your decision. Know that whatever you decide, it will be the right one for you, and it will be one you can live with!

Hugs,

Linda

Brooklynchele

Gabe N Abby Mom said:

Like Susan, my docs said no
Like Susan, my docs said no reconstruction for at least a year. I'm only a month out from surgery so I don't have a lot of experience. But I am happy I chose bilateral...even just works better for me.

The way I look at it, if I want reconstruction later I can do that. But if I end up liking the prosthesis, then I keep 'em.

You might try looking for previous posts about this topic...I remember this coming up a couple of times in the last few months.

Good luck with your decision. Know that whatever you decide, it will be the right one for you, and it will be one you can live with!

Hugs,

Linda

TY
Thank you Linda!

Rague

Gabe N Abby Mom said:

Like Susan, my docs said no
Like Susan, my docs said no reconstruction for at least a year. I'm only a month out from surgery so I don't have a lot of experience. But I am happy I chose bilateral...even just works better for me.

The way I look at it, if I want reconstruction later I can do that. But if I end up liking the prosthesis, then I keep 'em.

You might try looking for previous posts about this topic...I remember this coming up a couple of times in the last few months.

Good luck with your decision. Know that whatever you decide, it will be the right one for you, and it will be one you can live with!

Hugs,

Linda

Both IBC
We're both IBC so we are different than most others as to protocol. Bilateral wasn't suggested to me other than that when/IF I chose recon then the plastic surgeon might say that to get 'matched' might need to do the remaining 'one'.

I'm over a year out - going to be looking at recon but not sure what I'll decide.

sweetvickid

No reconstruction
I think it is excellent advice to wait a year. It seems so many who try to do it right off the bat seem to run into complication. After reviewing the options and looking at pictures of the reconstruction, I decided not to. Just something about the reconsturction doesn't look right to me. I thought they looked fake and I would feel like I had to foreign objects on my chest. Plus if anyone would run into complications it would be me!

My sister has a very squimish stomach and refused to look at my chest. About 2 months out I made her look and she was shocked. She didn't know what she expected to see but thought it would be gruesome. I had told the surgeon not to leave excess skin but to pull me nice and smooth. My sisters comment was you just look like a little boy.

By the way my insurance would not pay for a double but I got one anyway. Mentally I can live without breast but I couldn't live with one breast.

It is over 6 months out from my surgery and I am quite happy with my decision. It doesn't bother my husband that I don't have breast which surprised him.

sweetvickid

sweetvickid said:

No reconstruction
I think it is excellent advice to wait a year. It seems so many who try to do it right off the bat seem to run into complication. After reviewing the options and looking at pictures of the reconstruction, I decided not to. Just something about the reconsturction doesn't look right to me. I thought they looked fake and I would feel like I had to foreign objects on my chest. Plus if anyone would run into complications it would be me!

My sister has a very squimish stomach and refused to look at my chest. About 2 months out I made her look and she was shocked. She didn't know what she expected to see but thought it would be gruesome. I had told the surgeon not to leave excess skin but to pull me nice and smooth. My sisters comment was you just look like a little boy.

By the way my insurance would not pay for a double but I got one anyway. Mentally I can live without breast but I couldn't live with one breast.

It is over 6 months out from my surgery and I am quite happy with my decision. It doesn't bother my husband that I don't have breast which surprised him.

I go flat
I have my bras and prosthesis but I don't wear them. The funny thing is most people don't notice.

Jean 0609

Hey Michele,
I had a unilateral mastectomy (left) with reconstruction and a reduction of my right breast. I am happy with the results of my new girls. However, that was my choice. I liked my breasts before and that is why I made the decision that I did. However, it is completely up to you. A friend of my sisters, who is much younger than I am decided not to have the reconstruction, and she is also very happy with her decision. You are the only one that can decide.

The tissue expanders were the worst part of the reconstruction process.

Hope your decision isn't too hard for you to make.

xoxo,
Jean

Rague

Jean 0609 said:

Hey Michele,
I had a unilateral mastectomy (left) with reconstruction and a reduction of my right breast. I am happy with the results of my new girls. However, that was my choice. I liked my breasts before and that is why I made the decision that I did. However, it is completely up to you. A friend of my sisters, who is much younger than I am decided not to have the reconstruction, and she is also very happy with her decision. You are the only one that can decide.

The tissue expanders were the worst part of the reconstruction process.

Hope your decision isn't too hard for you to make.

xoxo,
Jean

All types of BC are not the same - so treatment is not always the same. Recon is not always a safe option at time of surgery - no matter what you 'want' done.

carkris

sweetvickid said:

I go flat
I have my bras and prosthesis but I don't wear them. The funny thing is most people don't notice.

I had no reconstruction. I
I had no reconstruction. I am fine. I initially chose it, but both times it did not work out. The most troublesome to me was being lopsided. hard for me because I had one large remaining breast and it just didnt match. I like being symetrical. i chose no reconstruction because the surgery would be too long and complicated. 10 hours or more. My husband said he is tired of waiting for me to come out of the OR . I think it depends on your age. social situation and how centered you are on breasts. Now I choose how samll i will be, my prosthesis are small. i will not lie I miss my breasts, but the good news no more mammos!

linpsu

Hi Michele - I saw your post on FB but thought I'd go into more detail here. I had a lumpectomy with margins not clean, so had a left mastectomy with no chemo or rads. I had an expander put in at the time of the mastectomy, with the implant put in a few months later (other breast was lifted to match, which was a nice bonus). Then I had a recurrence under the mastectomy scar, resulting in another mastectomy and removal of implant. I decided that I've gone through enough surgery with this and have no intention of having reconstruction again. I now have a prosthesis, which works fine. Hugs, Linda

Wolfi

No reconstruction
Michele,

I had a bilateral without reconstruction in August 2009 and I am still happy with my decision to not have reconstruction. This is a very personal decision so you should spend time really thinking about how you feel about both options. I understand about having to make a quick decision - I had the same issue when they wanted me to have surgery. I think I met with four different doctors in less than a week to get more information on my options.

The reason I chose to not have reconstruction is because I didn't want to have to deal with the expansion appointments, extra surgeries and possible problems. I also went online and looked at some pictures of both reconstructions and bilaterals without reconstruction so I would have an idea of what I was getting into.

Good luck with your decision.

cathyp

Wolfi said:

No reconstruction
Michele,

I had a bilateral without reconstruction in August 2009 and I am still happy with my decision to not have reconstruction. This is a very personal decision so you should spend time really thinking about how you feel about both options. I understand about having to make a quick decision - I had the same issue when they wanted me to have surgery. I think I met with four different doctors in less than a week to get more information on my options.

The reason I chose to not have reconstruction is because I didn't want to have to deal with the expansion appointments, extra surgeries and possible problems. I also went online and looked at some pictures of both reconstructions and bilaterals without reconstruction so I would have an idea of what I was getting into.

Good luck with your decision.

no reconstruction
I had a dbl mx in Jan 2008. It was stongly suggested that I did not have reconstruction due to the fact that I had previous radiation for Hodgkin's Lymphoma which caused my BC. I wish I had asked the dr to pull my skin smooth. He left me the option for recon. I like having the option to go flat or pop in the fake ones! The only time I get a little sad is on the beach for our annual vacations. In Punta Cana I'm sure I was the only female w/a tankini on. All other had bikinis on. I was 47 when I had the dbl mx.

Miss Murphy

Choose No
I think all of us have to make the decision that is right for us - what works for one might not be doable or right for someone else. I had a masectomy on my left side three years ago and have still not done reconstruction. Would I like to have reconstruction? At times yes, I'd sure like to look normal again but do I want more doctor vists or more surgery and have the risk of complications to have a normal appearance w/out clothes - then my answer is a resounding no. I was nearly 58 at the time of my dx three years ago and had been married for well over 30 years- my husband was happy with whatever decision I made so that made my decision somewhat easier. I actually think he has way less of a problem with my lack in the breast department than I do!!!! I'm used to the prothesis and when I'm wearing it I doubt anyone can tell.

I wish you well with your decison and that whatever you decide is workable for you.

Hugs, Sally