mastectomy, radiation and reconstruction

maddie0908
maddie0908 Member Posts: 6
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had a lumpectomy Jul07, then chemo that I'll finish up in November, and then because of unclean margins, multiple tumors and 21 lymphodes involved, I'm having to go back in for a bi-lateral mastectomy. I'm told I can't have the reconstruction immediately, since I need radiation and then need to heel from radiation before I can do it. Also am told I can't have implants after radiation.

Anyone else faced this? I hear of so many women having reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy. I hate the thought of having all that time pass and them enduring another major surgery. Wish I could do it all at once.

thanks,
maddie

Comments

  • 3cbrca
    3cbrca Member Posts: 206
    #2
    I did have the same situation. My rad onc and my plastic surgeon were opposed to having implants at the time of mastectomy, but my plastic surgeon agreed to do it anyway. As it turned out my plastic surgeon got sick on the day of my surgery and I didn't have them. For me it turned out to be lucky. I also had 22 nodes and had a lot more radiation than I expected. After my surgery I developed seromas and had to have them drained weekly for quite awhile. I've also developed lymphedema in my arm and trunk. So, as it turns out that even though I'm dissappointed that I can't consider surgery until next summer, (finished all treatments in July) I'm glad not to be dealing with implants now. I also saw a new plastic surgeon (mine was really sick). She will not do simple implants because of the amount of radiation, so my only option is Latisimus flaps (I won't do TRAM flap. A lot of surgery so I don't know if I'm going to do anything.
    I hope this isn't too discouraging, but the day of my mastectomy my plastic surg and I agreed there must be a reason for this and as it turned out there seemed to be.
    I know how tough it is making all these decisions and wish you the best.
    She
  • maddie0908
    maddie0908 Member Posts: 6
    #3
    3cbrca said:

    I did have the same situation. My rad onc and my plastic surgeon were opposed to having implants at the time of mastectomy, but my plastic surgeon agreed to do it anyway. As it turned out my plastic surgeon got sick on the day of my surgery and I didn't have them. For me it turned out to be lucky. I also had 22 nodes and had a lot more radiation than I expected. After my surgery I developed seromas and had to have them drained weekly for quite awhile. I've also developed lymphedema in my arm and trunk. So, as it turns out that even though I'm dissappointed that I can't consider surgery until next summer, (finished all treatments in July) I'm glad not to be dealing with implants now. I also saw a new plastic surgeon (mine was really sick). She will not do simple implants because of the amount of radiation, so my only option is Latisimus flaps (I won't do TRAM flap. A lot of surgery so I don't know if I'm going to do anything.
    I hope this isn't too discouraging, but the day of my mastectomy my plastic surg and I agreed there must be a reason for this and as it turned out there seemed to be.
    I know how tough it is making all these decisions and wish you the best.
    She

    Why won't you do the TRAM flap? Too much surgery and recovery? That's what worries me.

    I saw your post about your lymphedema - sounds horrible. I wish you the best with that.

    -maddie
  • 3cbrca
    3cbrca Member Posts: 206
    #4
    maddie0908 said:

    Why won't you do the TRAM flap? Too much surgery and recovery? That's what worries me.

    I saw your post about your lymphedema - sounds horrible. I wish you the best with that.

    -maddie

    I've heard too many stories about the damage to the abdominal muscles. I'm fairly active and have arthritis in my lower back so I need to hang on to those muscles. I think the Tram and the LAT flap sound about the same in terms of recovery-both more than the implants. I have a friend who has had one of each. She was really excited about the TRAM and it turned out that she was more satisfied with the LAT, although she has no real problems with her Abdominal muscles..
    Thanks for your thoughts
    She
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #5
    All these decisions are tough, with so much variation between individuals and no guarantees. I ony had one lump (chemo has broken it up, just some suspicous dark clouds left on ultrasound) and about 4 nodes (I think, not many). I will be done with chemo November 26 and have mastectomy Dec. 21, with reconstruction. In my case I was told the best option would be to have a device which has a real name, but the plastic surgeon said they are like "placeholders"...sort of a temporary implant (but not called implants, I just cant remember the name). That will keep the skin from shrinking up while the body heals from the mastectomy and it will allow adjustments during the radiation. She said the radiation turns the skin to cardboard, and that has to heal up before the reconstruction process can continue. In any event, reconstruction seems to be a long process (about a year). I was disappointed that it wasn't an "instant" fix either, but if it takes one year of work to have many more years of health and happiness, why not? You probably already know this, but I would say talk to your Doctors and ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. If you don't get answers from your Drs, ask others. I believe the best defence we can have against the fear and uncertainty is knowledge. Arm yourself and go forward.

    Best wishes, seof

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