Very confused and I desperately need to make a choice...

Marlene_K said:

Thank you ALL!
I was surprised to see all the comments and I thank you very much! The doctor at Fox Chase feels that an immediate reconstruction would complicate my surgery and the healing would take longer. He does do them but does not feel it would be right for me. Unfortunately, I am a smoker and although I'm quitting, I guess it takes longer for a smoker's body to heal.
The local surgeon that has said I could reconstruct immediately is just a 'general' surgeon. We do have a cancer center local but the surgeon I would be dealing with is not an oncologist surgeon. With that said, my decision should be an easy one.

You have all helped me a lot... thanks so much!

With love,

Marlene

Hi Marlene
I went to a seminar before my surgery (at Memorial Sloane Kettering in NYC) and saw a slide show of what happens to smokers with regard to healing. Apparently, Nicotine is a vaso-constrictor so your tissue doesn't get enough blood and doesn't heal and sometime lots of tissue turns black and dies so it is a good Idea to take your surgeon's advice about all this. I also agree that going to the best doctors/hospitals/cancer centers may make a big difference in outcome. Even though my insurance is not "In-network" at my cancer center, I decided that I might as well go there anyway because i won't need money if I'm dead!

I had immediate reconstruction with tissue expanders done with my surgery and now i'm having chemo. I'll have the implant exchange surgery in November and I can't wait for that! Good luck with all of this. Let us know if you need anything. We're all here for you.

Hugs,
Deb

Marlene_K said:

I'd like to hear more of
I'd like to hear more of your story, Pammy. Please PM me if you like. Reading about all of these wonderful ladies that have kicked this monster in the butt is a true inspiration to me. I took the day off yesterday to finally make a decision and I will be having my surgery at Fox Chase on Aug. 27th. I don't have big ones anyway so it won't be THAT dramatic and it's only a year out of my life... the only thing I pray for is that life goes on. So what's a boob, or no hair, in one year of our life if it can give us many more fulfilling years!

Thanks so much for caring enough to write and I would love to hear more of your story.

Marlene

Glad you are going to Fox
Glad you are going to Fox Chase! I think you made the best choice! Good luck!

survivorbc09 said:

Glad you are going to Fox
Glad you are going to Fox Chase! I think you made the best choice! Good luck!

Marlene
Wishing you good luck!

And, please quit smoking!

Keep us updated on how you do.

We are always here to support and help you.


Hugs to you,


Susie

Marlene_K said:

Thank you!
It was very encouraging you read your words, Christmas Girl! I am beginning to get very scared and need all the support and uplifting words I can get. There are some VERY special people on this site and I feel very fortunate that I found it and all of YOU! I can't believe how much you all care and how many posts I received.

I'm glad...
You're feeling encouraged. Feeling frightened is quite natural. Who the heck wouldn't be?

Visit us often - whenever you need or would like to. We'll be here for you, each step of the way.

lynn1950 said:

Advice from a doctor you trust
Marlene, So sorry you are here and so glad you rediscovered us. When I was fretting over treatment decisions, I called a doctor I trusted (she had had breast cancer 20 years ago!) and her advice was good. I didn't have the option of nearby treatment; the closest facility is 1 1/2 hours away. She said if there was anything tricky about my cancer, she would recommend me going to a major cancer center (Boston, Seattle, Chicago... where I have family and friends), but since my cancer appeared to be (3a) "run-of-the-mill" - if there is such a thing! , staying in-state was fine.

That said, I'm guessing that the specialists know what they are talking about. I was not a candidate for immediate reconstruction because I had nodal involvement (that wasn't discovered until my sentinel cell biopsy that preceded my bilateral mastectomies) and my cancer required chemo and radiation. It's about 9 months since I completed radiation and I am still on the fence regarding reconstruction.

Is there a way that your surgery could be at Fox Chase, but your chemo be close by, should you choose that path? I had my surgery in Boise (2+ hours away), my chemo in a satellite clinic (1 1/2 hours away) and my rads back in Boise (a long story). While I had rads, the hospital gave me a "scholarship" that paid for my housing and I stayed in Boise doing the week. I never felt far from care as my primary physician was in the loop and the triage nurses were only a phone call away.

Hope this helps. : ) xoxoxoxo Lynn

interesting
I had sentinel node involvement and am having a bilateral mastectomy/immediate reconstruction after completing my chemotherapy. I noticed a few stated you can't have immediate reconstruction with node involvement.

No one said I can't do the immediate reconstruct. What have doctors said for the reason?

The reason I am having immediate reconstruction is because I had previous chestwall radiation and if I want any reconstruction done, it needs to be immediately, because my skin will not want to heal well.

I am having tissue expanders plus latissimus dorsi muscle pulled forward for support.

I am thin and have no extra tissue anywhere to make a breast.

And in regards to the main topic, I drive 4 hr roundtrip weekly for my treatment. A Cancer clinic is more efficient and you have top-quality professionals working on you. No other choice for me....