Can anyone share about Breast Reconstruction

Hi Angel
your decision to go with a mastectomy is only ever up to you. Weigh all the options then make your decision. It is a very personal choice and you need to be happy with that choice after all is said and done.

I chose lumpectomy, it turned into a partial mastectomy, and I just came home from my free flap operation to reconstruct the breast (my Frankenboobie). I could not go with the tram or the diep because of previous scars on my tummy and the lymph node removal in my armpit. I am happy with the results so far, as soon as they get these drains out of here, I will be even happier!
Good luck toyou and I am sure you will make the right choice
Cat

angel143 said:

Thanks, Cat
Thanks, Cat, I am considering your advice.

Just want to wish you good
Just want to wish you good luck in your decision Angel. I had a lumpectomy and then had 35 rads after that. I am very happy that I got to make that choice. It is such a personal decision if you can make it.

Hugs, Diane ♥

zahalene said:

angel,
I lost one breast in '86 and the other in '88. No recon. I have been 'breastless' for over 20 years. I was 38 when it all began.
At first it was an issue. It no longer is.
Just know that you must do whatever gives you the best chance of a cancer-free future, and whatever that means, you will deal with it. You do not want to lie awake nights later on wondering, 'what if I had done more, or went farther, or sacrificed this for that'???
Get ALL the reliable information you can, give serious thought to ALL you options, and then go forth knowing that you have done all you can do, which is all any of us can ask of ourselves.
God bless.

Angel
I myself had a double mastectomy with tissue expanders placed in at the same time. I go to the plastic surgeon every two weeks or so and get the expanders filled with saline a little at a time and when im at the size i want to be, they will do another surgery to place in the permanent implants. I chose to go with the reconstruction because im young and wouldnt be able to handle the emotions i myself would have to not ever have breast again. You have to do what you feel is best for yourself. Listen to your gut. Its kind of a pain to have to go every couple of weeks for fills on top of being in the middle of chemo. At the same time though, its kind of exciting for me that im getting nice new ones! Good luck with what you decide to do. Take care and let us know

laura

"normal" breasts
angel143,

I'm about 6 months out of my bilateral mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction, which was March 4. I had a small tumor (IDC) in each breast, and some scattered DCIS, but they got clean margins, no lymph node involvement, low Oncotype DX score, so no chemo, no radiation. 5 years of tamoxifen.

I was a 34C before, and I'm maybe a 36C now--the shape is different, the base seems larger and they aren't droopy any more. (I'm 54 with two grown children that I breastfed.)

I had surgery on the 4th of August to have nipples constructed and to have the nipples and aerola tatooed. They are healing well, AND I'M GOING TO BE NORMAL! I'm just now realizing that I am going to look normal, be able to wear any kind of clothes I want, swim in any kind of a bathing suit.

My mom had breast cancer in '75 without reconstruction, and she "dressed around her chest" ever since then. Nothing too low, or the scar would show, no bending or they might fall out....

I am really pleased with my reconstruction. I want all my incisions to fade--they are still pretty red and impressive, but....I do have scars on the breast where they took the nipples and scooped out all the breast tissue, scars all across my tummy where they took all my fat for the new boobs, and scars under each arm where they did the sentinel lymph node biopsies. But I'm going to have "normal" breasts!

Lisa

karen0423 said:

Hi- I was dx in 4/02 with
Hi- I was dx in 4/02 with Stage III and had a mastectomy in 7/02, because of all the chemo and radiation I was unable to have reconstruction at the time of the mastectomy. In Jan 09 I had DIEP reconstruction, I have had 4 surgeries since January and had the aerola tattoed last week. I would do it all over again, there is pain involved but it has been worth it. I was without a breast for 7 years and emotionally for me it was the right decision. The difference between the DIEP and Tram Flap is that with the DIEP they do not use any of the stomach mucscle, just skin and it is all microsurgeries, it is amazing. I do have scars on my breasts from the reconstuction and the reduction, but am having laser treatments now to reduce the scarring. Good luck with your decision,it is a very personal one and as you can tell it took me years to make it, but last week for the first time in 7 years I wore a bathing suit top and it felt great. Keep us posted.

Good luck to you Angel. I
Good luck to you Angel. I am glad that some posted to give you their information.

Hugs!

VickiSam said:

Food for thought .. Thanks everybody!
This string of emails has given me great deal of information, as I will be getting my 2nd opinon results tomorrow, afternoon.

Again, thanks!

VickiSam

Good luck today VickiSam
Good luck today VickiSam with your 2nd opinion. Let us know what you find out!

Kylez ♥