to reconstruct or not decision

Options
cavediver
cavediver Member Posts: 607
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am into cycle 2 of pre-surgery chemo, expect to have masectomy on one breast. At first, I planned on no reconstruction surgery....mostly because I did not wish the addition surgeries and down time from my work as an underwater diver. However, now I am wondering would I regret that decision, would I feel very 'off-balance' (breast cup size is D). Anyone not have reconstruction and regret it.

Comments

  • m-star
    m-star Member Posts: 441
    #2
    Options
    before i had my bilateral
    before i had my bilateral mastectomies in Feb, i had been in turmoil whether to reconstruct or not.I was only ever an A cup tops! Maybe even an AA cup if i'm truthful! Like you,the thought of more surgeries didn't appeal to me.
    Then i decided i'd get my breasts removed but wait 6 months til it had all healed up,and get the delayed reconstruction.

    My end decision? Immediate reconstruction. I was so glad i made that decision. Even after immediate recon,my chest was very flat.I am still quite flat now after to expansions but i have shape. I found it very hard to go out without feeling self conscious in the first 2 months post-op. I imagine keeping a D-size breast one side and having nothing the other side will be a huge shock. Even matching up with a prosthetic will be quite difficult i imagine. I was given prosthetics called 'softees' to use while i was still recovering.I couldn't stand to have them on as they rubbed my scars.I have still only worn a bra once since my surgery as they too rub and irritate my breasts and skin.

    Everyone will tell you its a personal choice,and it is, but i was glad i decided to reconstruct and to get it out the way asap. I feel whole again (almost!).

    Having said all this,if you chose not to reconstruct, you can change your mind even a year or 2 down the line.


    Kay
  • CarrWilson
    CarrWilson Member Posts: 111
    #3
    Options
    Off Balance
    I had a single side mastectomy, with immediate expander placement. I am only a B cup, but because of "thin skin" could not have fills for about 6 weeks. During that time I felt very off balance. I had one breast flopping in the breeze, and one flat as a pancake. I felt like I wanted some support, but hard to find it in a bra and just a tee shirt did not feel comfortable. I finally opted for camisoles with spandex. I had premade my decision, but I am glad I decided to reconstruct. I told my PS, I know I will not be perfect, I only want to match in a tee shirt.

    My mother in law had a single side mastectomy, and did not reconstruct. She states she now wished the had had the bilateral, or reconstruction because she hates the fake boob, and feels self conscious out in public. There is a website breastfree.com that has different stories of women that choose not to reconstruct. If you decide not to reconstruct at this time, you always have the option later down the road if you change your mind. But it is harder to make yourself go thru another surgery.

    There is no right or wrong answer ....only what is right for you. Best of luck in this difficult decision.

    - Carrie
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398
    #4
    Options
    CarrWilson said:

    Off Balance
    I had a single side mastectomy, with immediate expander placement. I am only a B cup, but because of "thin skin" could not have fills for about 6 weeks. During that time I felt very off balance. I had one breast flopping in the breeze, and one flat as a pancake. I felt like I wanted some support, but hard to find it in a bra and just a tee shirt did not feel comfortable. I finally opted for camisoles with spandex. I had premade my decision, but I am glad I decided to reconstruct. I told my PS, I know I will not be perfect, I only want to match in a tee shirt.

    My mother in law had a single side mastectomy, and did not reconstruct. She states she now wished the had had the bilateral, or reconstruction because she hates the fake boob, and feels self conscious out in public. There is a website breastfree.com that has different stories of women that choose not to reconstruct. If you decide not to reconstruct at this time, you always have the option later down the road if you change your mind. But it is harder to make yourself go thru another surgery.

    There is no right or wrong answer ....only what is right for you. Best of luck in this difficult decision.

    - Carrie

    Have to be comfortable
    It isn't easy going through all this and having to make such decisions. 14 years ago I had one mastectomy at a time due to health issues more than anything and finally removed the second one a year later after more lumps though I had always wanted the double mastectom and got talked out of it by surgeon and my palliative care nurse.
    I had the fortune of watching my own grandmother's survival with her breast cancer and she never had the second breast removed. Though she was small and I a C cup I just never truly felt comfortable with the risks of reoccurance. My belief has always been and mine alone that any chance is too many and all I can do is minimize them. Not sure what I am going to do if I find out after all these years that I am triple negetive HER and genetically linked.
    I actually love not having a period and don't miss having breasts. After 14 years the sensation has actually been returning in the chest area and that was something I never thought would. I don't wear the skimpy bathing suites that my grandmother wore and I do not do anything to hide my flatness. Flat Lining ok with me, lolol.
    Good luck and hope you always keep in mind that you need to make decisions based on what you will be able to live with. I have never regretted not having MORE surgery.
    Be good to yourself,
    Tara
  • jphilpo
    jphilpo Member Posts: 177
    #5
    Options
    decision
    I had my mastectomy last July & have finished all treatments, chemo & rads. I am ready to move on, so I have decided to have the other breast removed & have a pedicule or tram flap. My plastic surgeon said I was in great shape for it , so it's a go. I am afraid, though. I know it's a long surgery & recovery. Good luck. It's always a hard choice.
  • contrail
    contrail Member Posts: 129
    #6
    Options
    To Reconstruct or Not
    Hi - My name is Connie, and I haven't been on the websight for a long time, but when I read your thread, I thought I needed to respond. I had a mastectomy of my right breast in December of 2008. I am a size D also, and I knew I wanted reconstructive surgery just because of that. I didn't want to feel or look lopsided. I had an expander placed when I had the mastectomy and had it expanded while I was going through chemo. I opted to size down to a C on my right side and had the reconstructive surgery in December of 2009. I had a DIEP Flap surgery and it turned out great. I did have some problems with an abdominal seroma in the donor area, but that is finally resolving itself. I still have one more surgery to go, to even up my left side with my right side. Hopefully that will be within the next month or two. I have never had any major surgeries before I had my mastectomy, so the idea of having such long surgeries and so many surgeries frightened me. The down time was the part that was so difficult for me, but that's because I developed the abdominal seroma. I wound up having a drain in for four months, and that really got to me, but I will tell you I'd do it all again, just for being able to feel more whole and normal. I didn't like being lopsided and the idea of wearing a prosthesis just sounded awful. I had a step-grandmother who had a prosthesis after a mastectomy back in 1961. She hated it and wound up wearing nothing half the time. Back then, reconstructive surgery was unheard of.

    Each on of us has to make the decisions that are right for us. The one nice thing about reconstructive surgery is that you can change your mind and have it later if you find you're not happy about your first decision. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through your treatments and mastectomy, and remember, do what is right for you. Connie
  • Fabu
    Fabu Member Posts: 29
    #7
    Options
    contrail said:

    To Reconstruct or Not
    Hi - My name is Connie, and I haven't been on the websight for a long time, but when I read your thread, I thought I needed to respond. I had a mastectomy of my right breast in December of 2008. I am a size D also, and I knew I wanted reconstructive surgery just because of that. I didn't want to feel or look lopsided. I had an expander placed when I had the mastectomy and had it expanded while I was going through chemo. I opted to size down to a C on my right side and had the reconstructive surgery in December of 2009. I had a DIEP Flap surgery and it turned out great. I did have some problems with an abdominal seroma in the donor area, but that is finally resolving itself. I still have one more surgery to go, to even up my left side with my right side. Hopefully that will be within the next month or two. I have never had any major surgeries before I had my mastectomy, so the idea of having such long surgeries and so many surgeries frightened me. The down time was the part that was so difficult for me, but that's because I developed the abdominal seroma. I wound up having a drain in for four months, and that really got to me, but I will tell you I'd do it all again, just for being able to feel more whole and normal. I didn't like being lopsided and the idea of wearing a prosthesis just sounded awful. I had a step-grandmother who had a prosthesis after a mastectomy back in 1961. She hated it and wound up wearing nothing half the time. Back then, reconstructive surgery was unheard of.

    Each on of us has to make the decisions that are right for us. The one nice thing about reconstructive surgery is that you can change your mind and have it later if you find you're not happy about your first decision. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through your treatments and mastectomy, and remember, do what is right for you. Connie

    For me I didn't
    think I would feel comfortable in my clothes or otherwise without reconstruction. I had a double mastecomy on 2/26/10 with immediate reconstruction. There was a few complications but I am so glad I made that decision and have never regretted my choice. You must do what makes you comfortable. Good luck and blessings to you . . .
  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    #8
    Options
    thanks for replies
    a big thanks to everyone for sharing your comments and thoughts. I am glad to know that the decision to not do reconstruction at time of masectomy is not final.....and I could opt for reconstruction later. I hate the idea of so lopsided from a weight point of view..but want to heal up and get back to work asap. However, I have made an appointment with a ps to discuss options....so I have more information to make a decision for myself. I am totally not concerned about the asthetics of a single masectomy.........the D one sie and 0 other side concerns me for a potential balance problem........ will continue to research and glad to know I could opt for reconstruction later if I cannot live without it.
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #9
    Options
    m-star said:

    before i had my bilateral
    before i had my bilateral mastectomies in Feb, i had been in turmoil whether to reconstruct or not.I was only ever an A cup tops! Maybe even an AA cup if i'm truthful! Like you,the thought of more surgeries didn't appeal to me.
    Then i decided i'd get my breasts removed but wait 6 months til it had all healed up,and get the delayed reconstruction.

    My end decision? Immediate reconstruction. I was so glad i made that decision. Even after immediate recon,my chest was very flat.I am still quite flat now after to expansions but i have shape. I found it very hard to go out without feeling self conscious in the first 2 months post-op. I imagine keeping a D-size breast one side and having nothing the other side will be a huge shock. Even matching up with a prosthetic will be quite difficult i imagine. I was given prosthetics called 'softees' to use while i was still recovering.I couldn't stand to have them on as they rubbed my scars.I have still only worn a bra once since my surgery as they too rub and irritate my breasts and skin.

    Everyone will tell you its a personal choice,and it is, but i was glad i decided to reconstruct and to get it out the way asap. I feel whole again (almost!).

    Having said all this,if you chose not to reconstruct, you can change your mind even a year or 2 down the line.


    Kay

    Just want to wish you good
    Just want to wish you good luck with your decision!

Discussion Boards