breast reconstruction surgery

Hi Mary,

I know someone who had both breasts removed and recon by LD done earlier this year. It was preventative, not after BC diagnosis and treatment, and she is in the UK. But I can give you an email address for her if you would like to talk to her.

There are also websites with photos and personal experiences of different procedures but these will be mostly by ladies in the US, or maybe UK, but not Ireland.

I would ask the breast surgeon who is doing your procedure, or one of their breast care nurses, if he/she can put you in touch with a former patient who has had the procedure done. I am having my recon done with expander and implants later this year and my surgeon has given me contact details for one of his former patients who is willing to talk to me and show me the finished result.

Regards,

Flo.

PS - I forgot to say to ring the Action Breast Cancer Helpline. 1 800 30 90 40
I did this before having my ovaries removed in 2008 and was put in touch with someone else who had had the same procedure and found it very helpful. They might be able to do the same for you.

Hi Mary

Glad to hear you are doing so well. I will be following in your footsteps on the reconstruction front next year some time (hopefully). Had a mastectomy in Feb09 and have 3 outa 8 chemos done (ya hey). I do have to have radiation as well.

I have not looked into reconstruction much to date, but I do lurk and post on the bulliten board of a US web site called young survival coalation http://www.youngsurvival.org/bulletin-board/ I usually look at the general board.

They have a reconstructive board (think it is the 4th one down on the list). I had a flick thru it a few weeks ago. Some of the girls have posted pictures and have also put up questions looking for answers re different things about recon procedures. It seems to be a great source of info if you wish to have a look.

Best of luck with your own procedure. When are you scheduled to go under the knife??

LindyLu

Hi LindyLu
Thanks for your helpful reply. You'll find you don't really focus on reconstruction while you're having your chemo - it's when you've finished with all that you'll start looking to the future and see the reconstruction as a good idea!
All the effects of chemo will pass, but it takes time so be prepared for that! I'm having my op on 2nd July so fingers crossed all goes well.
You sound like you're coping well and I wish you all the very best for the future.

Regards MaryMc

Hi Marymc,
Not sure if you've already had your surgery and still want some info, but I had a mastectomy and immediate LD reconstruction in 2005.
I've both positive and negative experiences with the reconstruction. I had some problems with healing, which is unusual. I do experience some numbness in the boob and also in my upper arm, underarm and back, but nothing too bad. The only thing I hate is if someone taps me on my back, where the muscle was removed - the sensation is not the most pleasant! Also, the implant became encapsulated (I think from Radiotherapy?) and I had to get it replaced, earlier this year.
But saying all that, I don't regret getting it done. I wouldn't have coped without it. Especially since the implant has been changed - it's great, I am not restricted in what I wear and it looks so natural. Unless you see me undressed, I don't think anyone would every notice it wasn't real.
Anyway, let me know if you want to chat further about it?
Mags

Hi MagsB
Just to update you I had my reconstruction in July 2009 and I'm thrilled with the result. It was done by Catriona Lawlor in St Vincent's Private Hospital and I was in for eight days following the surgery, but from day one knew I had made the right decision in having it done.
As you say I have some numbness around the scar sites and if I'm tired it can feel a bit tight and I would take a Neurofen for this. But the difference having a cleavage again makes is amazing - it's great to be able to buy nice bras and to wear tops that aren't anchored in place with safety pins!
I'm having my new nipple put on in January and that's just a day procedure. I must say the whole process has really helped to move the whole time of diagnosis and treatment into the past which is great.
My hair is also coming in straight now and I just feel great and that I've been very lucky! There is definitely life beyond cancer and chemo so anyone newly diagnosed should take heart and realise it's not the end of the world.
Anyway thanks Mags and hope to hear from you again.

Hi Mary,

That is great news. I am so glad to hear that it all went well and that, not only are you very happy with your cosmetic result, but it has also helped you move on from diagnosis and treatment.

Congratulations! And enjoy wearing all those new clothes! :-)
Regards,

Flo.

Hi Mary and Fh2,

Mary i was delighted to hear from you and that it went well, i am wondering at present whether to get reconstruction done or not, i will probally as i hate the limitation on clothes and underwear that the prostheic puts on us, all there seeems to be is granny bras except for the few marks and spencer ones i got in the north, the though of asking my employer for six weeks off again next year after being out for most of this year is a concern and the fact that a lot of the reconstructions i have looked at on the web don't look so hot, although the girl on dawn porter's program looked brilliant.

i am on the trial for avastin till june so next september is the earliest that i can consider this. my back is still quite sore from the modified radical mastectomy, so do they use tissue from your own body or implants or do they give you a choice of either one, most of the web sites on this discussion are not from ireland so it is hard to know what is available here.

thank you for sharing your story, it gives those of us who are a step or two behind you great hope.

Hi Girls!
Mary - that's great that you are happy with the reconstruction! It must be a big decision to make to go back for the surgery, especially after you go through the treatment and are trying to get back to normality. I couldn't have dealt with a mastectomy on it's own - I went for the immediate reconstruction, which has it's own pros and cons...
Hopeful2 - best of luck with the decision. I know what you mean about having to ask for time off again. I had to have the implant changed earlier this year and I had to ask my employer, who actually didn't know I had been sick (I had changed jobs since my original diagnoses), for 8 weeks off for the surgery. Luckily, they were good about it, but I can imagine that some employers would be hesitant about giving time off, especially for something that could be seen as "elective" surgery!
As to the type of surgeries available, I'm not sure. It depends on the surgeon. I know when I was diagnosed in 2005, I was lucky as there was a new surgeon in Limerick that did reconstructions. Otherwise I would have had to go to Cork or Dublin for the reconstruction. I'm sure the options have moved on since I was diagnosed. I'd ring the ABC helpline. They should be better informed as to what type of surgery is available where.
Flo, I'm straying from the reconstruction conversation, I saw in one of your earlier posts that you had your ovaries removed?? I would be interested in hearing about this. It has been mentioned to me, but at the moment, I am waiting to see if my ovaries kick back in after 2 years of zoladex injections. It's a decision I will have to make and I am only 31, so it's a big decision...
Best wishes!
Mags

Hi Hopeful2,

I have done a bit of research into reconstruction over the past two years. The choice is mostly yours but it may be limited by where you live (or are willing to travel to), your original surgery and your body type, among other things.

I have added you as a friend so we can swap contact details and I can help you find a surgeon to talk to. Its worth starting your research now (even if you don't have any op till next year) so you can take your time to determine if you do want a recon. And what type you want. There are lots of options now which is great but can be a bit confusing trying to decide what is best for you.

Not all surgeons do all the available types of recon. And some only recommend the one that they do. So I would recommend doing lots of research first, getting an idea of what type you think you would like. And then finding a surgeon that does that particular type of recon. And does it well!

There is a book that has been recommended to me by several women that goes into almost all the options available but is written in fairly ordinary english, not medical speak. It is called The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook and is written by an American lady called Kathy Steligo. Its available on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breast-Reconstruction-Guidebook-Research-Recove…

Regards,

Flo.

Hi Mags,

I have added you as a friend too so you can contact me. Yes, I had my ovaries removed in early 2008. I would be happy to talk to you about it - both the good and the bad of it.

I had it done for two reasons - I am BrCa2+ which carries a higher than normal risk of ovarian cancer but mainly because my BC was Estrogen receptor positive and removing my ovaries was highly recommended for MY diagnosis. I stress the MY bit because everyone is different. Also, I was 38 when I had it done and already had a child. While I would've loved more, given the BrCa status and my high risk of secondaries, I opted to do all I could to stay here for the son I already have. Luckily for me the side effects have been less than when I was medically induced menopause. But thats not always the case; it seems to be a bit of a lottery whether you get away with minimal side effects or are plagued by them. :-(

Anyway, get in touch and we can talk more. And I can put you in touch with others who will share their experiences too.

Regards,

Flo.

Hi fh2,

thanks for that, how do i log into personal message type board. the surgeon in Limerick is meant to be very good as i went to a support group meeting last week and one of the girls had seen her work on someone else and thought it was excellent. She said at the time of surgery that her favourite thing was the reconstructions. she takes fat from tummy or buttocks i think and uses that.

i must buy that book so that i am informed about the choices before i meet with her next year.

FH2 you are brilliant for replying thanks very much.

Mags best of luck with the nipples, let us know how you get on.

to everyone else a quick hello as i must do a bit of work before i go home. My last full Rad is tommorow and then onto the boosters, time is flying.

Hi Hopeful,

I don't know if the personal message bit on here is working so you can contact me by email if you want. See below but just leave out the spaces.

flohoward at eircom dot net