immediate reconstruction after masectomy

Hi Deema,

So sorry about your news what a shock but just as well that Dr was thorough and removed the lump.

Regarding reconstruction the cosmetic result can be a bit better with immediate reconstruction but still good later on. The deciding factor with immediate and delayed depends on whether you will need radiotherapy after surgery. Radiotherapy can cause capsular contraction with implant or damage flap tissue so in this instance delayed reconstruction tends to be recommended. Also if chemo is required after surgery if there are any healing problems this could be delayed but if you are fairly fit this is a rarity.

Hope that helps a little.

A

Hi Deema. How are you doing? Im sorry you have to join our club that no one wants to be in.
Do you know whan you are having the mastectomy? I think it is great that you are given the choice about having recon at the same time.

Im having a mastectomy on tuesday, but dont have the option of immediate recon. I have to have chemo and the doctor said he would prefer to wait incase there are any problems with infections etc as it will delay chemo. Fingers crossed I wont have to had radiotherapy aswell, I shouldnt have to have but things havent been going to plan so far so Im a bit sceptical...lol

For me my journey here has being going on since january, Ive had two lumpectomies, and soon the mastectomy.
I suppose Im glad i havent been given the choice for immeditate recon as its one thing i dont have to decide on...if that makes sense....lol

Do you know what type of recon you might be looking at?

I hope you are keeping as well as you can, do stay in touch!

Hi Deema
Sorry you have been faced with this.
You didn't say what type of reconstruction your surgeon has recommended. Each type has different recoveries and outcomes and different options are taken for each woman's different circumstances.
I had reconstruction with a tissue expander placed at time of mastectomy. I didn't need radiotherapy and this was the best option for me. Once the scar had healed (3/4 weeks) I had regular trips to outpatients to fill the expander with saline - this was in between trips for chemo! The tissue expander was then replaced with an implant about 9 months after original surgery and 5 months after I finished chemo.
I am very pleased with the cosmetic result. I was also lucky in that I didn't have any infections so everything went to plan.
Hope this helps a bit

Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for your replys, I am having my
masectomy on Wed 19th so have to make my
decision soon, I would be having the very same reconstruction
as SLR described , but Im not sure if I need radiotherapy
to tell you the truth I cant really remember what Doc said
about it, I am going tomorrow for preassessment etc and will
talk to them again. I love the idea of immediate recon but am
terrified of problems later on, My own doctor and a good friend who is also Doc both tell me to concentrate on getting rid of
the cancer first and getting all treatment over then think of
reconstruction, but that means another full surgery and I dont
know how I will feel about that. If I knew exatly what they were
going to find re lymp nodes etc. it would be a much easier decision.......
Again thanks for the support and Hugs good luck on Tuesday, I will be thinking of you, and I understand completly what you
say about not being given a choice it is one less thing to have
to worry about, God knows there are enough other things
SLR just wondering when did you have your op?

Thanks again

I had my mastectomy Sept 08 with exchange surgery in June 09.

Compared with the initial surgery, the exchange was a doddle - only an overnight in hospital and because it's a shorter operation the effects of the anaesthetic weren't as bad either.

Are you having a sentinal node biopsy?

Good luck tomorrow. Bring someone with you so you have another pair of ears to pick up the bits you don't. Also, write down questions to ask before you go in as chances are you'll forget what you want to ask!

Hi SLR
Thanks for your advice , went for pre op yesterday and spoke to
3 different nurses and doc, brought a good friend with me
she even took notes for me.
Have made my decision not to go for immediate recon, as they dont
know at this stage if I need RT so have decided to wait and see
I feel a weight has been lifted from me which sounds weird with everything else still to come, but its great to have made a decision

Hugs,
I am thinking of you again today, it is awful the way you dont know
about available bed, hopefully you will get in and get op out of the
way and start on the road to recovery

Thanks for support everyone
It really helps

Hi Deema. I know what you mean about the weight being lifted, one less thing to worry about for now.
Do you know when you will be heading in for the op?

Im feeling grand, came out yesterday. Flew through the operation without any problems, and I dont feel too sore, or freaked out.

Hopefullu I will get good results in two weeks!

Hi Hugs

So Delighted that you are over your operation and all
went well you had enough hassle up to now, it is time
for things to turn around, i am here at the moment
packing to go to hosp so your message has really cheered
me up and put me in a positive frame of mind
Thanks so much for that

Maybe I will be home as soon as you were!!

Deema

Hi Deema

I just have to say good luck with everything tomorrow
I had a masectomy in march 09 and right now planning my reconstruction hopefully by the end of the year.
I was home after two days so all going well you might be out that soon too.

Let us know how you get on and im thinking of you

Ellie

I feel grand deema. Not too sore at all.
Actually, i caught a cold and am having more problems with that then the op....lol

I have a bit of fluid build up, but my appointment is on monday so im going to get it drained then. Its not uncomfortable, just a bit weird...lol

I hope your op goes as well as mine did!

Ellie, what type of recon are you going for ?

Hi Hugs

Im not sure which one ill go for, think it will be the latissmus dorsi flap, where they use the back muscle. My surgeon says he could do any of them, so my options are open.

Im glad your surgery went well, i had fluid build up like you a few days after but they left it. I know it does feel very weird lol

Hi Ellie
Thanks for that, and am glad to hear you are doing well
I ended up in hosp for 1 week because the lymph glands
had to go as well, and the doctor convinced me on the morning
of surgery to go for the reconstruction, which makes the op a
little bit more complicated, but all going well so far beginning to
feel a bit better every day, it is such a relief after the op, before
you start to think about results etc etc etc, I will be meeting
my surgeon on Thursday, and going through all results and
seeing where we go from there, one bit of me cant wait and
the other bit is terrified, I had to go back to hospital on Friday
to have some fluid drained but I think it may have built up again
so will proberly have to go again on Mon or Tue.
Thanks to everyone for your support
Talk Soon