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Hi, I have had a lot of problems with infection in my right breast since my double mastectomy in September. At my visit last week to my surgeon, I told him I have finally had enough of constant antibiotics and we decided to remove the tissue expander that has come out of 'the pocket' and dropped low on my chest and slightly under my armpit. I got a call earlier today from his secretary to say I have to be in the Mater Private next Mon afternoon for surgery next Tues am. If the breast looks free of infection, he will try to create or repair the pocket and insert a new expander. If its not, he will just remove the existing one and we will look at my options when things heal up a bit. To be honest, I am freaking out a bit now. We had pencilled in next week but I thought my surgery would be in the public hospital so I thought bed availability would be an issue and it might not go ahead. Now its suddenly all go and very real! Also, I had a scary experience in the private hospital last year involving a reaction to morphine so I'm a bit nervous about returning there. Has anyone any advice on how to calm down? And also what pain relief options there are to morphine? Has anyone ever had the spinal block and how did you find it? Were you unable to walk and stuck in bed with it? For how long? Deep breaths, deep breaths. Flo.

Hi there. The option of having an immediate breast reconstruction was put to me last week when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the course of my few days since, I have heard of loads of women who have had delayed reconstruction but I haven't come across anyone who had immediate reconstruction. Is there anyone out there reading this that either had immediate reconstruction or knows of someone who had it?

Hi, Had mastectomy to left breast in May 2009. Now feeling ready to go for recon surgery. Had seen Caitriona Lawlor before my surgery and decided not to have same time mastectomy and reconstruction. I had hoped to have my recon done this summer, suits better in terms of recovery, my kids, work etc. But ..... just my luck Dr. Lawlor will be on maternity. Has anyone out there used any other surgeons, in Vincent's or Blackrock Clinic...or Beacon? Caitriona is happy to refer me to someone else if I can't wait till she gets back. I had my heart set on this summer.....would appreciate any advice or recommendations. Oh and my main option is LD flap ... or the Diep thing, but expanders no good for me after radiotherapy. Thanks, Lucky star

Hi Everyone Just wondering if anyone has any advice on colouring hair after chemo I am finished about 4 months now and hair is there even if it is very short and very grey !!!! Thanks Deema

Hi girls, Greetings from the west of Ireland! I had chemotherapy followed a lumpectomy[with nodes removed] two weeks ago. Then was told I need to have a mastectomy. Now have to think of reconstruction. Surgeon seemed VERY much in favour of going down the LD reconstruction route rather than the implant route and said that,although painful initially, longterm the results are better with LD. I have little fat on my back[plenty everywher else!!] so would probably need an implant too even if I go down the LD road. This has made me want to know more about just having the implants and leaving my back well enough alone!I am a coward. I would love to hear from gals who had implants but not LD. I need to have radiotherapy also.Do implants survive radiotherapy? and look o.k. afterwards? I just do not know what to do.Am totally confused! Diag. Sept.2010 Aged 45 Invasive lobular cancer.ER+ Chemo -ACT Lumpectomy,2 nodes Positive Tumour 4.6cm. Tamoxifen Jan.2011 Advised to have mastectomy Feb.2011

Hi, I'm new to this message board, and feel a bit shy!! I had a lumpectomy, axillary clearance followed by mastectomy last July. Then chemo, 4 x AC + 4x Taxol. Then radiotherapy x15. finshed at the end of January. My scars and surrounding skin look so awful, red, black and brown and the skin is peeling and it's all really sore. My shoulder and chest muscles seem to be getting stiffer and I have what I think is nerve pain, like a phantom breast pain. I'm finding everything hard to deal with at the moment and wondered if anyone out there can give me some encouragement. I've run out of being positive and yet everyone keeps telling me it's great the treatments all over! It doesn't feel great. macci.

I was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer last September.At that time,following mammograms and ultrasound and an MRI, I was told that the lump was about 2cm..I had chemotherapy and a lumpectomy.Last Friday the results came back from the lab. and I was told the tumour was actually 4.6cm.,partially responded to chemotherapy and that I will need a mastectomy.Now am terrified about the future and the likelihood of recurrence because of the size of the tumour.Two lymph nodes also were positive.I am really anxious,panicky and feel totally overwhelmed.Has anyone experienced anything similiar? Diag. Sept.2010 Aged 45 Invasive lobular cancer.ER+ Chemo -ACT Lumpectomy,2 nodes Positive Tumour 4.6cm. Tamoxifen Jan.2011 Advised to have mastectomy Feb.2011

hi wondering is there anyone with triple n breast cancer. finished 6 fec chemo and 33 radio treatment this week and feel at a loss. no other treatment and worried that i wont know if cancer come back. help. everyone so pleased i finished treatment but i just scared. also waiting to meet surgeon for date for reduction surgery on other breast. dont know how long i have to wait after treatment. no one can tell me yet. trying to be positive as i have a lovely new grandson.

Hi Girls, I am 39 and had a left mascectomy in Feb 2011 with immediate reconstruction with a tissue expander. I was told exchange would take place in august. However I am still chasing a date for operation. I am really upset as want it finished but Breast Nurses have been telling me it is not possible yet as Surgeon too busy. Its been seven months since i should have had it and 13 months since expander inserted so I am really fed up waiting. I am in waterford. Has anyone had any hassle like this anywhere else? Im wondering should I get transferred to a different Hospital and get it done as I have vhi. Do any of you have any ideas? I love all your posts so helpful

Hi, Sadly last week (only 3 wks after my last surgery) I felt a pop/clunk under my right arm. As the day wore on, I realised something had torn again and my expander began to drop. I visited my surgeon yesterday and he confirmed that it is now completely out from the muscle 'pocket' again. He says tissue expander recon will not work for me but I can look at another type of recon for the Right side. I previously spent 2 years trying to decide about my PBM and am not really interested in a flap procedure. My problem is... I am thinking of having the LEFT side expander removed also. I discussed this with my surgeon and he is happy to do this if I wish. My 'logic' behind this is that I would prefer to have some symmetry. If I stay flat, then I figure it will be easier to achieve symmetry with TWO prosthesis, rather than trying to match one to a firm implant. Or if I do subsequently decide to try some form of flap recon (unlikely as it is), I think I would prefer to have BOTH sides made from softer flap tissue, likely to droop over my lifetime, rather than one perky implant and one soft flap recon. I know its impossible to get perfect symmetry - I didn't have it with my natural, pre BC, or prePBM, breasts either. But I would like to have the best possible chance my deformed chest has at it. Am I mad? My removal surgery is schedule for March 22, or 29. Flo.