Breast Reconstruction: You Deserve A Choice

For some--the idea of dealing with just the question of reconstruction when faced with so many other life-altering decisions is just too much all at once.  A person doesn't know how they will deal with the loss--sometimes people need to sit with the loss a bit.  Sometimes people need to see if they do fine with a prosthesis.  Sometimes horror stories about reconstructions going bad are too scarey to add to the already often scarey pile of alternatives.  Your piece is terrific--and excellent for folks who wonder about it and are ready to face the decision.  But for some--it's just too much all at once.

I had the latissimus flap reconstruction--they take a muscle from your back and literally swing it around to the front under your skin, still attached to your body under your arm. It was way too small to match my reconstructed breast so I had an implant added later (in my 4th surgery.)

 

I didn't do the implant procedure in the beginning because I felt so sure that implants were bad, dangerous, leaky, etc. I had not done any research, I'm sorry to say. I was just going on my memories of women's breast augmentation surgeries and implant leaks, which was quite a while ago.

 

Healing from the lat flap was very painful for me, and I didn't feel a lot of pain with my other two surgeries. I wish I had considered implants in the beginning. I have a wonderful surgeon but when I said, nope, no implants for me, she didn't ask why--not her job but I wish someone had.

 

One reason I feel this regret is from watching my little sister's experience with an implant.

 

She had a mastectomy in a Naval Hospital 16 years ago, with no prep for how it would look afterwards---she was appalled--She has worn a large prosthesis for all these years.

 

But when I started reconstruction, she decided to do it too!!!

I was so happy for her--our male significant others could not understand our willingness to risk pain and surgery   "It's not necessary" they said. We just looked at each other and knew it was right for us.

 

She had a pretty easy time--breast skin stretcher for a few months, then her large breast was reduced to a size that would match the implant and look natural without being, excuse me, big and floppy, which is where we both were at.

 

I still haven't studied implants--haha--too late for me

My very large breast--well, I wanted a very small one, so I didn't have to wear a bra at all. My doctor made it as small as she could, but it would have been better if she could have left it a bit larger, I think.  We have had a lot of trouble with necrotic fat tissue that keeps draining from the nipple area and my nipple lost sensitivity.

 

I like the way it looks now, the darn thing will heal soon enough, and I am glad I was able to have the surgery--taking the time for more procedures and recovery is a real problem for a lot of women. Their insurance companies are required to pay for it, but no one says how they will live during that time. Maybe someday women like me who have finished and recovered will find a way to pair up with a woman who needs childcare or a little financial support or whatever, in order to be able to do reconstruction.

 

God bless the women who get tatoos and beautify and enjoy their non-matching look. I love them, but when one breast is really large, and the other one is totally gone--it's a difficult prospect.

 

In fact, I thought reconstruction meant they would make a new breast to match the one that was left. I said, why would I want them to make another big floppy breast?

When my surgeon replied that they could make the new breasts smaller and matching (more or less) , well, I didn't stop smiling for days. I could never have afforded breast reconstruction otherwise--I called it my remodeling project.

I was diagnosed in April of 2008. Cancer in both breast. My surgeon was worried since it was in both breast said he wanted to operate following week. Said I needed a dbl mastectomy. I was so upset crying right in front of him. He said there is no other option. I now no it was best for me now but I do wish he would of brought up reconstruction at the time so I had a choice. Then having to go through another operation was just more stress and pain. I know it doesn't bother some women, maybe the fact that I was 26yrs old at the time it was harder for me to take in. Not that older women don't want breast too. But I do feel truely blessed because i'm now cancer free and I got reconstruction on Dec 3rd. I went wwith the Lat Dorsi flap. None of the options were what I truely wanted but I guess we have to be thankful for what we can get. I wanted the DIEP but with my ins. that wasn't happening. Plastic Surgeon said to think about the Lat flaps since I was so uneasy about losing 2 of my ab muscles. 4weeks post surgery and I feel pretty good. I'm returning to work next week. I did have a seroma on 1 of my scars on my back, that was the toughest part I went through. My PS said we could add implants later if I desired, but I have some full B's sitting on my chest so I'm thinking I wont go through with them. But women should definitly have the option in my opinion when diagnosed and if its to much to handle they will know to just wait it out and worry about treatments 1st.

My breast surgeon brought up reconstruction but because I have IBC she recommended that I do not have reconstruction for at least 3 years. She basically said that they want to be sure I'm free of cancer before reconstruction. My Oncologist agreed with her. Sue, I read your post also and you said you will have reconstruction in September and you too have IBC. Does anyone else wonder why my doctor says 3 years? I am having double mastectomy on Jan 28th and never talked to a doctor about reconstruction because of what the breast surgeon said.  I'm not sure if I'll get reconstruction when the time comes though. I am only 48 and may think about it later but all I can think about right now is to get the cancer out and be cancer free. I've had dose dense chemo starting Oct 1st every 2 weeks. 4 treatments of AC and only 3 of Taxol because of Neuropathy.

 

Thanks for your great post though.

Johanna