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fauxgypsy · 02-01-2012, 07:26 PM

I just realized that I am very close to my 5 year cancerversary. I have made an appointment to have my surgery at PRMA in San Antonio in May for DIEP. I met with Dr. Pisano in December and all went well. I was torn between PRMA and the practice in NOLO but even though it is farther for me to go, I have to say that the billing practice in San Antonio brought it more into my budget (they don't balance bill). From everything that I have been able to find out they are both excellent.

I have been considering having a prophylactic mastectomy and a double reconstruction. I have not been tested for the BRCA gene. My oncologist seems to think that it is not necessary. I am a little worried because I only have a medical history for my mother's family. I still haven’t made up my mind on this.

When I was first diagnosed the surgeon and the first oncologist pretty much told me that I was going to die, so I wasn't real worried about reconstruction at that point. Since then I have given it a lot of thought. If I had had a double mastectomy I am not sure that it would bother me as much. What I have noticed though, is that I am always aware of the prosthesis. It is hot and uncomfortable in our Mississippi summers and I don't spend as much time gardening, swimming or any other activity as I used to. I have always been fairly active and I really don't want muscles moved. When I first heard of the DIEP surgery I was interested. I had hoped to have it last summer but it didn’t work out and considering the difference in experience between the surgeon I will have and the surgeon I would have had, it was for the best.

The mastectomy was the hardest part of my cancer experience and I really dread more surgery so I just keep telling myself that I will be glad once I get through it. Y’all be thinking of me.

02-01-2012, 07:26 PM	#38
fauxgypsy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 600	Re: Reconstruction I just realized that I am very close to my 5 year cancerversary. I have made an appointment to have my surgery at PRMA in San Antonio in May for DIEP. I met with Dr. Pisano in December and all went well. I was torn between PRMA and the practice in NOLO but even though it is farther for me to go, I have to say that the billing practice in San Antonio brought it more into my budget (they don't balance bill). From everything that I have been able to find out they are both excellent. I have been considering having a prophylactic mastectomy and a double reconstruction. I have not been tested for the BRCA gene. My oncologist seems to think that it is not necessary. I am a little worried because I only have a medical history for my mother's family. I still haven’t made up my mind on this. When I was first diagnosed the surgeon and the first oncologist pretty much told me that I was going to die, so I wasn't real worried about reconstruction at that point. Since then I have given it a lot of thought. If I had had a double mastectomy I am not sure that it would bother me as much. What I have noticed though, is that I am always aware of the prosthesis. It is hot and uncomfortable in our Mississippi summers and I don't spend as much time gardening, swimming or any other activity as I used to. I have always been fairly active and I really don't want muscles moved. When I first heard of the DIEP surgery I was interested. I had hoped to have it last summer but it didn’t work out and considering the difference in experience between the surgeon I will have and the surgeon I would have had, it was for the best. The mastectomy was the hardest part of my cancer experience and I really dread more surgery so I just keep telling myself that I will be glad once I get through it. Y’all be thinking of me. __________________ In the world of destiny, there are no statistics. Jan. 26- mammogram and ultrasound- suspicious lump Mid-February- lumpectomy, infiltrating ductal carcinoma ~4.5 cm and a 1 cm DCIS, did not get clear margins, did not check lymph nodes ER+/PR+, her2 +++, nuclear grade 3 of 3 February 20-PET scan showed something on liver. No biopsy. March- Started carboplatin, herceptin, taxol on a four week cycle May 3- Pet scan, with intent to do a biopsy, found nothing, liver or breast- no biopsy because there is nothing to biopsy June 21- new onc, very concerned that there had been no biopsy, June 18th-CAT scan, bone scan-negative August 7th - Brain MRI-negative August 9th- mastectomy, all pathology negative January 2008 still NED! New oncologist -herceptin for full year after chemo- until July, and tamoxifen---negative scans since May '07 July 2008-Finished Herceptin!