Someone please point me in the right direction

[Tricia]

I have surgery coming up in late April. Radical Mast with lymph node removal right side. My Dr thinks I should wait to get reconsruction until a year or so, but I hear so many women who have gotten their reconstruction at the same time. Can someone please tell me where I can go on the internet to find more info and hopefully some pics of the different types of reconstruction and how its all done??? Thank you all so much.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Hi Tricia!

My onc nixed the idea of getting immediate reconstruction too. I'm so glad now. My healthy breast has decreased in size by at least a size since my surgery 10 months ago. I have lost 22 pounds, but think it would have happened anyway. My onc knew I'd be getting radiation and did not want that to impact the implants or whatever. I'm 2 treatments from finishing radiation and I surely do see what they mean. My skin has changed. My plastic surgeon agreed with my onc once he knew how much treatment I was scheduled for. I talked to people in the treatment room and they all did things differently. But the ones who did the transflap and the implants with saline or silicone both told me their sizes were different on either side after a while. I wanted to get it over while I had the courage to do it. But very glad now that I'm waiting. I've changed my mind a zillion times on what to do. People on this board have done it all different ways and will be so honest about the results for you. Best of luck on another tough decision. ma

[KellyA]

Tricia,

This is a hard decision. I really think that it depends on individual circumstances. I probably would have chosen to wait also, but had a unique situation and because of that, it was suggested that I do it at the time of surgery. I chose to have a double mast., and was very thin at the time (not now after chemo!!!!), so it was not an option for me to have the flap procedure, because there was not enough tissue to form two breasts. The doctors decided to put implants in immediately at the time of surgery, because they weren't sure if they could stretch the skin effectively later after radiation. There was a catch though- there is a very high failure rate with radiation and implants. I was quoted 50%. So I was kind of in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. Either get the implants and risk them failing, or don't get them and risk not having anything later. Well, I got them and was very blessed not to have any problems with radiation- they held up great and I am going for my nipple reconstruction in two weeks.

Every situation is different, and it is alot to try to decide at once in a quick decision that might affect things later- especially when you are making other decisions as well with treatment etc. I never was a good decision maker. Very indecisive. :-)

Ask as many questions as you can- and most likely you have time, plenty of time to go in later for reconstruction and do what you really want. Time goes by very quicklly when you are in treatment (even though it probably doesn't seem like it right now) and it would be something for you to look forward to later when it is all over. Don't feel rushed if you don't have to. Good luck!

Love, Kelly

[tousled1]

Before I had my bilateral mastectomy I consulted with the surgeon/oncologist/plastic surgeon/radiologist. Before my surgery we already knew that I had lymph node involvement due to a needle biopsy on the nodes. Since we knew that I would have to have radiation, I was advised against immediate reconstruction.