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If I had to do it today, knowing what I know now, I would have bi-lateral mast. I had my surgery 14 1/2 years ago. Since then I have had multiple abnormal mamograms, ultra-sounds, and 2 benign biopsies of the healthy breast. I too have very fibrosystic breasts, which cause much unneeded anxiety.
I had mast. with tramflap reconstructive surgery(tissue from below belly button is used). I'm sure they have fine tuned the process since I had my surgery, Nov. 1, 1991. I had 3 revisions since my origional surgery. They used more tissue then needed so they could go back and use liposuction to shape the breast. I also had the healthy breast lifted and the areola made smaller(I nursed 2 of my children). I waited a year to get the first revision, where they did the lipo and fine tuned the healthy breast. Six months later I had the nipple done. They did not transplant tissue from another area in my body. The plastic surgeon made a few cuts at the end of my new breast and created a nipple. I then went in and had the nipple tatood the same color as my healthy nipple.
I have mixed feelings about this surgery. I'll give the positives first.
I can go without a bra as my breasts are perky.I feel balanced. Mentally I think I did better then if I had opted out of reconstruction. I got a tummy tuck in the process.
I have much nerve damage from the surgery as they cut the tranverse abdominal muscle and nerves. The post-op recovery took a long time. I could not stand up straight or lay down flat. I was horrified post-op at the immediate results. I think the reconsructed breast could have masked the reccurrance.
In your situation I think you could go either way. They will be treating you systemically any way and might be able to clean up cells within the breast after your lumpectiomy. I wasn't a candidate for lumpectomy because they could not get clean margins free of cancer cells.
Take care and feel free to ask as many questions as you need. We all learn from each other.
God Bless You.
Lu Ann.
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