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DianneS · 12-24-2009, 09:47 PM

Thank you, ladies, for your responses. I don't feel quite so alone now!

I can't have reconstruction where tissue is taken from another part of my body, usually the abdomen, because I have a vertical scar from ovarian surgery and surgeons won't make a horizontal cut because of post surgery healing issues, etc. So my options are to stay with the prosthetics or have silicone implants.

I guess I'm interested in what the expanders are like - sounds like not much fun.

I'd also like to know if lumps can be found as easily after implants? Seems they can be felt easier w/o silicone boobs in the way. What do your docs say about that?

Also....the emotional impact of losing both breasts is overwhelming sometimes, like today when I saw a beautiful nightgown that I considered buying until I realized I didn't have anything to fill out the top part anymore. I almost cried. The influence this is having on my sex life is terrible and the doctors don't discuss this! I don't feel sexy in a nightgown with no boobs. My husband says it doesn't bother him (yeah, right) and that's sweet of him, but it bothers me. That is one of the biggest reasons I am considering in a few years the possibility of implants.

Laurel, you said you had breast reconstruction? You aren't talking about implants, right? How did they do the nipples - I mean, what tissue did they use to make them look realistic? I have heard that the nipple tatoos look pretty good, too....but I don't know.

Anyway thanks for the input and I hope you have a healthy 2010 and a relaxing Christmas season.

Dianne

12-24-2009, 09:47 PM	#6
DianneS Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 327	Re: Bilateral mastectomy support group Thank you, ladies, for your responses. I don't feel quite so alone now! I can't have reconstruction where tissue is taken from another part of my body, usually the abdomen, because I have a vertical scar from ovarian surgery and surgeons won't make a horizontal cut because of post surgery healing issues, etc. So my options are to stay with the prosthetics or have silicone implants. I guess I'm interested in what the expanders are like - sounds like not much fun. I'd also like to know if lumps can be found as easily after implants? Seems they can be felt easier w/o silicone boobs in the way. What do your docs say about that? Also....the emotional impact of losing both breasts is overwhelming sometimes, like today when I saw a beautiful nightgown that I considered buying until I realized I didn't have anything to fill out the top part anymore. I almost cried. The influence this is having on my sex life is terrible and the doctors don't discuss this! I don't feel sexy in a nightgown with no boobs. My husband says it doesn't bother him (yeah, right) and that's sweet of him, but it bothers me. That is one of the biggest reasons I am considering in a few years the possibility of implants. Laurel, you said you had breast reconstruction? You aren't talking about implants, right? How did they do the nipples - I mean, what tissue did they use to make them look realistic? I have heard that the nipple tatoos look pretty good, too....but I don't know. Anyway thanks for the input and I hope you have a healthy 2010 and a relaxing Christmas season. Dianne __________________ Three years and 5 months NED Dx: Aug 2008 right breast IDC with 50% of tumor DCIS, Stage II or IIA, tumor size: 2.1 cm Grade 3 8/9 Richardson/Bloom test ER+ weakly positive Alred Score: 4 (suggesting I would strongly benefit from hormone therapy) PR-, HER2 positive +++ No vascular invasion No lymph nodes involved Surgery: Sept. 9, 2008 -Modified radical mastectomy, right breast. I chose to have a simple mastectomy on the left. Began Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin November, 2008. Finished T/C March 2009. Finished #16 Herceptin Sept. 09. AI's and Tamoxifen made me sick. Began natural Tamoxifen which is Quercetin, I3C and a combo of other supplements. I am also a DES Daughter. There is now a link between DES exposure in utero and breast cancer!