Tricia I had a "unilateral muscle-sparing free tram" - which means, just one side, my right side, was reconstructed immediately following a "skin-sparing mastectomy." The reconstruction involved cutting the fat and skin and perforator vessels free from the underlying muscle (sort of like a tummy-tuck) and microsurgically reconnecting the perforators (veins?) to veins in your chest to keep the flap alive. Only a small piece of muscle (1 cm) was removed with the perforators to keep them stable - but that small piece was enough to cause me a lot of problems. The best surgery to get is the Diep where NO muscle is removed at all. I had asked for that, and my PS said he'd try - but somewhere during surgery he changed his mind.
More information about reconstruction options can be found here:
http://www.breastreconstruction.org/
And more information and support (including photos) can be found at www.breastcancer.org
Hope this information helps you Tricia!
__________________
xxoo
Kathy
2/5/08 - dx age 53, post-menopausal;
IDC Stage 1, Grade 1
ER+ 90% /PR+ 90% /Her2++++, BRAC1 & 2 neg
3/5/08 - mast with muscle-sparing free tram;
0/7 nodes clear; Stage 1 lymphedema in right arm
3/11/08 - MRSA infection in abdomen causes large hernia
4/11/08 - Oncotype DX score 22 (intermediate)
4/12/08 - Muga score 67%
4/23/08 - Chemo, Navelbine and Herceptin every 2 weeks
8/20/08 - Last Navelbine infusion! Yay!
1/22/09 - First mammo since dx - unaffected breast CLEAR!
1/30/09 - Second Muga score 63%
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