Topic: August Reconstruction Please Join

Linda,

I don't think there is a July site for upcoming surgeries. I am supposed to have my tatoo and nipples on 7/28 if this fluid goes away from my left breast. Still waiting to see what happens.

New to this site, but happy to start a July list and answer any questions I know, not much like you all. This site has helped so much, just wish I had found it earlier.

Nordy - I should be recuperating in a room on the 19th when you go in for your pre-op.  Probably not a pretty sight.....LOL!  We'll have to figure out a way to connect between my surgery and yours - or after yours before I get released.  What city are you flying in from?  Do you know where you'll be staying yet? Every morning when I put the prosthesis on I think about my cancer  - and I abhor the weight of it (both the prosthesis and the reminder).  I'm hoping once I get the surgery done that I'll be able to have days when cancer doesn't come into my mind first thing in the morning.

Sara - good luck with your surgery on the 5th.  Great to see more joining the August Recon list.

Linda - love your Tshirt!!

Gallerygirl - I hope the fluid goes away quickly!!!

Nordy - I lived in Vancouver WA for about 10 years - went to high school down at the beach....small world!

Anniese - Which high school is at the beach? I am trying to figure out which is there... the closest I think is Hudson's Bay, but certainly not at the beach...  Did you go to a private school? You are in CO now? We just had some friends move there... but it is a big state, I know!

Anniese, 

Thanks Anniese, this time NEXT week, I'll be done with chemo, and not a moment too soon. I'm freaking out trying to plan for surgery, but I'm also planning a huge 40th birthday party, showing cancer who's boss...

Michelle 

NOLA changed their website and the GAP flap that is the hip/higher than the SGAP is being referred to as the posterior hip GAP - I am changing it above again!!!

Hi everyone,

I am having reconstruction on August 21st....tummy tuck and then tummy moved to my breast. My onc wanted me to wait until I finished my Herceptin...last one July 16th .... yahoo! What will happen when I'm hungry will my left breast have hunger pains...i know but you have to have some humour, right?

Quick question,,,,what tests has anyone had after they finished treatment before reconstruction....bone scan, MRI, ultrasound....just wondering.

SQL, 

I understand some breast surgeons like to do an MRI to see about the response to treatment. In my case, I won't be getting an MRI, because they can feel that I've responded very well (you can no longer feel my tumors) and that's good enough information. The rest of the information they will need is from the pathologist, who will examine the breast and lymph node tissue for remaining cancer cells.

I don't think an ultrasound would tell them much and a bone scan wouldn't be necessary. Just an MRI if there was any question about response. If they know you've responded and don't want to do a test, I wouldn't consider that unusual.

Michelle 

TRAM Flap...it sounds a bit like a pancake doesn't it.

Yes anything that anyone can tell me to help prepare and about recovery would be great...it sounds like we have a great group.

Sue

Abbadoodles - I have never heard of it called the Ruben flap - but nothing would surprise me and yes it is from the love handle area! Not quite the low back, but higher than the SGAP. (At least that is my understanding!)

Bump

... We have wump w/just one hump...

Add me to the list: Stage 2 DIEP on August 14th.  I had a reduction at the same time as my right mastectomy in June '08, then did rads.  I had a unilateral DIEP on March 31st (in Boston, and I'm very happy with my ps!).  My main goal for Stage 2 is to make me even - reduced breast is slightly larger than the flap side.

Good luck to all!

Lauren

I am probably doing recon Gap at Nola in sept BUT...I'm going for consult at Nola august 3rd and the wkend before

For me...I need to go, meet people, feel comfortable and get bearings for all this....if anyone is going to be there it might be nice to hook up/meet.  Initially I was going to bring a friend( I'm single but my extended  family thinks my plans are 'extreme'..so I'm not telling them until I'm done and recovered....fortunately I have a LOT of  awesome friends/co workers, etc...).  At any rate.  Most of my friends are more excited about all this than me and while I love them.......I need my own peace/space about this.  These friends will be very much needed during sept/ or postop period....so I'm saving them and making this consult eval trip solo, independent and able to hear my own thoughts...I'm way ok traveling alone BUT...I hate eating dinner alone!