Topic: August Reconstruction Please Join

Dawn - Cute hair!.

bump!

Okay, wait... can we call this soon to get stage 2 set up? And does anyone call you back? LOL... I find it depends who I am calling as to whether or not I get a return phone call! I want to schedule stage 2 before the year is out...

Hi All,

Please add me for an exchange on August 24.  I can't wait to get rid of these expanders!!!  I hope the muscle spasms and how it always feels like I have on a tight bra leave with the TEs too!  I'm trying not to count the days...

Traci

I second the stage II scheduling sentiment.  Really want to get this done this year for deductibles and co-insurance reasons!!!  Based on my schedule it looks like the week of Thanksgiving - maybe Monday or Tuesday?  Sure hope that I'll be able to get that done!

Hi Nordy,

Thanks for the welcome and hair compliment.  Right now I'm bald, can't wait to get back to that point with my hair, I loved it so much.  Being bald sucks!  I've got peach fuzz now so I'm on my way and being on the recon calendar helps a lot.  HUGS to all, Dawn

Hi Nordy,

Please add me for August 31st exchange for silicone implants!

Thanks,

Teresa

plainjane64: thanks for the reply.  I thought 6 weeks was a bit soon, esp since he (my rad onc) said earlier that I wouldn't have follow-up mammo/MRI for 6 months until the tissue "settles down".  Will wait for the next set of experts to weigh in.   Yah, I hear ya about coping with surviellance -- some say I have a 50% , some say 65% risk of a new bc.....think I'd be a basket case -- not enough ativan I am afraid,,,,,    I would love it if I could have a skin sparing surgery, but I suspect that will not be an option.    Not really sure what my options will be.

My atavar is a meerkat..   My son emailed it too me right before I started rads - said he thought it looked like what i was about to experience.  Really sweet of him.. Hate to tell him it sort of makes me sick now -- seeing how I could have bypassed 30 rads treatments and 4200miles to get them.   Can't look back - have to look forward - and do what I must to decrease my risk.  

Hello Everyone

I have not checked this site for sometime but am very gald I jumped on today.  I was DX 2yrs ago July 08, with Metaplastic breast cancer in the left breast - due to the seriousness of this type of cancer I had an immediate lumpectomy, then 6mos of chemo, then a bilateral mastecomy last May then 33 rounds of radiation to the left breast site.  I had another scare this May resulting in another exploritory surgey with what breast tissue was still left on the left side.  Luckily all results have always come back with good news. I was given the option by both my OC and PS regarding the choice of surgery to remove the left breast and the "healthy" breast...one felt Bilateral was the way to go, but my  PC felt the lumpectomy was sufficient...luckily I choose the bilateral ( I wanted the peice of mind that would offer)  as pre cancerous cells were found in my right breast...which were always dense and lumpy. Although I am not sorry for the mastecomies...I hate those "damn" fake boobs I put on everyday...they are hot and yes, a daily reminder of what I have lost.  Having immediate reconstruction was not an option for me during any of my surgeries...but I want to not be reminded daily of what I dont have anymore so I am seriously considering reconstruction.  My radiation on the left side really did some serious skin damage and I am wondering how that will affect reconstruction. I am worried that I was successful in all other tx....that now this is a "voluntary" surgery how will I feel if I have complications...and I dont have any idea of what type of reconstruction I would be up for. So thanks to everyone,  as I will be reading all of your comments to help me make my decision...as no one knows except for those of us that have gone through this cancer journey. Good luck to all of you that have surgery coming up!!

Hi Everybody - sorry I haven't been able to catch up and add on to the calendar... just rode Seattle to Portland on Saturday (202 miles), so spent yesterday trying to MOVE again...

sftfemme65 - Welcome!

Kt57 - Has anyone referred you to the Force website? It is for BRCA 1 and 2 previvors, survivors and high risk breast and ovarian cancer men and women. They can be found at www.facingourrisk.org 

I too had rads and I tried to have reconstruction w/implants. I ended up having the expanders in for 18 months because of a pregnancy and then a move... I had to have them removed last year and did not go through w/exchange because the radiated side had thinned the tissue so much that you could see the expander through it and the other side just always hurt. So, I have been flat for a year. Am now doing reconstruction using my hip fat in New Orleans. I am excited and scared... You will do what is best for you, but if you google DIEP or SGAP, you should be able to find some info. Also, www.prma-enhance.com or www.breastcenter.com, both have a lode of information.

Lucky- I feel the same as you do when it comes to getting more surgery. In fact, yesterday I was thinking just that. Here I had just ridden this huge bike ride - I am healthy enough to do that and feeling strong... what if I have another surgery that was not necessary and something goes wrong? I think we all go through that - I am still going through that. Maybe someone will chime in here and let us know how they cope/coped w/that feeling. Good luck w/all of your decisions!

Nordy:   Thanks for the info.  I have been on the FORCE website - wish it were as easy to navigate as this one.  I will check out the others websites as well..

When you say the radiation side had thinned - did that happen gradually over time?   Right know I am about 4 weeks post-rads and my skin and tissue feels the same as before rads....nicely tanned, however.    The plastic surgeons close by do implants, TRAM and lat flaps.. no DIEP so I might have to travel 4-6 hours for that procedure or TAP or GAP or RAP-- LOL!  Not sure what all those things are yet, except RAP is really bad "music" LOL!.   

Wonder if anyone has success with TE and implants after rads??????? 

Kathy

You made me laugh early this morning....I agree that "Rap" is very bad "music"  but I would not even call it music. It is really bad trash....to each his own!

I had previous rads many years ago and last year had a bi-lat with LD flaps, TE and then implants.  I have done fine.  You may need to talk to someone with fresh rads.  I don't know if it makes a difference with the skin weather you had rads years ago or just recently.  My PS would not do just the TE then implants, he said the rad side would have complications.  I had no problems with healing or infections.

I would check on all the different surgical procedures.  Do your homework!!!

I  go to see my PS next Tuesday and hoping that I will get my nipp surgery set up and thinking it will be July 29th or Aug 5th.  I will be finished!!!!!!!!!  except for tattooing

the best to you

Linda54: thanks for the info. Been reading about lat flaps, as that is donne closer to my home.  Can I ask what your incisions look like and what does your back look like now? and what about back muscle strength.  How many surgical procedures did you have to get to this point?

Congrats on nearly being done!  When did you start?

strngwmn39: Thanks and good luck with your surgery.  Did you do chemo?  I had 6 rounds of taxotere and cytoxin.   Surgery will be hard, but not as hard as chemo.

Thanks everyone for your help -- feel like my situation is unique - think my onc and his colleagues are conferring about me today... or next Tuesday.   I sent about 15 questions for them to consider -- they should have just invited me to attend .   

anniese,

You'll get there. But if you're not 100% ready, don't do it. Don't do it because it's a convenient time, don't do it because other people expect you to, don't do it because of a verbal commitment to the doctor. Don't do it because other people love what they got from it.

 DO it because you want it. Do it because you deserve it. Do it because you accept who you are and what's important to you.

Listen, this is why we are encouraged to get refundable plane tickets. You can always change your mind!!

What is you're biggest fear? (Rhetorical for now.) We can chat about it at dinner next week!

hugs,

Anne

Anniese - It is my understanding that the Center has really good pain control. (if that is any consolation). BUT, I hear you, I only bought our return tickets last week... and still worrying about it even now!

...starting to rethink my decision... wondering if I should not do this or should utilize another place that I have been impressed with... help.