Ive only recently been diagnosed with mixed ducal and lobular cancer and am having a mastectomy in a weeks time. I have a few days to make decisions about reconstruction - its hard! I don't yet know whether I will need radiotherapy, but my surgeon seems to be of the mind that it is better to have the implant and deal with any difficulties as they come up. I think my gut says just to go with a prosthesis - less chance of complications and with clothes on, I will look symmetrical. And then if I want to go through more surgery, I can always get the delayed reconstruction at a later time. But, this will never look 'as good' as the immediate implant. So I might always regret the decision not to go with the immediate implant. I have no idea how to go about making this decision. The conclusion seems to be that it is a personal decision and up to the individual, but I just don't know what I want. I don't know how I am going to feel when I wake up without a breast. Help?!

If I were you (and obviously we are all different), but I would go for the implant now.  Simply because the end result will look better in the long term whatever happens later - you will have "spared" the skin and if you go for an "own tissue" reconstruction (if you are able) later, you will have less scarring.

Whilst surgeons aren't infallible, I would be guided by him, as he will have done lots, and will know what works in his hospital.

It's also one of those things - you can't lose by doing it, but you might lose by NOT doing it?  Hope this makes sense.

Helen x

(who has two implants!)

I'll be having an implant but as yet I have no idea when. I'm having chemo, surgery then radiotherapy.

If I'm offered the implant at the time of the initial surgery I will take this approach. If I  DO take it then don't need radio then I'm all done.  If I DON'T take it and don't need radio I'll wish I'd had it. If I still do need radio then I guess the implant will be removed.

As it seems pretty definite I will need radiotherapy then I assume I won't be offered reconstruction for a long while. My surgeon is trying a lumpectomy first in the hope of avoiding a mastectomy.

Thanks so much for your replies. misty, can I ask, are you able to lay on your stomach with the implants? I am worried I may well lose by doing it, if things get messed up in the radiotherapy and/or things go wrong later down the line... My surgeon says she would leave the implant in during radiotherapy and basically just hope it is okay. I'm concerned about this. Im also concerned about the future of the nh - will they still be in a position to offer free repairs and so on in a few years time? Does anyone know if the models in those mastectomy lingerie booklets actually have had mastectomies?!

Hi Pollycat

Yes, I can now lay on my stomach, although I have developed a way of doing this now, basically I pull the pillow down to the boobs and they kind of lay in the gap, IYKWIM. It has taken a while for them to become comfortable, but these are permanent expanders, therefore saline with silicone shells.  I always sleep on my stomach normally

I can see what you mean, but frankly, you can't second guess these things.  I'm pretty sure that it's law that you get repairs as necessary as a cancer patient/survivor, so they can't take that option away. You'd be able to take it to court, I reckon.  

If you want to see some reconstructions, google images is pretty good.  You see the patients before and after quite often, and it's an eye opener.

You didn't say if you are having one or two mastectomies?

Helen x

Hi Pollycat

Just though I would add my experience to the mix.  I had an mx and LD Flap reconstruction with an implant two weeks ago and am really pleased with the result.  My new boob is a C cup and the other is an E so after chemo and radio I will be having that reduced.

 

I think what swung it for me is that I didn't want to wake up with one huge boob and flat the other side and also as you have just said it seems to be the case that you do get a better result with immediate reconstruction.

 

Still if like me you have read through many posts on here, you will have noticed there are many different ways of tackling this, as long as we all come out the other end, thats all that matters in the end

Hi Pollycat I thought I would share my experience. I had a Mx and node clearance last week without recon as my doc said that if I end up having radiotherapy it would get warped I have to say that eventhough I am quite young (42) for bc and my normal breast is a DD I actually really love my flat side and find my false softie idea and no-one can tell. My hubby also likes my flatside as it is part of me and the journey I have been on so I highly doubt if I will even bother with recon at all but like you say everyone is different and I respect their freedom to choose what suits them but if you can feel beautiful and sexy without then why put yourself through it Xxxx good luck with whatever you choose xxx

Hiya, I had my mastectomy just over 2 weeks ago and had the chance of immediate reconstruction. I decided not to have it done as i just wanted to deal with the cancer and not to have anymore surgery in the future. Im very happy in what i have decided and my scar is healing very nicely and i always said that i wouldnt show anybody it as i thought i would get embarrassed but have shown lots of people. I feel really comfortable having the prosthesis.Only you can decide and im sure you will make the right choice. Big hugs xxx Lisa