Hello,
I was diagnosed with breast cancer last September. I had a lumpectomy (which unfortunately had to include my nipple as I had Pagets), chemotherapy and radiotherapy finished in May. I’m still having herceptin and zoladex injections and I’ve got an appointment to have my ovaries removed next month.
I went back to see my surgeon in August to see whether she could do anything to even my breasts up a bit. I had lots of photographs taken and she discussed me with the plastic surgeons and they said that they could improve the appearance of my scars. So, I was quite optimistic about seeing the plastic surgeon today.
The surgeon asked me what I didn’t like and what I’d like improving. So I said that ideally, I’d like a fuller shape and nipple reconstruction. We chatted a more and she said that she didn’t think I’d accepted my body and that I should see a psychologist first before any surgery. I did say that I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to accept it as I was hoping that she’d fix me up. I’m happy enough to see a psychologist as I know that having cancer is stressful, but really, I’ve lived with the scars for a year, I’m planning to start back to work next week, part time and I wanted to just get on with it. Also, she said that ideally, I’d have genetic counselling first, to see whether I’d need more extensive surgery (then the nurse showed me photographs of what that would entail). My oncologist hadn’t mentioned this.
I suppose that I’m just disappointed and I was hoping that the number of appointments had peaked, but they seem to keep coming.
I wondered whether this is standard before reconstruction? Any advice very welcome.
Best wishes,
Sarah.
Hello Sarah1111
I don't have an answer for you but your post has slipped down so I thought I'd bump it up. I know when I saw my BC nurse at the end of my treatment having been told 'you might have a bit of dent' by my surgeon - understatement of the year!!! I had 8cm removed from my breast, so I have a huge dent and a stretched nipple towards the 3 inch scar and I said I was disappointed with how badly deformed it was and she just said "you can have plastic surgery later if you want". I haven't asked for it as I have had so many operations in my life that I'm fed up with them (road accident when I was 17 and had an operation practically every month for 2 years), so I haven't taken it any further, so just don't know if counselling is the norm.
It sounds to me as if it the Pagets that is causing the extra appointments as my BC nurse made it sound all very easy. But on the other hand my BC nurse was pretty useless throughout, so who knows, they might not even let me have plastic surgery!
Hope someone else can help you out.
Best wishes,
