Advice needed please

So very sorry you are going through all this. It is ultimately your decision. Maybe speak to the Macmillan team who could potentially give you more information so you make an informed decision. Take care xxx

It is ultimately your decision, but taking advice from those who have ‘been there, done that’ can help you clear your mind.

for myself, my surgeon could see I’d already had surgeries on that breast so could plan her way of doing the mx she suggested. I knew I didn’t want to wake up flat on one side so asked about an implant ( I was 73 at the time) as I also knew about the longer theatre time plus increased infection risk of 2 incisions for a DIEP reconstruction. She agreed and suggested we should consider type of implant once the node and HER2 results were back so that an informed decision could be made. She was prepared to put in a temporary implant should my results suggest I might need radiotherapy. In the end that wasn’t needed, nodes were clear and HER2 negative so a straightforward permanent implant decided, plus 5 years or oestrogen-reducing meds.

that was 5 years ago, I will take my final tablet this Friday! and so far, so good. 

Best wishes for your decision and all your results 

hugs xxx

That’s amazing. Thank you. It’s nice to hear a success story with the implants.  I have been told if I don’t get on with the implants I could go for a full reconstruction later. Having effectively had two years of no exercise due to previous illnesses and also the last year  my dog has been slowly losing the use of his legs so I’ve not even had walking exercise; I really don’t feel fit enough at the moment for a long operation. I also want to lose weight and feel better about myself! 

Just be aware, though, that even an op for an implant isn’t a short one. I also had problems with a bleed which needed me back into theatre for a repeat op just 30 hours later. It would have been quicker back to theatre but I’d had a (nasty) hospital coffee that morning, so had to wait till the afternoon list. The implant side is a bit smaller and has a slightly flat area but further (lipofilling) surgery wasn’t advised. I a decent bra I look fine. 

whatever you decide, I wish you a brilliant outcome. And keep posting! 

Hugs xxx

Hello Moomy I haven’t been here for a while!  I’m post op having had a complete reconstruction with implant in January. Do you mind if I ask —- is your implant soft?  I’ve just started a rehab programme.  Everything is painful with the stretching was this the same for you? 

Hi JenColl. I sympathise with everything you are going through.  I had a mastectomy in 2021 with silicone implant.  Sadly it was discovered after that it was in my lymph nodes so I had to get full ancillary lymph node removal.  After which chemo 5 months and then radiotherapy.  The radiotherapy damaged the implant so in January this year I had my second full reconstruction (another implant).  The implant is smaller than my other breast and it’s quite hard.  I’m on a rehab programme (having completed 12 weeks of recovery) to get my arm fully functional, stretching is quite painful but I have good movement.  I’m seeing my consultant on Monday - I want to know if the implant will soften and drop a bit.  I am still glad that I chose an implant but was unlucky to have to do it twice.  No way would I have gone for micro surgery, but that was my choice.   I wish you all the best xxxx

Hi Jgau , yes it did feel a bit hard to start with but has softened and slightly dropped over time. I gather after breast surgery the amount of tissue healing needed takes a long time, and if there’s any talk of lipofilling they won’t even contemplated till a good year post mx, as the breast is still settling down. But please do persist with those given exercises as well as you can. That shoulder had surgery a good few years before (an impingement) and I had a few weeks of physio after that so was anxious to get full movement back. 

Hugs xxx

Thank you Moomy I guess it’s the soft tissue recovering - especially as it’s the second time.  It was a 3 1/2 op so not easy xxx

Hi Moomy I would be very interested to know how you feel when you finish the Letrazole.  I switched from Letrazole to Anastrazole because of the constant aches n pains - initially I thought Anastrazole was better !!! I now wonder if they are exactly the same thing / the aches n pains at times, are almost debilitating.  Have you had the same? 

I think the joint aches are more to do with reducing oestrogen levels than anything else. One person described it as being the ‘WD-40’ for joints, so once removed your joints complain! 

Im going to be interested to document how the hot flushes reduce (my fingers are well crossed!!!) 

Hugs xxx