Deciding which what reconstruction to have

Hi  and a very warm welcome to the online community

I'm sorry to read that you have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. I haven't had the same type of cancer as you but I do know how difficult it can be when you are given treatment options. All I can say is that there's no right or wrong decision, just the one you feel is right at the time when you make it.

Replying to you will 'bump' your post back to the top of the discussions list where it stands more chance of being seen by those who can tell you how they made their decisions. I'm also tagging this group's Community Champion  into my reply to you as she may be able to point you in the direction of other group members who have had to make this decision.

When you have a minute, it would be really useful if you could pop something about your journey so far into your profile as it really helps others when answering or looking for someone with a similar diagnosis. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

All the best with whatever you decide to do.

x

Thank you for the advice yes I will have a look 

X

Hi

I've just had a DIEP and am really happy with how it went and recovery - am now 5 weeks post op.

I'll private message you as have some other info which you may find really useful (I did!) and which will help you reach your decision.

Sam

I had lobular Breast cancer and single mastectomy in October 2019. I did not have the DIEP because I am a single person so was worried about the recovery and nobody to help me at home also wanted to get back to work as was worried about paying my bills. If my circumstances were different I would probably have gone for the DIEP.  I went for the implant which I recovered well from and I am please with my decision. It looks fine but it does not feel natural I am aware it is there but that not an issue for me I just wanted to have a cleavage and look normal in clothes which it does.  I am a F cup so I was having a reduction in my other breast but that not happened yet due to Covid.  Everyone circumstances are different and the way people think and feel about things is different so hope you are able to make the right decision for yourself.  Feel free to message me if  you have any questions.  Joanne x

Thank you Sam for your reply sounds a good secret  X

Hi Joanne yes completely get it Every body thinks different and big decision to make want to get it right did you have to have chemo or radiotherapy 

michaela x

Can I ask did you have radiotherapy please

I did not have chemo because my onco test score was low for recurrence and did not have radiotherapy because I had a mastectomy. Now on tamoxifen. my story is in my profile x

Hi I’m glad you have posted this thread. I too am in a quandary.
Im a newby to the forum also
I went to see the surgeon last week. I thought I would be having a simple lumpectomy but explained that the chemo hasn’t shrunk the lump as much as he’d like and  would have to take away around 4 cms away and as I’m only an “A” cup he has advised reconstruction at the same time. This is when he gave me many options and I couldn’t take it all in. 

He said the easiest thing would be implants in terms of recovery times but I thought these might be high maintenance in the long term and had visions of them popping

The other option was a flap from the tummy or back. But the recovery time is longer and I’ve already done 4 months of chemo and need radiotherapy after the op and wanted to be fit and cancer free for the summer just in case we can all have a holiday when covid has settled down

The cancer care nurse has gave me lots of leaflets and she is also swaying me towards implants and said I could even go up a cup size

I’d love to hear from anyone who has either of the 2 operations so I can weigh up all of the pros and cons 

Hi Happylady2 and CSurviver

I had a mastectomy and immediate reconstruction by DIEP (fat taken from tummy area) 3 years ago.I was told at the time a DIEP was the Rolls Royce of reconstruction and it certainly gives you a very natural looking new boob with natural droop that is warm to touch. Given I was told I had to have a mastectomy it was by far the best way to go for me. Nowadays I hardly notice the difference and I wear everything as I did before. In underwear or a bikini there is no difference and even completely naked if changing etc nobody would give you a second glance. Yes, if you looked properly but even if from afar it is difficult to tell. I now feel completely normal. This was important to me and to be fair right from the 'off' my oncologist, the cosmetic surgeon and my husband said it would give me the best outcome. At the time I was terrified but they were all absolutely right.

Having said all this, it is a big operation with the abdominal surgery being by far the worst part. I was in hospital for the day of the operation and then for 3 days. You are monitored every hour for the first 24 hours then every 2 hours the every 4 etc. You have very little sleep but no pain as they keep on top of that. You also have a number of drains but mine were taken out very quickly. I went home hardly able to walk, I was leaning on my husband shuffling and bent double, I must have looked so comical. Once you are back at home you improve rapidly. You do need help once home for the first couple of weeks. My husband took 3 days off work then it was the Xmas school holidays so I had my daughter, who was a teenager at the time did my bidding. It wasn't that I was incapacitated it was more everything took so long. She was there to make me lunch and acted as a very good Zimmer frame for me when I wanted to move around the house. I had strong killers so was comfortable - though you must remember to keep on top of it for the first few days. My stomach was so tight that I stooped for weeks and for a while had terrible lower back ache - this was remedied with stools strategically placed to clean teeth etc also I went up and down stairs sideways for a while. After about 2-3 weeks I was able to start going out for walks, albeit slowly, and I was back driving after 6 weeks. You need to wear a compression bra and knickers for the first 6 weeks and can't raise your arm on the affected side or pick up anything heavier than a magazine. And certainly no housework or repetitive actions such as ironing, shaking a duvet etc things are restricted for a while. Lots of pillows and V pillow to sleep - they disappear quickly.

I have a very long scar over hip to over hip which to begin with looked really scary but now has healed to a very fine white line and hardly noticeable. You also have a new tummy button so there is a very faint line round there (give away for those in the know) but again you need a magnifying glass to notice. The surgeons perform the mastectomy and 'refill' through a small hole where they take the nipple away. So to begin with that looks a bit odd but again I have had nipple reconstruction and tattoo so you now can't tell. Also, at first my new boob looked a little flat and fat - apparently it's how they take the fat from your tummy and fold it in. I since have had liposuction to take away the side fatness and lipofilling (with fat taken form my thighs) to soften the top area which seems to have done the trick. You don't have to have all this extra surgery but I was offered it and it certainly has improved the cosmetic outcome. I only had my last lipofilling in at the end of November so all this messing around does go on for a while. But, it's mostly due to the fact its non urgent and you have to wait your turn and also once done it takes 3-4 months to settle before your 'boob' is reviewed again. But, for me, all this extra surgery although all done under a general anaesthetic has been day surgery and recovery been quick and all definitely worth doing. To be fair I have left the cosmetic surgeon to get on with it and he has done a superb job far exceeding my initial expectations. If you can have it  and can face the hassle, and there is no denying there is hassle in the recovery etc it is very much worth going for a DIEP. You won't need anything replaced in a few years and it really does feel natural (well it is) warm and looks completely natural even without any clothes on. I only had one side done and it looks and hangs just the same as the other side. Please ask any questions you want as happy to let you know. If you want to PM me please do. It's a big decision. I sorry for the long ramble but I hope you have found some of this useful. XXXxxx