(Article) A Few Words About Fake Breasts

I'm in touch with another breast cancer patient away from this site who is really struggling with her reconstruction options at the moment. She has larger sized breasts with wear and tear from breast feeding so she is worried her reconstructed breast won't match the other side. She is frustrated that her surgeons are saying that her multiple tumours cannot be removed individually by lumpectomy and her only choices are full mastectomy, with or without implant or DIEP. 

I got the feeling when we spoke that she really wants is what I'm guessing we all yearn for, which is to be told, 'guess what, we don't have to take off your breast after all'.

Even my oncologist doesn't understand why I'm so tense about the prospect of the surgery. I couldn't explain it to him, other than to say I wanted there to be an option C, which doesn't involve cutting off any of my body parts!

@Rose18 It's a weird thing eh, to go though a lot of pain and suffering for something that you're not especially happy with, that is substantially sub-optimal compared with what you had before... yet still be pleased and grateful for it.

Like @Vangirl I am so helped by walking this path with people who understand here. K xox

and an implant with the LD recon 

Hi @Vangirl, yes I had a left Latissimus Dorsi flap reconstruction and a right reduction to make them more even. It was a pretty painful process, but worth it. I’m still waiting to get the nipple tattoo. Am almost there after a few years of surgery. 

@Rose18 by which you mean Latissimus Dorsi flap?

I had a left LD reconstruction and it has transformed my life. I like looking down and having cleavage, and to feel like my old self. The operation was painful and the results are not entirely symmetrical, but coping with imperfection and scars is part of my post cancer life. I find the lack of sensation near the scars to the most upsetting part of having had cancer and I wish doctors would focus on it more. I would go through the pain and I accept all of the risks to be where I am today. I also respect everyone’s choice to reconstruct or not. 

Absolutely @primek Important to have input from the perspective of those who have already been there - like yourself and @kmakm

Everyone's experience will be different but I for one feel so lucky to be able to connect with women who have been there ahead of me. So hard to discuss the prospect or experience of losing our boob/s to those who haven't or will never go there!

No agreed. I am aware others read the thread and think always important to have all the info.
Agree ...I didn't want to be fussing with prosthesis either. Hense having immediate reconstruction and simplest procedure so not to delay my chemo. 

Thanks for the input @primek
There is no option for lumpectomy for me as the tumour is very big and my breast, not so much!

Also no option for implant because of the neoadjuvant radiotherapy.

So two 'choices': Diep flap boob or no boob at all. Didn't fancy mucking around with chicken fillets down my bra for the rest of my life so the decision was pretty straightforward.

I have some sensation on my breast  skin but not at the areas where the cuts are. It's important to be well prepared that all procedures don't restore feeling in the breasts.

It is a sad part of this disease. 
Although a lumpectomy for me would still have been loss of nipple so I doubt I would have had a better outcome.