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Amyschembri's avatar
Amyschembri
Member
10 years ago

Breast reconstruction - prosthesis and skin graft. Advice welcome

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. At this time she had a mastectomy and a number of lymph node glands removed. After extensive chemo and radiation therapy, my Mum beat cancer and is thankfully no longer a physical sufferer.  

My mother now faces the tough decision of what to do next.... Unfortunately the prosthesis she has is hard, uncomfortable and obscure but most importantly the skin covering is now only 1mm thick and needs to be replaced as its breaking down. This is where we would like some help and advice please. 

Mum has two options;

1. To replace the skin with a skin graft directly her back and keep the existing prosthesis OR;

2. Replace the entire implant, starting from scratch using a 'new and improved' implant with skin grafts and fat from taken her stomach.

In my eyes,  option 2 is of course the most logical and all being well will result in a better long term result for my mum both physical and emotionally BUT it also means a larger operation, larger recovery time and larger risk.  Understandably Mum is not too excited about having a major operation after all she has been through, but either way something has to be done. Does anyone have any experience or advice they could please share?

Thank you,

Amy

Reconstruction

7 Replies

  • Amyschembri's avatar
    Amyschembri
    Member
    10 years ago

    Thank you Paula. Mum meets with her surgeon tomorrow to get more clarity. We really appreciate your support. Amy 

  • Amyschembri's avatar
    Amyschembri
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Jane. Thanks so much for your help and advice. I have referred the information to mum and she has read your comment. She meets with her surgeon tomorrow. So hopefully she will have some more clarity after that. Glad to hear you have recovered well and are happy with the results. Amy 

  • Jane221's avatar
    Jane221
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Amy, making decisions around reconstruction can be very difficult and overwhelming so it is wonderful that you are working with your mum to better understand the options available.

    If you haven't already done so, take a look at the Reclaim Your Curves website (reclaim your curves). From your description, it does appear that your mum is being offered either a Lat Dorsi reconstruction (latissimus-dorsi-flap) which uses the back muscle and an implant to create a breast, or a TRAM or DIEP Flap reconstruction, both of which use a flap of skin and tissue from the stomach, but in the case of a DIEP, they do not use any muscle. You can find out more here: (tram-flap) or (diep-flap). There are Fact Sheets on the website about all the procedures and some hints and tips about preparing for reconstructive surgery.

    I had a DIEP Flap reconstruction in April 2014, two years after my mastectomy. It was a 5-6 hr operation and had a good 6-8 week recovery. It's a very long and complex operation which also worried me but your mum's surgeon will be able to advise if she is a good candidate. I'm very happy with the outcome of my reconstruction and because it is entirely my own skin / tissue there is no ongoing expansion /issues such as those associated with implants.

    Best of luck to you and your mum. Jane xx

  • mum2jj's avatar
    mum2jj
    Member
    10 years ago

    Definatley some tough decsion making for your Mum. Are these the two options her PS has offered. I take it when you say prosthesis you are taking about an existing implant. If the implant has been in for that long then it may well need replacing?  It sounds li,e the "back" option is a Lat Dorsi where they use a muscle in yiur back, combined with a small implant, is that what they are talking about?  Fat grafting is becoming more common in areas where the skin is thin. I actually had it to try and give better symmetry after a double reconstruction using my tummy. The donor site (mine was inner thigh)was actually more painful for me. 

    good luck. 

    Paula 

  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    10 years ago

    I can't  offer any advice here but wish smooth sailing for whatever procedure your Mum chooses and congrats on being disease free. I think an in depth discussion with her surgeon is warranted and ask really which he thinks will give her the best outcome. Best of luck.  Kath.