Too many choices
I am seeking advice..... had a lumpectomy, now advised to have masectomy and axilla clearance. Options are skin sparing, nipple sparing or masectomy( traditional). I still have radiation therapy to...
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Hi @Spillsy - I can't add much to the excellent advice above - just to research, research, research!
@kmakm - has hit the nail on the head about recon being your first consideration as that will determine a lot.
I had a nipple sacrificing, skin sparing double mastectomy in April. I didn't know at the time of the surgery what my treatment plan would be, but simply because of the size of my cancer I was informed that radiation would more than likely be part of my treatment and it's radiation that determines the success of different types of reconstruction.
I consulted both a radiation oncologist and plastic surgeon before my breast surgery and that was invaluable.
The plastic surgeon told me that he would do a great reconstruction for me but that he did not want his 'work' radiated because it would compromise the result and then we would both be unhappy. He would not do an immediate reconstruction but suggested expanders for a later reconstruction well after radiation was over. I was disappointed because I wanted an immediate reconstruction.
So then I went to have an appointment with the radiation oncologist who explained to me why I was likely to need radiation and also the effect that radiation can have on reconstruction - both implants and autologous (which uses your own tissue eg DIEP flap). She was absolutely amazing and when I left her rooms I was 100% comfortable that my plastic surgeon was right. This was enormously comforting for me and although it wasn't what I originally wanted, I went in to my surgery feeling absolutely confident that I was doing the right thing.
Now I'm doing chemo and will do radiation after that - I have air expanders in. I'll have to wait until at least 6 months after radiation if I want an autologous recon or at least 12 months if I choose implants - that's because there's a greater risk of issues after radiation with implants than autologous.
It's such a minefield out there so really do as much research and consult as many professionals as you can.
All the best with everything!
xxxxx
@kmakm - has hit the nail on the head about recon being your first consideration as that will determine a lot.
I had a nipple sacrificing, skin sparing double mastectomy in April. I didn't know at the time of the surgery what my treatment plan would be, but simply because of the size of my cancer I was informed that radiation would more than likely be part of my treatment and it's radiation that determines the success of different types of reconstruction.
I consulted both a radiation oncologist and plastic surgeon before my breast surgery and that was invaluable.
The plastic surgeon told me that he would do a great reconstruction for me but that he did not want his 'work' radiated because it would compromise the result and then we would both be unhappy. He would not do an immediate reconstruction but suggested expanders for a later reconstruction well after radiation was over. I was disappointed because I wanted an immediate reconstruction.
So then I went to have an appointment with the radiation oncologist who explained to me why I was likely to need radiation and also the effect that radiation can have on reconstruction - both implants and autologous (which uses your own tissue eg DIEP flap). She was absolutely amazing and when I left her rooms I was 100% comfortable that my plastic surgeon was right. This was enormously comforting for me and although it wasn't what I originally wanted, I went in to my surgery feeling absolutely confident that I was doing the right thing.
Now I'm doing chemo and will do radiation after that - I have air expanders in. I'll have to wait until at least 6 months after radiation if I want an autologous recon or at least 12 months if I choose implants - that's because there's a greater risk of issues after radiation with implants than autologous.
It's such a minefield out there so really do as much research and consult as many professionals as you can.
All the best with everything!
xxxxx