Forum Discussion
Mastectomy vs Reconstruction
I am nearing the end of chemotherapy and am faced with the decision as to whether to have a mastectomy or mastectomy plus reconstruction. I have started to gather data about the recon as initially I w...
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Hi @Cory51
I had the same thought process as you. I didn't know at the early stages of diagnosis that reconstruction didn't necessarily mean implants and I knew I didn't want an implant. Having talked to the breast surgeon I was encouraged to think about DIEP flap reconstruction and having radiotherapy before surgery to enable this.
I am lucky enough that the option was available to me in the public system locally so there were no out of pocket costs at all. There was also no waiting list as the surgery includes removal of the cancer so you are fast tracked.
I'm now just over five weeks out of surgery, with a couple of small complications along the way, but recovering well. My initial stay in hospital was just a week.
I can't say I am used to my new body just yet but it feels more comfortable every day and I predict that I'll be fine with it in time.
I had the same thought process as you. I didn't know at the early stages of diagnosis that reconstruction didn't necessarily mean implants and I knew I didn't want an implant. Having talked to the breast surgeon I was encouraged to think about DIEP flap reconstruction and having radiotherapy before surgery to enable this.
I am lucky enough that the option was available to me in the public system locally so there were no out of pocket costs at all. There was also no waiting list as the surgery includes removal of the cancer so you are fast tracked.
I'm now just over five weeks out of surgery, with a couple of small complications along the way, but recovering well. My initial stay in hospital was just a week.
I can't say I am used to my new body just yet but it feels more comfortable every day and I predict that I'll be fine with it in time.