Third time, and lucky again
Hi all. I was recently diagnosed with a 10mm invasive ductal carcinoma ER+, P+, HER2- on the right side and had a wide local excision with sentinel node biopsy a month ago and I have been so very luc...
Forum Discussion
Thanks for your responses @Jules1958, @Zoffiel and @Abbydog.
It was an incredibly long appointment, and whilst I had done some reading about options prior to attending the appointment I found all the information so totally overwhelming. It was all explained in such minute detail. In trying to process it all afterwards I think what he was saying was that because I had had radiation to one breast there was a much higher risk of contracture if I had an implant, but he seemed unsure if I would be a good candidate for a DIEP flap because I do have a scar from a previous surgery, and I don’t have enough belly fat to make breasts the same size as they are now. Abbydog, he has given me a form to go and get a CT scan to look at blood vessels so I’m thinking maybe he will wait to receive that to see if a flap is do-able?
Jules1958 it’s good to hear from someone who has been through the process and is on the other side. I have looked at the resource you suggested (it’s great) and also I joined the ‘Choosing Breast Reconstruction’ group. I definitely like the idea of a ‘painbuster’ so will ask about that one if I am able to go through with the DIEP.
Zoffiel, I wish I had thought about the Zoom session before the appointment. I thought I had it together, I even took a notebook and pen with me and did not write a single thing down! I suspect despite my best efforts my emotions got the better of me. Either that or the surgeon was not great at communicating or wasn’t really sure himself. Perhaps my case is a bit more complex than he is used to😐
It’s such a hard decision. I’m wondering if it might help you Abbydog to think about each of the surgeons you’ve seen and what they have said. If the information they have given is the same, maybe just go with the one you are more comfortable with - go with your gut. I know my breast surgeon very well as he was the one I saw after my last diagnosis 7 years ago and so I trust that he has sent me to one who is very competent. I didn’t ask him about successes and failures in the end but I may request another appointment if another isn’t arranged following this scan in order to have any other questions met. I won’t be rushed into this.
It was an incredibly long appointment, and whilst I had done some reading about options prior to attending the appointment I found all the information so totally overwhelming. It was all explained in such minute detail. In trying to process it all afterwards I think what he was saying was that because I had had radiation to one breast there was a much higher risk of contracture if I had an implant, but he seemed unsure if I would be a good candidate for a DIEP flap because I do have a scar from a previous surgery, and I don’t have enough belly fat to make breasts the same size as they are now. Abbydog, he has given me a form to go and get a CT scan to look at blood vessels so I’m thinking maybe he will wait to receive that to see if a flap is do-able?
Jules1958 it’s good to hear from someone who has been through the process and is on the other side. I have looked at the resource you suggested (it’s great) and also I joined the ‘Choosing Breast Reconstruction’ group. I definitely like the idea of a ‘painbuster’ so will ask about that one if I am able to go through with the DIEP.
Zoffiel, I wish I had thought about the Zoom session before the appointment. I thought I had it together, I even took a notebook and pen with me and did not write a single thing down! I suspect despite my best efforts my emotions got the better of me. Either that or the surgeon was not great at communicating or wasn’t really sure himself. Perhaps my case is a bit more complex than he is used to😐
It’s such a hard decision. I’m wondering if it might help you Abbydog to think about each of the surgeons you’ve seen and what they have said. If the information they have given is the same, maybe just go with the one you are more comfortable with - go with your gut. I know my breast surgeon very well as he was the one I saw after my last diagnosis 7 years ago and so I trust that he has sent me to one who is very competent. I didn’t ask him about successes and failures in the end but I may request another appointment if another isn’t arranged following this scan in order to have any other questions met. I won’t be rushed into this.