Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Well, I've been reading posts for quite a few weeks now, keep thinking I should post but don't quite make it. Initial diagnosis post breast screen mammogram, call back & biopsy late May, Grade 1 invas...
Forum Discussion
Hi Bronwyn. When I had to make those decisions recovery time was a big issue for me. My initial cancer was ten years ago ( I've since had a recurrence) I had invasive lobular in one boob and 'cysts' in the other so a double was a no brainer for me but at that time finding a surgeon who would perform a double mastectomy was a struggle.The first three I interviewed wanted to do one at a time which would I have dragged the whole process out for far too long. I ended up having immediate implant reconstruction with skin and nipple saving.
Keeping the nipples, though at the time I wanted to do it, was a mistake. I was a DD cup and have gone down to a B. There is too much skin and the promised 'dressmaking' never eventuated as we got too caught up with trying to manage the implants which didn't behave well. My nipples have now slid down m chest, though one is much higher than the other, and it looks dreadful. If I had the energy I'd line up for another round of surgery, get the nipples removed and have the excess skin sorted out. I just don't care enough any more.
One of the things that doesn't get properly considered, in my opinion, is the way each individual scars. I'm covered in thick ropey keloid scars (had an interesting life) so I don't know why everyone was so surprised when I had scarring, cording and encapsulation issues. I can only imagine what would have happened if I had gone for tissue reconstruction. It sounds like your surgeon is a sensible person, keep asking questions.
Keeping the nipples, though at the time I wanted to do it, was a mistake. I was a DD cup and have gone down to a B. There is too much skin and the promised 'dressmaking' never eventuated as we got too caught up with trying to manage the implants which didn't behave well. My nipples have now slid down m chest, though one is much higher than the other, and it looks dreadful. If I had the energy I'd line up for another round of surgery, get the nipples removed and have the excess skin sorted out. I just don't care enough any more.
One of the things that doesn't get properly considered, in my opinion, is the way each individual scars. I'm covered in thick ropey keloid scars (had an interesting life) so I don't know why everyone was so surprised when I had scarring, cording and encapsulation issues. I can only imagine what would have happened if I had gone for tissue reconstruction. It sounds like your surgeon is a sensible person, keep asking questions.