Great initiative!

Hi Minkabelle and Helen,

I had a mastectomy and chemo in 2010/11.  After being told you have breast cancer and to have a mastectomy and chemo i was not at all interested in any reconstruction at the time of diagnosis.  I was recommended a surgeon for reconstruction by a lady who owned a specialst bra shop especially for people like myself who needed a breast prothesis and special bras.  She talked about this surgeon and said he did magic and she has seen his work as many of his patience had come into her shop to be fitted with bras.  At the time it was still too early for me to even consider or think about reconstruction as i had to get the whole idea of breast cancer, mastectomy and chemo in my head sorted. Besides who wants more surgery.

After a few months when all had settled and i had overcome the trauma of the dianosis i decided to look the surgeon up on the internet and did some reseach about the different types of reconstructions.  I decided to just make an appointment and see how i felt about the whole process and how i felt about the surgeon.  Once i did i decided to go ahead with the Tram Flap Reconstruction and have no regrets.  i was very fortunate and the surgery was a sucess.  i have a lot of scaring but that is just me my skin, but with clothes on no one knows any difference.  

Helen, I am sorry to hear that you have limited mobility in your arms due to surgery, i too had some trouble with mobility straight after the surgery.  i went to the physio who worked with breast cancer patients who have had a mastectomy and she and i worked through the excercises to overcome them.  It took a lot of work as i did the excercises relegiously every day 3 times a day.  i also had to stretch the arm back even though it caused some pain but not to the extent that it was unbearable.  Every day i stretched it a little further and then one day after a month or so it felt like this rubberband in the underarm area just snapped and a few months after that i regained full mobility.  Not sure if your problem is the same but i would suggest you find a physio that have worked with breast cancer patients and especially ones who have had a mastectomy.  i would also be happy to compare notes if you want to talk more.

I am always happy to talk about my experience to anyone who wants to find out more about Tram Flap Reconstruction.. My surgery was done in Sydney 2011 as i was living in NSW at the time but i am sure there are many good surgeons in Australia.

 

 

Hi Minkabelle and Helen

I had mastectomy and tram flap reconstruction in January 2001.  I am so pleased I had the reconstruction at the time of the mastectomy.  I will not pretend that it was an easy process.  I experienced a number of complications but my plastic surgeon was amazing he never gave up.  I underwent numerous scar revision surgieries over the next few years the final surgery was to build a nipple.  The day this was done I was so excited as it was literally like the icing on the cake.  Who would have thought one could be so excited about a nipple.  As the years have passed the reconstructed breast has settled into or onto my body and looks natural. And my tummy is still flat.   As for the mobility of my arm I have always done Pilates as a way of establishing and maintaining mobility but always experienced some tightness in the axilla area.  I had come to accept this as my lot.  However more recently at a consultation with a mucular skeletal doctor for neck problems I learnt that tightness of the underlying pectoral muscle was the cause and that this could be released with treatment.  I now have improved  neck  rotation and increased mobility of both my neck and arm.  I am more than happy to discuss the reconstruction process further if you wish.  Take care

Lorraine