I have IBC

Sue,

Thanks for your reply and all the words of support you say about your reconstruction. I don't have any private cover but am booked for surgery publically anytime this year, hopefully, fingers crossed with the waiting lists. I was initially to have an inflater put in at the time of mastectomy by a great female plastic surgeon, but unfortunately it was cancelled as my cancer was extensive and close to the chest wall, (it started as 1.2cm tumour but by the time they operated - 6wks later, it had turned into a monster 14.5cms multifocal tumours, HER2+ cancer very aggressive). Over the 16mths of treatment that plastic surgeon had left the hospital and I had to wait 1 year after my radiation therapy to see how my chest recovered. Now I am seeing another plastic surgeon, who I didn't warm to much at first, but over the visits he is become easier to communicate with, also I have heard some good things about his surgery.

My biggest hurdle is my occupation. I do gardening and mowing and if I have a tram flap (he won't do a Diep operation) he will cut through my stomach muscles & wall and I have doubts I will be able to continue working as I am now. There is a lot of lifting etc. The only alternative (which is my latest idea) is to just have a reduction on the other side for now and get a smaller prothesis, (I have picked the size with the fitter and am planning to get a stick on one so I can go back to wearing sensible bras) I am hoping this operation won't be too much to get over and my back will appreciate not having a DD to carry around on one side.

I know what you mean regarding looking down at your cleavage. My scar has a little crease in it near the middle of my chest where the radiation margins finished and I kid myself that it looks like a cleavage when I lean forward!  Also having no breast on one side is a problem as I have a regular massage and have to stuff a cushion under me or I get cramps in my back muscles laying uneven. I also sleep with about 4 soft pillows which I tuck in around me and under my arm to get a comfy sleep.

I am totally over my mastectomy bras, I have tried quite a few different brands - post surgery & berlei, amenia and although they are comfortable and cotton I am getting itchy from the elastic bands and they do look like weapons of mass destruction :)

I am struggling with the whole early menopause thing, hot flushes and roll of fat around my waist and no sexdrive arrgghhh!  Just short of taking anti-depressants, they won't give me estrogen cream, so maybe a tram flap reconstruction would be just the lift I need to get my relationship back to normal. My dear husband has been so patient with me after 25yrs marriage, but he is so frustrated with the delemia of my cancer, I have to stay on the treatment for the rest of my life which doesn't leave him much hope at a normal relationship again. After 2 years he is losing his grip on being the strong one.

I'm seeing my oncologist next month for my 6mth checkup so I have a lot to discuss with her ...

Thanks again

Marian