Latest results - decisions to make

Hi Louise, another question...how long did you stay in hospital and how long were your drains in for?  Did you have any complications? Thanks again, Tracey xoxo

Hi Rowdy

Thank you for your feedback and apologies for my late response.  I'm up to round 3 of weekly chemo tomorrow and Herceptin every 3 weeks and have just felt yuck.  Plus had day surgery for a port in between chemo sessions.

You do sound almost identical to my experience.  My surgeon has reassured me that the other breast is clear as the first surgery probably did distort the result of the MRI.

I'm seeing the plastic surgeon on Monday to discuss possible tissue reconstruction.  I'm just concerned as I have a fairly flat stomach and am worried about losing my core.  I don't think I'd have enough for two with tissue.  I possibly would have enough for one.  I don't have much tissue on my back either, although there is plenty on my inner thighs, but this doesn't seem like a common procedure.

Does the reconstructed breast look similar to the other breast?  Were you able to keep your nipple (I can't)?

I guess once I make the final decision re bilateral or single mastectomy that will help me to choose tissue or implant.

A lot of women said that with an implant it feels heavy and they can't sleep on their stomach.  Although I would only get small implants if I chose that option.

Did you have weekly paclitaxel and 3 weekly herceptin?  I have a lung condition, which is why I have weekly paclitaxel.  Did you struggle with constipation?  Did you use the cold cap and if so did you lose much/all of your hair?

Thanks again for your feedback, it's very much appreciated.

Tracey xoxo

Hi Louise

Thanks so much for your detailed response and apologies for my late reply as I started weekly chemo a few weeks ago and have been feeling yuck!

I'm seeing the plastic surgeon on Monday and will see what my options are with tissue reconstruction.  I have a fairly flat stomach as my last child birth was 19 years ago, and am worried there would only be enough for one breast (even though I'm only small) and also worried about losing my core strength and the long recovery time.

I was fortunate enough to have 4 women show the results of tissue reconstruction at a support group last month and they did look good and it was soft and more natural than implants.

I'm almost certain I will do the bilateral mastectomy as I don't want to be worrying all the time about it coming back.

As I'm triple positive for hormones I don't have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, although I did attend a talk on genetics recently at The Mater Hospital at Nth Sydney.  A Genetic Counsellor from the Royal North Shore Hospital Familial Cancer Service presented and I am now following up with her regarding possible genetic kidney cancer in our family.  My grandfather (age 56), father (age 37), second cousin (age 27) all had kidney cancer, all male with two under 50.  I have 3 children, one daughter and two sons, with one about to turn 23 and nearing the age of my second cousin.  It's definitely helping me take my mind off chemo and impending mastectomy.

I'll definitely listen to the plastic surgeon on Monday and consider tissue (if possible).

I really appreciate the time you have taken to respond.

Tracey xoxo

Hi Shellie

Sorry for the late response, have started chemo weekly (3rd session tomorrow) and struggling.  Yes it probably was hard to read due to the recent surgery, but like you I am small breasted and don't have a lot of spare tissue.

I see the plastic surgeon on Monday to discuss tissue reconstruction, but will probably go with implants as I'm almost certain I will do a bilateral mastectomy to ease worries about it coming back.  I also like the idea of a speedier recovery compared to tissue reconstruction.

Thanks so much for your feedback. xoxo

Hi Tracey my bc was very similar in that I had a lump and extensive  dcis. I had 2 surgeries trying to get it all, but couldn't get clear margins so it was recomended to have the mastectomy. At the time this was devastating news and i did discuss having a double but my surgeon re-assured me that my other breast was clear, I also had chemo before surgery. I had mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (tramflap) in November last year. I'm happy with the result. In Febuary I had my first mamogram and it was all clear. I have just finished my herceptin in May. It is a decision that only you can make as it is your body. Good luckx

Hi Tracey

I was also 48 when diagnosed with DCIS in my left breast after a routine mammogram in Dec 2013, I then had a lumpectomy in Jan 2014 with clear margins. In June 2014 I had an MRI which detected nothing further. In Oct 2014 I decided to have genetic testing and tested positive to the BRCA2 gene. Like you, I didn't want this horrible disease hanging over my head for the rest of my life, so I made the decision to have a double mastectomy with immediate free TRAM flap reconstruction. That was 9 weeks ago and I am doing very well. I feel almost 100% and I am very happy with the result, a nice flat stomach (after giving birth to 3 children it's nice to have a flat stomach again!) and new breasts. Not sure where you live, but I live in Brisbane and my breast surgeon was Dr Jenny Gough and my plastic surgeon was Dr Eddie Cheng, they have both done an excellent job and are very good surgeons. I think it's really important to have good surgeons around you. No one can tell you what decision to make, but for me this was definitely the right choice, as the pathology on both my breasts came back with atypical change in both breasts, which would have turned cancerous if left there. I can now look forward to a life without breast cancer, I don't even need to have mammograms or MRI's anymore. To look at me in my clothing, you would not know anything had been done. Thanks to my great Physio, Lorna Golombick at Lime physiotherapy at Northlakes, I actually feel much stronger and fitter than I did before my surgery. So for me, I don't regret a single thing. I have 3 beautiful sons aged 16 to 22 and a wonderful husband, and I'm just glad that  my decision will now mean that I can hopefully live a long life with them and any future grandchildren. I'm happy to talk to you further about my procedure if you like, it was a big operation, almost 13 hours, but I am very glad I did it. I wish you all the best with making your decision, listen to your surgeons, they know what is best. Take care. 

Love Louise xx

Hi, 

So challenging and scary for you when it's not straight forward. 

I would clarify with the Oncologist today if they meant the MRI may not have been accurate because the surgery had been so recent and the area may have been inflamed or irritated??? If that is the case the other breast should have been accurate. I don't know but that's what I would ask. 

I had a double mastectomy with recon in March. I had to have implants as they said  I didn't have enough tissue anywhere to use. 

I had a double because I was so small busted so the other implant would look so different and also I had a fear of it coming back in other breast too. 

Good luck today, I'm sure others on here will  be able to help too

oxox