lumpectomy then mastectomy, can't I have reconstruction at the same time?

Hi Anita

I was in the same situation as you. Had my lumpectomy and then they didn't cover the margins and decided on mastectomy where they found more tumours. I also didn't get the choice of immediate reconstruction due to the fact that I would be going through chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy.

The surgeon told me that I would have to wait till after a year from the last radiation treatment due to the fact that the skin gets very damaged internally. Anyone that offers the reconstruction earlier is crazy as you don't want to have any problems and infections on top of everything else. 

The reason for my delay in reconstruction was that there was no time to wait till I started my chemo and also that radiation treatment can damage the expanders and you can have massive complications.

Hope that helps.

Adriana

Thanks Louise and I'll check out the blog too, Cheers Anita

Hi Anita, sorry for the delay, you are in now and will be able to access everything there. This is the blog referred to below by Viv http://www.bcna.org.au/user/14636/blog/74198#comment-48051

The important thing is to get fully informed about what is best for you so you can make an informed choice, and you are doing the right thing asking these questions early.

cheers Louise

Thanks for that info Viv and Ashlee. I'm definitely going to be armed with questions when I see my surgeon next week. Cheers, Anita

I was going to write exactly what Viv has just written, please read that article it is very crucial in deciding your next plan of action and a lot of surgeons do not work with plastic surgeons so they will not offer reconstruction at the same time, I would strongly suggest getting another opinion, I was in the same boat as you and it wasn't until after the mastectomy I was told there was no reason for me not to have a reconstruction done at the same time with nipple/skin sparing, my surgeon did not work with plastic surgeons and does not believe in immediate reconstruction. I had no idea this was available. Ask about nipple and skin sparing also, if you have early stage cancer there is no reason you can not have this either. As much as you should have faith in your surgeon ask the questions and if not happy get another opinion, not all surgeons operate the same way. Good luck xx

Please ask your surgeon why and tell him your preferences. Does he work with a Plastic Surgeon, ie: in the same hospital so both mastectomy and reconstruction can be done at the same time.

I would recommend if you are in the Breast Reconstruction group to place this in the search option above, not sure if it would bring up the post if you are not in the group,  A MUST READ FOR WOMEN FACING MASTECTOMY.

I had to find out my options as I live in a regional city where there this service is not offered.

I hope other ladies on the breast reconstruction site come on to assist you, But keep on asking questions.

By asking questions at least you will find out if this is due to treatment plan or because of where you live.

Wishing you all the best.

 

Viv

 

Please ask your surgeon why and tell him your preferences. Does he work with a Plastic Surgeon, ie: in the same hospital so both mastectomy and reconstruction can be done at the same time.

I would recommend if you are in the Breast Reconstruction group to place this in the search option above, not sure if it would bring up the post if you are not in the group,  A MUST READ FOR WOMEN FACING MASTECTOMY.

I had to find out my options as I live in a regional city where there this service is not offered.

I hope other ladies on the breast reconstruction site come on to assist you, But keep on asking questions.

By asking questions at least you will find out if this is due to treatment plan or because of where you live.

Wishing you all the best.

 

Viv

 

thanks Chris. Actually I requested to join the reconstruction group yesterday and it looks like I'm now a member but I can't access anything. I noticed you are one of the facilators, can you confirm that I am a member? Thanks, Anita

Hi Anita You need to ask your surgeon why you can't have immediate recon - there may be a valid reason based on your treatment plan - There are a lot of options in relation to reconstruction and you may find it useful to join the breast reconstruction group to gain some firsthand experiences of the different options. It can also be a bit more complex than just one op depending on your path... I am currently going through the process now following bilateral mastectomy and immediate recon with expanders in June this year. I had fat graft surgery yesterday an will need another in about six weeks followed by exchange to implants and then nipple reconstruction. It is in reality a 12 month process for me with several surgeries. Every person is different and each process and surgeon can be different also so you need to ask a lot of questions. Many breast surgeons don't do reaconstruction it requires a plastic surgeon an private or public can also be different. I am a public patient but needed to go to a different hospital to get reconstruction options I wanted. Good luck Chris