Forum Discussion

lillekatt's avatar
lillekatt
Member
13 years ago

no expander at the time of mastectomy

I wonder if anyone knows if it is fine to wait some weeks to insert tissue expander after the mastectomy..... 

 

Mastectomy and tissue expander insert was planned on 8/10. But my plastic surgeon could not do that day, it was moved back a week to next Monday. At pre-admission on Monday I was told that the scar from 2nd lumpectomy on 21/8 has little infection so it might be no go. Today I went to see plastic surgeon registrar and then 3 of them looked at my little scar. Later today I was told that it will be no tissue expander on Monday. It'll be only mastectomy.  I believe it was important to do these 2 procedures together from 2 surgeons try to find the time good for both. But al in sudden they do these 2 procedure separately. I have no way to speak to my cancer doctor. No way to get appointment and today is Friday and operation is Monday. I feel anxious. I’ll call nurse on Monday and at least tell my deep concern. But unfortunately cancer nurse at public system did not help much. She responds with generalized answer..

I chose mastectomy just because I wanted to get reconstruction done by tissue expander. Operation date for tissue expander is not given nor promised. I moved to public system now, I have no idea how long I have to wait for the next one...  my treatment has been in turmoil all the way and it’s unpredictable and I cannot say I’m happy with my cancer doctor… She does not seem to understand what is important for us. She did not explain  

3 Replies

  • lillekatt's avatar
    lillekatt
    Member
    13 years ago

    Oh, Thank you Tonya for the reply..  My surgeon is not good with patients. Unfortunately my trust on her is declining continuously.  in Public system they never give me a chance to speak to her after I changed my status as public patient of her.

    I'll have no chance to ask her a question until I see her at the theatre door tomorrow just before the operation, but I decided to tell at admission that I did not agreed on mastectomy only operation. And I need to know why mastectomy cannot wait until infection gets clear (tiny little one which I have no inflammation, fever, redness) so that reconstruction can be done at the same time.  I thought it might be due to RNSH is moving to new building and they close operation theatre for a month or so. If that is the reason then I'd rather do in private giving my mastectomy cannot wait a month.   Or otherwise I started to think not to get mastectomy tomy at all and live with 5 to 8 % increased risk. Maybe that is also a good option compare to all the trouble with these people. As you said there are big surprises on each step I took and I am standing there totally lost.

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    13 years ago

    You have had such a troubled ,uncertain time -you poor darl. I think you can have the expander put in later but I'd be like you and want it done with the mastectomy.It means another operation,more time off work and recovery. I have heard that some breast surgeons can put in the expander.Then later on the plastic surgeon puts the prosthesis in.Could you ask your surgeon if she can do it? Good luck for Monday if it all goes ahead.

                                          Tonya xx