Preventative surgery options?

Hi Kristy Just wondering how you are getting on?? How did your reconstruction op go? I've just had my ovaries and tubes out op and recovering really well and now hoping to hear when the mastectomy op will be? I hope all is going well for you Debbie

Hi

Thanks for your message it is really good to get some feedback from someone who has had the same op!! I read with interest some of your earlier posts pre op and then post op and wondered how you were getting on??

I was very interested in the fact that you had the 3 in 1 op and I'm going to mention that to my surgeon and see what she says as they have all said the ovaries and tubes would be a seperate op. Makes more sense to have it all done at once I think too!!

It is quite scary thinking about it all but the alternative is much worse so I'm keen to get it under way. I actually have 2 sisters and one of them wasn't keen to have the genetic testing until the 2 of us were going through it all. It turns out she was negative which i was happy about. My other sister who lives in Melbourne had her op last thursday so I have been to see her today which is a 7 hr round trip so i'm exhausted tonight!! My sisters op is implants though as she wasn't suitable for tram flap.

I would love to talk some more to you about it all

Thanks

 

Debbie x

Hi

Thanks for your message it is really good to get some feedback from someone who has had the same op!! I read with interest some of your earlier posts pre op and then post op and wondered how you were getting on??

I was very interested in the fact that you had the 3 in 1 op and I'm going to mention that to my surgeon and see what she says as they have all said the ovaries and tubes would be a seperate op. Makes more sense to have it all done at once I think too!!

It is quite scary thinking about it all but the alternative is much worse so I'm keen to get it under way. I actually have 2 sisters and one of them wasn't keen to have the genetic testing until the 2 of us were going through it all. It turns out she was negative which i was happy about. My other sister who lives in Melbourne had her op last thursday so I have been to see her today which is a 7 hr round trip so i'm exhausted tonight!! My sisters op is implants though as she wasn't suitable for tram flap.

I would love to talk some more to you about it all

Thanks

 

Debbie x

Hi Debbie I'm the same as you BRACA2 but not cancer. I had a double mastectomy and tram flap reconstruction and ovaries and tubes out all at the same time in late August last year. The ovary surgeon said I might as well as the tram flap reconstruction was going to be the surgery that took the longest to recover from and she could use the cut in the tummy to do the operation so no additional holes. The ops took 9 hours. They said it could be anywhere up to 12 hours but it took a lot less time. There was 3 surgeons involved and we had the theatre booked for the whole day so there was no waiting around as soon as I got there straight into theatre. Don't know if you've had an operation before it was my first. But it's true what they say you go to sleep and feel like you wake up 2 seconds later. I spent one night in ICU so they could check on my flap reconstruction every hour. They are checking for blood flow. Then moved to the ward for 8 nights. I had 6 tubes and a pain pack and a catheter attached to me. Last tubes came out the day before I left definitely glad I didn't go home with any tubes still in. The first week is tough but after that the recovery is fast. Very happy to talk to you about all of this if you want. I know it is very scary but am delighted with my results and very happy I did it the way I did. Good luck to both of you. Fortunately for me my sister was negative.

Hi again Kristy

That all makes sense now thank you. I too had decided I would have the preventative surgery before i got my results that I did carry the gene. My sister and I have been to all the appointments together so that has been really good. My breast surgeon also found a lump during his examination which then I was rushed off for all the tests and the initial lump was nothing but they found another one which I had to have a biopsy on but luckily it was of no concern too!!! So I'm understanding your op procedures now!!

I will be having my masectomy's and tram flap recon in the one operation which is a bit scary, but best to get it over and done with I think!!

Hopefully I do get in soon to have ovaries and tubes out as that is only a one night in hospital stay. My sister has decided to use her private health cover so that she could have her op during the school holidays but I'm on the public waiting list.

Best Wishes to you

 

Debbie xx

I don't mind you asking at all with why I am having my reconstruction now. I live in NSW and I am having my reconstruction done in Sydney.

When I first found out I had the gene I made my appointments to see my specialists.I was booked in for my hysterectomy on the 17th Dec 2013. The week before that I went to see my breast specialist he did a mammogram and ultrasound and found a small lump.

It was a complete shock! Even though when I went to him I had already decided to have the preventative surgery.

It was the week before christmas and I was advised just to have my bilateral mastectomy first as we didn't know at the time if I needed treatment or not.

So I just swapped my ops around and when I had recovered I went in for the hysterectomy.

I was very fortunate as my lump was contained in the milk duct and extremely small, (DCIS). So by having the surgery I didn't need to have any treatment.

It took me 7months just for my initial appointment with the plastic surgeon and she was booked out for the remainder of 2014. I am first on her list for 2015 Yay!!

I decided to have the TRAM Flap recon as my surgeon had advised me of the different paths to go down and there were several factors because of my age (37) and implants need to be replaced and it is a long process.  I have had 3 kids, 2 are twins so I do have a bit of a  flabby belly. So its a bonus really new boobs and a flat stomach!

If you would like to ask me anything else just send me another message.

I will answer any questions, I am more than happy too.

Take care

Kristy

xx

 

 

 

I

I don't mind you asking at all with why I am having my reconstruction now. I live in NSW and I am having my reconstruction done in Sydney.

When I first found out I had the gene I made my appointments to see my specialists.I was booked in for my hysterectomy on the 17th Dec 2013. The week before that I went to see my breast specialist he did a mammogram and ultrasound and found a small lump.

It was a complete shock! Even though when I went to him I had already decided to have the preventative surgery.

It was the week before christmas and I was advised just to have my bilateral mastectomy first as we didn't know at the time if I needed treatment or not.

So I just swapped my ops around and when I had recovered I went in for the hysterectomy.

I was very fortunate as my lump was contained in the milk duct and extremely small, (DCIS). So by having the surgery I didn't need to have any treatment.

It took me 7months just for my initial appointment with the plastic surgeon and she was booked out for the remainder of 2014. I am first on her list for 2015 Yay!!

I decided to have the TRAM Flap recon as my surgeon had advised me of the different paths to go down and there were several factors because of my age (37) and implants need to be replaced and it is a long process.  I have had 3 kids, 2 are twins so I do have a bit of a  flabby belly. So its a bonus really new boobs and a flat stomach!

If you would like to ask me anything else just send me another message.

I will answer any questions, I am more than happy too.

Take care

Kristy

xx

 

 

 

I

Hi Kristy

Thanks for sharing your story. You are right I know that my sister and I will be fine and I am grateful that we can be proactive!! My sister is having her surgery next Thursday 15th Jan and also Implants on the same day. I will be having my double masectomy and tram flap reconstruction also in the same operation (I dont have my date yet).

It is interesting that you are having yours in a 2 step process is there a reason for that if you dont mind me asking?? Also mine will be in Melbourne, although I live in country Victoria, which State are you in?? I get the impression that different States have different procedures??

If I dont hear back from you before your op best of luck I hope it all goes well

Debbie

Hi Debbie,

Like yourself and your sister I have the BRCA2 gene also. I know at first it is a complete shock! You will both be ok.

I had a bilateral mastectomy in Dec 2013 and 6 weeks later had a hysterectomy.

My breast care nurse advised me to jump on and join the reconstruction group as I was unsure with what path I wanted to go down.

I am so thrilled that I did that. It is so wonderful to be able to share stories and have the support and advise from others.

I am due to go in for my TRAM Flap reconstruction on the 22nd Jan 2015.

I am super excited!!

Take care

Kristy

xx

 

 

Hi Debbie,

Like yourself and your sister I have the BRCA2 gene also. I know at first it is a complete shock! You will both be ok.

I had a bilateral mastectomy in Dec 2013 and 6 weeks later had a hysterectomy.

My breast care nurse advised me to jump on and join the reconstruction group as I was unsure with what path I wanted to go down.

I am so thrilled that I did that. It is so wonderful to be able to share stories and have the support and advise from others.

I am due to go in for my TRAM Flap reconstruction on the 22nd Jan 2015.

I am super excited!!

Take care

Kristy

xx