Resizing the other breast after lumpectomy

All the best for the 14th October.  I am now 14?? weeks post op.  I have gone into Myer and bought myself my first loverly bra.  Previously had to pick from the over the should bouder range LOL. Now I can pick from c/d cup range.  I had my good breast made to match other one, my surgeon has done a wonderful job. 

I am now at a stage where I feel I have turned the corner and llooking forward.  Having this reduction has been a major part in the total recovery.  I would rather look at the scars than one big boob and one little one.

XXXX

Viv 

 

Hi Everyone and thank you for your replies,

I am booked for surgery on the 14th October.  Am going throug a Plastic surgeon recommeded by my BS at the Wesley in Brisbane.  Just felt "safe" the first time I met him.  Normally a reduction would take you to a C cup but in my case he is not going that low - will match the left to the size and shape of the right as closely as possible.  Tells me radiation helps scarring so the scars from this surgery may be worse than my cancer scar.  Am concedntrating on not having to wear a sticky silicone partial- protheseis and being able to buy a bra off the rack at Myer, rather than thinking about scars.  At 55 my chances of becoming a lingere model are slimmer than I am!!

Also will be donating the removed tissue to a research project looking at the differences between healthy and diseased tissue.  Hoping this helps someone else down the track.

Best of luck my sisters,

Love

Beth

I am so hearing you, try exercising with one big boob and a little one, to which one do you fit your bra?  The big one gets squashed and the little one has no support, it was all a bit of a nightmare. My Oncologist suggested I wear two bras, one for each? 

Throughout my treatment I have gone public, and have had the best of treatment.  I went private for radiation because I am in a rural area and that was my only choice or drive 4hours for the 15min session.  The out of cost was in the thousands.

The personally think the BCNA need to reword their booklet and this site to include ladies who have lumpectomies.  Breast Conservation is now the standard preferred treatment for the newer trained and younger surgeons.  Without talking to other ladies on this site I would have read the book, read their reconstruction page on this site  and assumed that because I had not had a mastectomy that I was not eligible through the public system for  reconstruction or as I call it deconstruction.

Was the wait 12months from completion of radiation?  I know that surgeons do not like to operate on anyone who has a BMI over 30.    Are you in Melbourne? If so you can get a referral to the Austin Hospital Plastics Unit, and have your name placed on the waiting list.  They have 2 or 3 brilliant plastics surgeons who are from the Hawthorn Group (you can Google them).  If you need any assistance as to how to go about this and who to see let me know.

I am so pleased with my two matching breasts, I feel like I can now move on from this horrid rollercoaster.  Perhaps I should put up some photo’s so that others can see the final outcome. 

Take care

Viv

Viv Thanks so much for your help The ps I saw first sounded very similar to the ps you first spoke with Not only was the cost ridiculous but his expectations were as well He wanted me to lose 15kg before he would attempt the surgery and also to wait 12 months Three things were a big problem One was I suffer from hypothyroidism and losing 15 kg would be difficult two was the length of time to wait I have lost a large amount from my left breast and the other breast is a 22f This causes issues such as back and neck pain Three as you stated the cost. I too didn't want to burden my husband with such a large financial cost. I could not justify spending that amount of money on myself. That may sound strange to some but that's just how I am I found that going private has not been all it's cracked up to be. I am out of pocket a lot of money and although the surgery etc has been fine I have discovered that in the public system there is much more support I must add that the nurses etc during radiation at Peter Mac have been brilliant Thanks again viv Blizz

Hi, I'm also considering this. My good side is a GG and righty must be down to a D/E cup. I only finished radiation 2 weeks ago so not sure if all the shrinking has finished yet.  It's something to consider later on, not ready for more surgery just yet. All the best I'm also interested in what you decide.

Fiona.

After my surgery and treatments i notice a very big difference in my breast size and my surgeon told me my options, at the time I felt I had enough surgeries and just wanted to be left alone. As time has gone by though (I am coming up to 2 years in December) the idea does have some appeal. I am interested in what you decide.

Good luck with it all.

Donna

After my surgery and treatments i notice a very big difference in my breast size and my surgeon told me my options, at the time I felt I had enough surgeries and just wanted to be left alone. As time has gone by though (I am coming up to 2 years in December) the idea does have some appeal. I am interested in what you decide.

Good luck with it all.

Donna

There seems to be some confusion as to whether having your good breast reduced to match what we are left with after Breast Conserving Surgery.   When you look at all the BCNA books they show lovely pictures of a breast with a small scar and no obvious sign of size difference.  I have mentioned this previously on this site, this is what the BCNA say about reconstruction.   

Access to breast reconstruction

Breast reconstruction following a mastectomy for breast cancer is considered a medical procedure, not cosmetic surgery. It is available in the public hospital system as well as through the private health system.

It should say following mastectomy or Lumpectomy or Breast Conserving Surgery.  In some cases we have a Lumpectomy but it should be called Partial Mastectomy, just which choice of words are used.

The first PS in Melbourne that I saw didn’t offer to do my reduction through the public system; his receptionist said they do not do reductions any more through the public system. I walked out of the rooms with a quote of $8,000 plus which didn’t include everything.  My hubby so desperately wanted to assure me that we could do it,  I felt guilty enough for the cost that cancer had already inflicted on my family that this was never going to be an option.  So me being me, I got into proactive gear and started making phone calls and sending emails.  I rang the hospital where this surgeon works and spoke to the Plastics Liaison Nurse, I explained my situation and she got angry that I was told the wrong information.  I then spoke to her several times because of mix ups with my paper work coming from private rooms to public hospital.  Anyway in the end I saw the PS in Dec, paper work put me on the public waiting list 14^th Jan, and because I spoke to PS Liaison nurse several times I told her I could be there at short notice. Got a phone call with a weeks’ notice and had reduction on 20^th June this year. 

I also saw a PS in Sydney who was lovely and happy to put me on his public waiting list, he admitted that it depends on Surgeon and what they put on the paperwork... But we as cancer patients are in a different situation and eligible to have this done through the Public System.

I did not have the support of a Breast Care Nurse.

This is only part of my story, I could ramble on but it is what it is. I am happy to share any info through private message if you need any assistance.   And am extremely happy with my reduced boob it looks fantastic.

Viv

Hi viv I have just finished radiation after a lumpectomy and am wanting a reduction on my unaffected breast I had 1.3kg of breast tissue removed so I am very lop sided at the moment Was your reduction surgery through the public system deemed elective and if not how long were you on the wait list Thanks for your help Blizz

Hi viv I have just finished radiation after a lumpectomy and am wanting a reduction on my unaffected breast I had 1.3kg of breast tissue removed so I am very lop sided at the moment Was your reduction surgery through the public system deemed elective and if not how long were you on the wait list Thanks for your help Blizz