Tram flap ???

Welcome to this amazing network of women. It is so wonderful to come on here and find such love and support and also to know that you are not alone. I was diagnosed just before last Christmas and had a lumpectomy and 6 months of chemo. I was then due to have a mastectomy of my left breast and struggled for quite a long time whether or not to have my healthy right breast removed at the same time. I wavered between yes I'll definitely have a double because I couldn't stand the thought of going through the whole process again and no I'll go with what the expects have told me that my chances of getting BC in my right breast were only slightly higher than normal. After much sole searching and researching and talking with my husband and family, I decided that I would probably regret it if I didn't have them both removed and would waste the rest of my life worrying about getting it in my right one. I had the option of having my left breast done first and then deciding later if I wanted the other one gone but two things convinced me to go ahead immediately. Firstly my peace of mind and secondly I wanted my own tissue used to create new breasts not implants. I wanted warm natural feeling breasts and I believed the TRAM/DIEP procedure was the way to go. If I just had the left side done, then I couldn't use the same technique further down the track to do the right side. I'd have to have an implant and then the question of symmetry came into the equation. I knew I was in for a very large operation and long recovery time but I decided to get it all over and done with at once. There are no guarantees that I won't get cancer again in my life but I know that I have done everything possible to reduce this risk. I don't deny it's been hard but I don't regret my decision. I have two warm soft feeling breasts and I won't be thinking about BC all the time and for that I am extremely grateful. Samantha you may be interested in joining a group called Breast Reconstruction. It was started by a wonderful lady, Louise Turner who is still researching and helping those who are coming after her. You can find other ladies who have had delayed reconstructions and prophylactic mastectomies and read their blogs. Women have also posted photos to share of which I am one. The link to the group is http://www.bcna.org.au/group/61026 and you can request membership from there. It's a totally private group where only group members can see posts. Once you've have joined, you can go to the blog tab and see stories filtered by tags - 'prophilactic mastectomy' and 'delayed' which would be good posts for you to read. You can also read one of my posts called 'Do I, Don't I' and read all the wonderful replies I got to this question, here is that link http://www.bcna.org.au/user/12607/blog/60167. Samantha I'm sorry to be so long winded in my reply but I know that you are facing such a hard and difficult decision and my heart goes out to you. I know how hard it was for me. Lots of love to you Janey xxx