Hi I am facing a mastectomy in the near future and would love to chat to other women who have had mastectomies recently as well as reconstructions. I would like to find out other women's experiences so that I can make some choices.
Hi Nelle
I had a sentinel node biopsy on the 12th June this year followed three days later with the removal of my left breast and nipple with no complications to date. At the same time I had an expander fitted and had my first fill last week.
If I can be of further assistance please don't hesitate to ask.
Best wishes
I only had one breast removed ... my lobular carcinoma was multifocal but I was told there was no real need to have the other breast off too. I have not had a reconstruction. In fact, I was not offered that option. My surgeon felt it was better to wait firstly to see if I needed more treatment and secondly because evidently there are more complications if it is done straight away. I haven't decided yet about reconstruction in the future ... I will give it a little while and see how I feel. My hubby is very supportive either way. I have now been fitted with a prosthesis which a good friend tells me I will get used to quite quickly. At the moment I'm only wearing it a few hours a day as my incision is stil a little sensitive.
Please feel free to ask anything else you like and all the best with your surgery.
Sheila xo
The surgery itself was fine, not much pain etc. Wound healed wonderfully, no infections etc.
I had my drain in for 20 days (my surgeon keeps them in until you have 30ml or less for 2 days in a row (to help prevent seroma's I think)), but you go homw with that, and i had the community nurse come in every day to check it and empty it and change bags etc,and when it was time they also removed (a painless procedure).
For the first few weeks you are not allowed to lift your arm above shoulder height or lift anything weighty in that side, but it is important that you do the exercises they give you, as often as they tell you to help get your motion back and prevent lymphoedema and cording etc. before surgery I filled my freezer with meals that were easy to reheat, things like lasagne, bolognase sause, pesto etc, to make hubbies life easier as he tookon the housework and cooking for me while I recovered (and is doing it again while I undergo chemo, and I suffer badly from fatigue).
I went straight to implants - no stretchers/ expanders.
Gravity and time make no difference, it has to do with skin and muscle. they often work on the non cancer side to help make it match the reconstructed side- i.e reduction, breast lift etc.
I had a left mastectomy (nipple sparing and partial skin sparing) with immediate silicone implant reconstruction and sentinel node biopsy on 3rd February 2012.
and am having the other breast off (nipple and skin sparingmastectomy and immediate silicone implant reconstruction) later in the year, as a precaution (I have a strong family history, and don't want the risk, I am also having genetic testing in August).
I am happy to talk to you about anything you would like to.
I was offered a Lattisumus Dori reconstruction or DIEP or TRAM reconstruciton if I prefered. I decided against the LD one due to issues caused my my pre-existing conditions and the chance it might weaken my arm even a little becasue my right arm is very weak, due to a previous injury), and the DIEP/ TRAM options I would have had to have done in Sydney (I live in Canberra), and could have had complications due to my pre-existing conditions, and I also still have these as an option if I need them in the future (I am 41 yrs old)
Hi I had a bilateral mastectomies with expanders, 4 weeks ago, happy to answer any questions, will send a contact request so you can email if you like.
Cheers Narelle
