Get Connected Day!

Hi Heidi & Ree

I had a mastectomy and reconstruction on my left breast back in 2003 and then was diagnosed again in July 2010 and had a mastectomy and reconstruction done on the right side!  you could say I've had the works!!  The first time I had a TRAM flap reconstruction which uses part of your flabby tummy (great, got rid of the baby bulge!!!) to make a new breast.  The second time I had the same as Ree, tissue expanders and now permanent prosthesis.  The breast with the TRAM flap reconstruction is a lot softer than the one with the implant - more realistic in my mind, but I am also really happy with the implant side.  With the implant I had my lattisimus dorsi muscle moved from my back to the front and the implant is behind that.

The beauty of having the TRAM flap operation as opposed to the implants is that if you lose or gain weight, your breasts grow or shrink accordingly.  Also, as I said it is also a lot softer.

With both reconstructions I have had my nipples reconstructed also.  My surgeon uses the skin on the reconstructed breast to make a new nipple.  There are no grafts so maybe your surgeon does it differently Ree??  I had the left one tattooed after the surgery last time and was really happy with the result.  It looks very lifelike LOL,  I have to wait another couple of months before I can have the other side done as I only had the tissue expander replaced with the permanent prosthesis at the end of Feb.  My surgeon did the nipple reconstruction at the same time as this operation, which was great :)

Obviously once you have had your nipples removed there is no longer any feeling in them, even if you have them reconstructed, so I definitely don't have to worry about the "high beams" being on (to use your terminology Ree!!).

I am in the process of organising to get genetic testing done but haven't got an appointment yet and I understand that it could be a few months yet before I do.  I have a cousin who was diagnosed before the age of 40 and myself with 2 separate diagnosis (one at 35 and the other at 42).  My grandmother also died of breast cancer. If I test positive to the gene I may decide to have my ovaries removed so that I don't have to go through all of this a third time!

Please don't hesitate to ask any questions regarding the reconstructions etc.  That's how we help each other :)

Louise xx

PS my pain was minimal both times, although the TRAM flap is more painful due to the major abdominal surgery.  I had a couple of weeks off work each time.