Booked in for Masectomy but now panicking

@Spillsy. Just check what the wait times are where you are if you are going through the public system. In qld they can be up to 5 years for recon. This might help you make your mind up. If you do have the choice for immediate recon it’s one less surgey you have to have later then if you can have it before rads. I’m not sure how that works as I’ve had a double so I didn’t need rads and didnt have any lymph nodes involved but I’m on the huge wait list in qld. Keep us posted. Margie xxx 

Hi @Spillsy, all the best with your surgery. I had a mastectomy and radiotherapy. The radiotherapy made the area around the mastectomy quite tight. I had to wait 2 years for reconstruction due to the damage it caused. I’m happy with the reconstruction now though. If you are worried, get a second opinion and make sure you ask about all of the options available, including the waiting time recommended for reconstruction and the best type of reconstruction for you. I had LD with an implant. x

If looking at diep it is done after radiotherapy finished and healed. 

Thanks, yes I am a very indecisive person!!! Always have been, this is just a big decision... 

All the best @Spillsy for your surgery & followup treatment   .... I hope your surgeon can work with you PS so it all works out for you.

You can always change your mind, if you have that is. Call your BS and say you'd prefer to see a PS to explore the skin sparing option first. Despite what it feels like sometimes, you are in the driver's seat.

Are you looking at a DIEP reconstruction? I presume you are as I understand that is a better option for those having rads.

Take a deep breath. What do you want right now? K xox

It is overwhelming and we all second guess our decisions. I had immediate reconstruction with mine...saved some skin...tissue expander in and inflated....I didn't have changeover done until well after chemo finished and recovered. It's a small procedure to change over. I didnt need radiotherapy as nodes were clear and I'd had the mastectomy. 
It honestly was a relief to have the breast off and know the cancer was finally gone. I hope that feeling comes to you too.

Also there is a breast reconstruction group you can join which has many people's photo stories...warts and all. 

Kath x

I haven’t been able to see a PS about my recon options, and my surgeon was going to be speaking to a PS on Monday about me, as he thought I could have skin sparing but I just couldn’t stand the wait all week, so on Friday so asked him to book me in for Thursday for a straight masectomy, as I have heard from others that it is best to wait until after Rads and healing.
Mostly I just want to get on and finish treatment, as I have already done 6 months chemo, but I equally know that losing a breast will be devastating.

Is there something in particular about which you're panicking?