Decisions about Surgery
Hi - I'm facing a mastectomy following 6 months of chemo treatment and although treatment is now only weeks from finishing I'm still having trouble deciding on what type of reconstruction to have, if ...
Forum Discussion
I was offered a simple mastectomy with just a straight scar or a skin sparing mastectomy with expander, followed by DIEP flap reconstruction.
The surgeon said the radiation I had to have would mean the expander would have to be replaced afterwards, and warned that the skin may be damaged too much by radiation to be able to be used in the DIEP reconstruction.
I weighed up the fors and against.
Simple mastectomy - shorter op, shorter time in hospital, less risk of infection, shorter recovery time. No issues with an uncomfortable expander, no extra op if expander needed changing.
Skin sparing mastectomy with expander - come out with a breast mound, no need for prosthesis, can wear ordinary bras and clothing not an issue, longer time in surgery, more chance of infection, longer time in hospital, longer recovery time. More natural skin available for DIEP flap as long as it wasn't damaged by radiation.
I chose the simple mastectomy. 3 nights in hospital, breast drain out on day 3, axilla drain out on day 10. No problems sleeping but can't sleep on my right side, left okay.
The wound is healing well, I am two weeks from surgery.
However.
It is really obvious, more than I expected, if you are not wearing a soft form on the mastectomy side.
My soft form still hasn't arrived and I am too sore to wear any other type of padding. So I have to wear a scarf to cover that side.
The wound is rather confronting, it is rather lumpy at the moment, and a little concave in places, not flat as I expected. That may get better when the swelling goes down under my arm.
It is a bit off putting to my husband to look at, and that might have been better with a skin sparing mastectomy and expander.
We are both just going to have to get used to it.
Mastectomy bras are expensive, rarely on sale, limited in style, colour and availability, and in my case, are rubbing on the wound at the moment.
I still think I made the right decision for me though, in spite of the tantrums when I have to look at bras.
I think I am going to have a DIEP flap in about a year. I can't have an implant even if I wanted one as I have to have radiation and my surgeon does not recommend it.
I hope my decision process might help you go through your own and come to a conclusion that suits you.
The surgeon said the radiation I had to have would mean the expander would have to be replaced afterwards, and warned that the skin may be damaged too much by radiation to be able to be used in the DIEP reconstruction.
I weighed up the fors and against.
Simple mastectomy - shorter op, shorter time in hospital, less risk of infection, shorter recovery time. No issues with an uncomfortable expander, no extra op if expander needed changing.
Skin sparing mastectomy with expander - come out with a breast mound, no need for prosthesis, can wear ordinary bras and clothing not an issue, longer time in surgery, more chance of infection, longer time in hospital, longer recovery time. More natural skin available for DIEP flap as long as it wasn't damaged by radiation.
I chose the simple mastectomy. 3 nights in hospital, breast drain out on day 3, axilla drain out on day 10. No problems sleeping but can't sleep on my right side, left okay.
The wound is healing well, I am two weeks from surgery.
However.
It is really obvious, more than I expected, if you are not wearing a soft form on the mastectomy side.
My soft form still hasn't arrived and I am too sore to wear any other type of padding. So I have to wear a scarf to cover that side.
The wound is rather confronting, it is rather lumpy at the moment, and a little concave in places, not flat as I expected. That may get better when the swelling goes down under my arm.
It is a bit off putting to my husband to look at, and that might have been better with a skin sparing mastectomy and expander.
We are both just going to have to get used to it.
Mastectomy bras are expensive, rarely on sale, limited in style, colour and availability, and in my case, are rubbing on the wound at the moment.
I still think I made the right decision for me though, in spite of the tantrums when I have to look at bras.
I think I am going to have a DIEP flap in about a year. I can't have an implant even if I wanted one as I have to have radiation and my surgeon does not recommend it.
I hope my decision process might help you go through your own and come to a conclusion that suits you.