Breast reconstruction costs.
Hi, just navigating the wonderful world of breast reconstruction need to have bilateral mastectomy, ( getting done next couple weeks) haven't made up mind about reconstruction due to financial costs. I have private health insurance and currently going privately through treatment, but have hit the reconstruction hurdle. Any one can give me an idea of out of pocket costs and advise as to wether is time to go public and how do you jump from private to public., and has anyone had a "goldilocks" mastectomy ???? Thank you .
Reconstruction with active bone mets?
Today I had an appointment with my oncologist to get my recent PET results. My last PET three months ago showed that my bone mets were inactive and almost resolved. So, today I thought I was going to be told the same and could get my name on the waiting list for a reconstruction. However, I was told that my bone mets looked slightly active again and that I need to change from Fulvestrant to Letrozole in the hope that the Letrozole would stop the activity. I was wondering ifyou are able to get a reconstruction if you have active mets?
Reconstruction with secondary cancer
I am on the list for breast reconstruction and just before Christmas I was diagnosed with Liver tumours. I am booked in for core biopsy next week to see if it is still BC and oncologist has put me on zoladex and laprazole. What is wanted to know is has anyone gone ahead with the reconstruction even though breast area is cancer free? Regards Tracey
About me
I was dx with stage 3 breast cancer at 28yrs of age (july 2002) Underwent lumpectomy, mastectomy and lymph nodes removed. Cancer spread to lymph nodes. AC chemo x 4 cycles, Taxotere& x 4 cycles, 6 weeks rads, 5 yrs Tamoxifen, Zoladex, Oorphorectomy, Arimidex, now on Femara Celebrate 8 yrs NED on the 10th July 2010!!! Fast forward as I haven't updated in a while 14th October 2011 I underwent reconstruction of my right breast using the lat Dorsi muscle from my back with an expander underneath, I also decided to have a prophylactic mastectomy on my re mainly L healthy breast with expander. Slowly had them inflated and am booked for an exchange to implant for 8th June 2012. Mid June I became unwell felt a bit flu like thought it would pass, then a few days later I developed a uti so immediately got that checked given antibiotics and told to come back on Mon in case the antibiotics were not the right stain for my infection (least I was taking something while we waited for blood spec to return from path). Sat night I was vomiting, slight fever so called a locum dr out who gave me a shot anfpd I went back to sleep. Sunday I woke still vomiting and nauseous now hallucinating putting puzzle pieces together in my head so it would enable my body to get sleep scared me. Off to Hosp. In Hosp they performed so many test I had a spinal tap to rule our meningitis, the though I could have a brain tumor, I was poked prodded and scanned over the course of 3 days. Finally we had answers, first was I had septicemia caused by my uti infection so antibiotics started for that. The next thing blew me away completely with all the scans they found that there looked like what were numerous widespread tumours through out the liver, so off for liver biopsy. Results back positive for metastatic breast cancer in the liver. The doctore that gave me the results said, your cancer has returned it's not curable, it's not treatable but it can be managed - WTF I was due to celebrate 10yrs Ned in 6wks. And my exchange surgery was booked for the 8th June. It's now 8th June and today I am starting chemotherapy and Herceptin and all I can think about is how I am stuck with these horrid expander in my chest knowing. Can't get then removed whilst pin chemo, will I ever have them removed for implants? One day. Fast forward to today 3rd Aug 2013. I have completed just over 12mths of Abraxane 3wks on 1wk off and weekly herceptin. My ct scan has shown a 30% reduction in tumor size but it has now stopped and remaining stable so no more growth or shrinkage but stable is a good word. My treatment now is Abraxane every fortnight and herceptin once every 3wks this has given me a bit more qol though I still have bad days where I cry over how unfair this all is. Today I had Abraxane and Herceptin, fell asleep in the car and have slept since I got home, it's 2am in the morning and I woke to get my pain meds and a drink, so have to sign off and try to get some shut eye before morning, want to do something with my daughter - not sure what but I will think up something.