Breast reconstruction, expanders+implants
Hi! I was diagnosed with bbc, ER+ PR+ HER2-. I had bmx, chemotherapy and I'm taking Tamoxifen. I'm waiting for having breast reconstruction done. I'd like to hear other women's experiencies about breast reconstruction, specially with expanders and silicone implants. Please could you specify if you had radiation? Did you have any complications? (capsule contracture, infections,..) What type of implants did you have? Are you happy with the results? Any advice? Thanks.
Why dont we talk about this?
Hello, I was diagnosed October 2013, surgery and reconstructive surgery continued, chemo and then tamoxifen which I have stopped taking. Why aren't we told about all the side effects? Why I wasnt told I had cancer from the start then that's a whole new question too as surely this process would have been handled differently. The chemo has depleted my oestrogen and I am now with a nil operating vagina. I'm a happily married woman but its impossible to engage in let alone enjoy intimacy and what can I do about it? It's like the doctors don't care! I have taken on alot of naturaly therapies and diet lifestyle changes but if anyone knows anyone we can talk to, to get this important part of our relastionship back on track please anyone any direction would very much appreciate it :-)
BRCA1
Due to strong family history I relented and had the genetic testing done. Results confirm I have the BRCA1 mutation. I have met with a breast surgeon and had some options given to me. My decision has been to be proactive rather than reactive. Having 2 young daughters has helped this decision - sacrifice a few weeks during school holidays (I'm a teacher) or possibly be sick for 12 months. So far I have met with the breast surgeon who gave me my options - close monitoring, tamoxifen, mastectomy and reconstruction. I didn't realise that I needed yet another surgeon to reconstruct. So plastic surgeon visit soon along with gynecologist to help in decision making. I'm keen to hear from others who have been down this path. What types of reconstruction did you choose; how long was recovery; is there a support group? So many decisions and would love to chat with others who understand what it's like mentally and physically. Thanks DiannaBad Menopause
HI all Just joined the network and hoping there is someone out there who can help! I was diagnosed last April with breast cancer and had a mascectomy, 3 months of chemo and a reconstruction. The effects of all of this and the Tamoxifen has sent me into early menopause (I am 45) I am experiencing severe hot flushes and can't sleep more than 2 hours at a time due to waking up with night sweats and hot flushes - doctor has not been able to help much except to put me on Cataprese which doesn't do much so thought I'd ask any of you for some ideas?? Hope you are all managing in this hot weather! Cheers Nicole
Reconstruction
Hey all,well the big day is finally arriving for me Thursday, Reconstruction,, Had my lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and on Tamoxifen,, all started Sep 2010. am having a mastectomy and 2 implants , followed by Nipple reco in 6 or so months and then tattooing, YES, im having the works, Im in Tasmania and Maria Popa and Fiona Lee are doing my surgery, have seen their work, looks great. I do have to go from a G-cup to a D-cup, due to the radiotherapy, skin elasticity etc, but thats cool,, have been a G for years, at least I will be able to get a pretty bra anywhere now, not that i will need a bra!! Anyhow, just thought I would b-log in and tell you and keep you posted after and throughout, That would be one thing I would recommend to ANYONE CONSIDERING RECO, dont listen to anyone when they tell you its a 12 mnth maybe 2 yr waiting list, GET PRIVATE immediately. I have just been waiting my 12mnth pre-existing. Tamoxifen? Dont like it, is keeping the weight on, however no other effects apart from the start of menopause, omg, love and light to all you beautiful sisters Mechell xx
My experience nearly done - I hope forever!
After a year and two months I have finally come to the end of almost all of my treatment and now "just" continue on Tamoxifen for the next years! Yesterday I even had my port-a-cath removed. Can't believe that they just gave me a local for the removal. In hindsight I should have asked for an anti-anxiety med. The experience was not pleasant - having to hear the sounds of cutting and feel the tugging... Then sent home with no pain meds! Just as well I have a few pain tablets left over from my mastectomy/reconstruction last year! But anyway, that's it now except for this Tamoxifen tablet everyday. The past year brought biopsies; lumpectomy; 3 rounds of FEC; 10 weekly Taxols; 12 days of radiotherapy; bilateral mastectomy; free TRAM reconstruction; surgery to remove a suspicious ovarian cyst (it was benign); Tamoxifen and many many scans and tests. At the age of 47 all of that has left me with a number of side-effects: loss of my hair, mild neuropathy in my fingers, fatigue, cataracts (from the steroid chemo pre-meds), blocked eye ducts, dry eyes, weight gain, painful "widespread arthritic changes" and intermittent mild nausea from the Tamoxifen. I kept my full-time job through all of it and am now finding my visits to my centre's psychologist desperately necessary. In hindsight I should have taken more time off to look after me... With a triple positive diagnosis the time this is most likely to come back is during the next 2-3 years, but there will always be a chance of it coming back so there is always fear sitting at the back of my mind everytime I feel an ache or get a headache. I started blogging a couple of months ago as a form of therapy I guess (http://jennt28.wordpress.com/) and this weekend I am off to a Cancer Council program called Living Well After Cancer (has anyone else been to one of these?). I have loved being able to read everyone's blogs here. I didn't attend a face-to-face support group because they all seemed to be during the day and I was at work so my support has come from women online here and at breastcancer.org. Through these I have found such good friendships and met a number of women from my groups in person which has been wonderful. Anyway, this has been a ramble... I just wanted you all to know how much I have appreciated having this site available :-) Jenn
2nd Diagnosis
I have just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer for the second time. The 1st time was 10 years ago at age 44. My treatment involved lumpectomy, chemo, radiotherapy and Tamoxifen. I only took Tamoxifen for 2.5 years as I developed polyps in the uterus. Now 10 years on I have developed a new cancer in the same breast. The pathology from the core biopsy suggests that it is a new cancer and not a recurrence of the last one. I will be having a mastectomy as I cannot have radiotherapy again. I am hopeful that I will not require chemo. I am trying to decide whether I should have a bilateral mastectomy. My surgeon says that he would remove both breasts if that is what I want. I am finding this to be a difficult decision. I am sure there are many women who have had to make this decision and I would welcome some advice or thoughts. I am still in the process of being advised if I am suitable for DIEP reconstruction but I really need to decide on the bilateral mastectomy before I make any other decisions. I am new to the blogging caper so I look forward to the help I am sure to receive. Thank You.