LJGARRETT1
New User
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:38 pm Post subject: Breast Reconstruction |
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I have been considering breast reconstruction which will have to be put off for a while but was wondering from people who have actually had the reconstruction done, what their stories are. Please help! I've read handouts, the internet, etc. and still can't decide! Any input or suggestions, pros and cons would be appreciated! Thanks
Age 37
Diagnosed September, 2006
Not Menopausal
Stage IIA
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, High Grade
Estrogen Receptors 46% positive nuclei
Her-2 Negative
Bilateral Mastectomy
Sentinal Node Biopsy
Chemo & Hormone Therapy to Follow |
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melissasd50
Regular
Joined: 07 Nov 2005
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject: Re: Breast Reconstruction |
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I am 50 years old with 2nd breast cancer. 5 years ago I found a lump in my right breast and was diagnosed with infiltrating lobular carcinoma, er/pr positive, her2 negative, stage I. Nothing in the lymph nodes. I had a lumpectomy and radiation.
In the fall of 2004, I found a lump (me, again!) in my left breast and was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma, er/pr negative, her2 negative , stage III. Nothing in the lymph nodes. I have had chemotherapy, 2 lumpectomies, 1 mastectomy with an expander put in. 5 days later, a blood vessel burst in my chest and I was rushed in for emergency surgery to correct that.
I was miserable with my expander. It hurt, I couldn’t sleep. I was in constant pain, and then the expander began to poke through the skin at my chest bone area. This required yet another surgery to clean out the area, place aloderm at the thin spot and replace the expander with a smaller size. (After my PS - or should I say my BSPS - told me that expanders only came in one size.) A month later I had some more of the damaged area “worked” on.
And then I was told I needed radiation. At this point the expander area was still not healing well and my PS told me that he would not fill the expander until after my rads were over (yikes, 6 weeks or more of the pain with no gain?!) - so I had the expander removed to make radiation easier.
During radiation, I spent hours doing research on reconstruction. That is how I discovered the GAPs and DIEP reconstruction. I emailed NOLA to ask if there were any surgeons who did these types of procedures in the area where I lived. To my amazement, they called me the next day and refered me to my (now) PS!
In June ‘06 I had a DIEP. My surgery was unbelievable - my recovery amazing! I was given permission to walk my dog, drive my car (& have sex - yippee!) only 4 days after coming home from the hospital. I never felt so well in the past 2 years, as I did after this surgery.
I just completed Stage II on Oct. 26th (revisions to my reconstructed breast, touch up at drain sites, & lipo in stomach and hip area and augmentation to my right breast -lift and implant). While I haven’t seen the total package, due to a little bandaging, I am confident that the girls will be looking pretty darn good! (The reveal will be Friday when I meet with my PS.)
Sorry about the long-winded profile. I am so glad I did the DIEP and really wished that I hadn’t had to endure the first round of reconstruction. However, the most important thing you can do is to take control of your destiny and make your own decisions. Just what you have begun to do here. With the information you gleen from this forum, other forums and countless knowledgeable women, you will take empower yourself and be confident in your decisions.
Best of luck to you. Knowledge is power.
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Cindy
Senior User
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 167
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| Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Breast Reconstruction |
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I also had DIEP. Bilateral skin-sparing mastectomies, prophylactic on the left, with immediate DIEP reconstruction. You can read about DIEP here:
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org/diep.htm
My breast are very normal in look and feel. Recovery was not bad at all. No one would even know that these are not my real breast, unless I told them. The scars just look like I may have had breast reduction. I could go topless, which I wouldn't, and no one would even know that these were not originals. They could touch them and still not know. Good luck with your decision.
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Where is the cure???
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
www.diepbreastreconstruction.org
www.bcsisters.org/forum
www.mybreastcancerstore.com |
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