Prophylactic Mastectomy

ChrisBern

Thank you girls!

Short question: What is "fipples"? (English is not my first language, sorry!)

Christian

Mykidsmom

Fake nipples. Oh the terminology these ladies use. But it grows on you.

whippetmom

Chris:  I know Annie mentioned the picture's forum and I think Timtam is working now on this issue of men going into that protected site.  Based on what Annie stated though, why not just have an areola tattoo and a nipple made after the fact?  Are you going to get a very low profile implant as well - to give some definition?  I have seen your posts previously and wondered if you were also going to have some form of reconstruction. 

In the past several years there have been studies performed regarding the efficacy of nipple sparing mastectomies - I am linking you to a couple of articles. In this link, scroll down and read the section about the risk of cancer recurrence in the nipple areola complex. It is a lengthy treatise but one worth reading in its entirety.

http://www.supportiveoncology.net/journal/articles/0405225.pdf

And another:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17084333

So the articles do show a rather low rate of recurrence in the patient's evaluated.  The concern about "sparing" the nipple for you is that you are so young....you already have the heightened risk of being BRCA positive....your mother died so young of this disease...you have a significant "other" family history.  Who really knows about the virulent capabilities of your type of cancer?  I just think I would want to do everything possible to avoid a local recurrence.  They can perform some amazing work with nipple reconstruction. Even if you opted for nipple preservation, you still have a risk of losing viability of the nipples after mastectomy and so you might not be able to keep them anyway.  They would do a frozen section at the time of surgery also to determine nipple areola involvement and you might wake up to find they had to revert to a skin-sparing mastectomy instead.  I have my exchange surgery tomorrow so I am not even there yet - in terms of nipple reconstruction, or I would be happy to share this aspect of pictorial reconstruction with you.  

By the way, my sister, Deeds, posted above on this thread.  She had her BLM prophylactically, soon after I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She did opt for a NAC sparing procedure, because she does not have cancer.  We also have a strong family history - no clear evidence of BRCA genesis - but SOME gene which is virulent enough for us to have thought about our likelihood of getting breast cancer all of our adult lives.  It was no surprise to me when I was diagnosed last November.  I personally think that being diagnosed with breast cancer, in the face of having such a strong genetic history, caused me to take every precaution necessary.  A lumpectomy - breast conservation - was totally out of the question for me, even though I had early stage bc.  Well, I have gone on long enough.  But I know you are struggling with some weighty decisions and I just wanted to give you some heartfelt impressions regarding the same. I pray you come to a decision which is right for you and that you feel a peace about that decision as well.

PM me anytime Chris.

Deborah

ChrisBern

Thank you very much Anniealso, Mykidsmom and Whippetmom! I'm so grateful that women like you are spending time to give me quick info and advices. I really appreciate! May god bless you.

Whippetmom: I don't know if I need implants. My BS told me no, that I just need to exercice to enhance my pectoral muscle but I will ask the question to my PS. I will meet him tomorrow for the first time. Do you know if't possible to get fibbles during the BM or we need to schedule another surgery?

Thank you again!

Christian

whippetmom

Chris:  You are too funny!  "Fibbles"?  Remember, "fipples" is a term which is entirely fabricated and your doctor will have no idea what you are talking about!  It is derived from the notion that the breasts and nipples are "fake", hence the calling of boobs "foobs" and nipples "fipples."  I would think that "fibbles" would be the word to use of someone is not telling the truth about their nipples...or fipples...that is!

Fipples would be a separate procedure - sometime after you have healed from your BLM. 

Mamie2

Ha ha ha... thanks. I needed a giggle, too! 

maggie1234

Dear Whippetmom,

Today is my first day on this chat room under the advice of a new friend. I am 37 years old and have been told that I need to have the bilateral mastecomy and reconstruction. I have already meet with the Plastic Surgeon, told that I was the ideal candidate for the Tram Flap, 10 hours of surgery, 5 days in the hospital, and two months of recovery. Tomorrow, I meet with my surgeon that performed my lumpectomy three years ago, who will be performing the removal. My mother died of breast cancer, I tested postive for BRAC, have benign breast disease and told that diagnosis will be difficult but unavoidable in all probability in the late stages. I have battled this day for three years, and now it is here. I am numb, going from sad, to angry to just overwhelmed. I feel like a raw nerve when will this get better or does it?

whippetmom

Dear Maggie:

I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through - about your recurrence and prognosis.   My heart just goes out to you for all of the pain you are feeling right now.  I wish I could reach right through this computer and give you a big huge hug.  I am so very glad though that your new friend suggested that you join bc.org.  This is only one of many forums on this website where you will find others who feel the way you do....who are going through just what you are going through and can be of great support and encouragement to you.  There are a number of forums discussing those who also are BRCA positive and have a recurrence of breast cancer.  At the end of this message I will link them to you.  There are also many women on these forums who have had the TRAM flap procedure and will answer any questions you might have.  When you log in on this website you will see a link to "Private Messages" in the upper right hand corner.  I am going to PM you as well.

 I am going to be praying for you....I am praying for you right now - that you find some comfort here on this website.  You will meet some amazing people who are just like you - afraid and worried and overwhelmed.  This is a tough time but you will get through this.  You can do this.  You will get through this surgery and you will fight this beast!  Okay?  Please PM me anytime if you have other questions.  Here are some links to follow:

RE:Others going through TRAM flap surgery:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/729134?page=1#post_1270899

An active thread about those who have had cancer recurrence a second or third time...

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/88/topic/583581

Please visit these sites and get involved and find some solace, as so many of us have by coming here. 

Deborah

Mykidsmom

Maggie - I am so very sorry. You are so young to have to go through all this. But know that it is doable. Deborah provided a lot of wonderful information and guidance. I am sending gentle hugs your way! Take care. - Jean