Mastectomy no reconstruction

DVSB

 I first wrote in October at that time I was going to have a Mastectomy and TRAM .....

but I am self employed and I can't afford the time off work to recover ......... I am 65 years old

and live alone.

 I have Stage 0 and a family history of Breast cancer so I am schedule for a simple Mastectomy

and no reconstruction on Feb.18th........... but I still wonder if I am doing the right thing ???

Those of you who have had Mastectomy what was your recover time and do you regret not

doing Reconstruction ???

baywatcher

I lost my left breast 4 years ago and my right one about 4 months ago. I am 53. No recon for me. I knew that I didn't want implants. I also hated the thought of more surgery. I do miss my breasts and I feel angry that they are gone. I sometimes consider recon but I doubt that I will ever do it. I didn't like the idea of moving flesh around on my body which would have no feeling anyway and it would also increase my risk for lymphedema. You can always have recon at a later date, if you decide that you want it. The recovery time from a mastectomy is pretty quick, once you get the drains out you are pretty much good to go. Good luck with your surgery.

PuddinTame

I went back to work at three weeks but was still very tired and still had some pain because I still had five staples.  If I hadn't felt the foob was essential, I would have done a lot better.  At four weeks, I was about 95%.

I might have reconstruction some time.  I don't regret not having it right away.   From the posts I've read here, there are frequently complications with immediate reconstruction.  If it was determined after mastectomy that I needed chemo or radiation, I wanted to be able to do that without risking newly transplanted tissue.  Now that I know that's not an issue, I might wait a little longer to make sure that the other side remains healthy.

I don't like the foob.  I'm still using the puffy and can't use the silicone until 2/16.  I'm hopeful a heavier foob will keep the bra down so that I'm not uneven all the time. So, other than the inconvenience of a foob, I don't regret not having immediate reconstruction at all.

Blessings to you,

Lori

1Cathi

Hi There,

I had Bilat in Oct 08, no recon,  I have had a few moments when I missed the "real deal" I think I would not be normal if that didn't happen. But for 99.9% of the time I am completely content with my decision.  As my BS has often reminded me "IF " I ever decide that I want recon in the future I can go that route.  I really doubt that I will.   Give yourself time to heal (I was feeling better at about 3/weeks  -really able to get up and around)  adjust to your new you and again in the future you can always recon if you want/need to.

Good wishes - XOXOXOXOXOXO -Cathi

Mykidsmom

Hi there - I, personally, chose reconstruction. But I have a good friend who did not. And she is more than a year out, feels great and loves her decision. As the ladies stated, you can always do reconstruction later. Best wishes w/ your surgery! - Jean

anianiau

Dear DVSB,

I'm approaching your age, and like you, I had considered reconstruction. My bilateral mx with SNB was 12/08/08. In the end, I decided not to do even implants, after exploring my options. 

Two big issues to consider before you make your decision--and it has to be your decision--are your current health status--I had a heart attack in my mid-50s--and your physiological age. People age differently. You may already be familiar with the Real Age concept, developed by Michael Roizen and cardiologist Mehmet OZ. If not, go to the library to get their books, or go to their official site, http://www.realage.com/ and take their online test. Though it has nothing to do with breast cancer, the entire site has a lot of good health-related information that will help you prepare for surgery and recovery. And some free advice: If you currently smoke, PLEASE quit!

Trust me, you will most likely NOT be driving in a week--even after a simple bilateral mastectomy! That surgery will take somewhere between 3 and 4 hours. How long depends in large part on how large your breasts are now, and whether you are having sentinel node biopsy or biopsies. By two to three weeks after a bilateral mx, the majority of women with early stage BC are doing quite well in terms of resuming their previous activities. There will still be restrictions about how much weight you should be lifting, etc. 

Your surgeon will almost certainly insert drains. Moving your arms around with those drains in is not comfortable--at least, that was my experience.

All four of my children were c-sections, and after the last one I developed an incisional hernia. The vertical scar was pretty hideous, and when I developed that incisional hernia six years after the last one, I took my insurer up on their ofter to have an abdominoplasty, aka tummy tuck. (They paid OR & hospital expenses, I paid the plastic surgeon--they would have paid for a general surgeon to do a simple hernia repair.) So I have personal knowledge of what that surgery involves, too. If you need to be back at work ASAP, I strongly suggest that you give your body time to fully heal from the bilat mx first before even thinking of doing it as immediate reconstruction.

A year is the timeframe to consider--though it could be half that if you have small breasts. As others have pointed out, you can do reconstruction later.

Best of luck to you. Feel free to PM me if you have questions.

barbe1958

I, too, could not afford the extra time off work to heal. I had planned to take 2 weeks, but took 3 as one of my drains was in 22 days! Had the drain out at noon and drove my hour to work.

I do not think I will ever want reconstruction.This has given me a bad taste about breasts. I am not wearing foobies either!  As I told a co-worker, why should I wear fake boobs to make YOU feel better!

I love my new cleaner look and have found beautiful combos of camis and frilly blouses to wear that give my chest some visual interest. I work in the public eye in sales (maybe that's where I get my confidence) and haven't regretted a minute of my decision. I don't need to go for chemo, rads or take drugs as I took care of the cancer with the double mast.

Good luck in your decision!

MariaG67370

Bravo Barbe1958!  Loved your answer to your co-worker.  I had a bilateral in June, but did have to have chemo and rads.  BUT I am not having recon nor do I wear foobies!  I am self-employed.  TAking extra time off had nothing to do with my decision. I just don't want to deal with recon nor do I feel that I need recon or prosthesis.  I am comfortable with my appearance and with who I am and feel a new freedom not having to fuss with a bra.  I too am in the public eye and nobody has given me a weird look or made a comment because I have no breasts. IF they did it would be their problem to deal with not mine.  On another plus side, the money I used to spend on bras at the semi-annual JC Penney bra sales now goes into my vacation fund.  But each woman has to decide for herself and with what she feels comfortable with.

Westie

I had my right breast off in April '08.  I've never even considered reconstruction.  I wear a nice Amoena foob when I go out, but go 'au natural' at home.

Took me about a week to be up and out (with the drains and staples still in).  Did not need painkillers.

Best Wishes!

Mouser

Hi DVSB --

I'm also 65, so maybe similar in terms of energy, healing, etc. This post is pretty long, so 2 important ponts up front...

First: if at all possible, get physical therapy! It's made all the difference in terms of getting back my range of motion, preventing painfully tight skin where the breast was, clearing up axillary cording. I'm still going - but any amount helps!

Second - think a lot beforehand. Even then you may second-guess yourself afterwards -- try not to, because that is a swamp it's hard to get out of. Whatever you decide is best for you is what you need to do; anything we say is just to help you think it through.

I had a complete left mastectomy on 8/29/08, and was absolutely ready to leave the hospital after 24 hours. Ate in a casual restaurant that evening, was driven home (8 hour trip) on 8/31 by my husband, returned on 9/3-9/4 to have the drain out (he drove both ways), and went back to work, very part time, on 9/23. Officially full time again on 9/30, but only because i was able to take it pretty easy most days - terrific co-workers! Started biking to work that week; could probably have done it sooner, but the surgeon was worried about falls (not a cyclist).

I agree about taking it as easy as you can for 3-4 weeks: it helps. A lot! But of the 3 operations-with-hospital-stays that i've had in the past 2 yrs, the mastectomy was the least debilitating - physically. I could drive after 1 week - even tho a lot of motions hurt, the ones needed to steer did not, and i never needed a pain pill after leaving the hospital. (That varies! I was lucky!!!)

By the time it came to a mastectomy I'd had a lot of time to think about reconstruction. I started by assumin gi'd go for it -- i really, really care how i look! In the end i decided i'd had enough surgery -- starting 4/07, i had a lumpectomy, SLN biopsy, an unrelated abdominal hysterectomy, and hernia surgery. The thought of 6-8 hours for DIEP was too much, and i always knew i was not doing implants.  But what made it possible for me to go ahead without recon is that i can always do it later if i can't stand being lopsided.

Am i happy? No. I woke up from the mastectomy crying - told the resident i was grieving, and i was - and i'm still unhappy, even tho this was my own decision in a borderline situation: one of my oncs still thinks the mastectomy was unnecessary. I disagree -- 7 cm of atypia was just too much for a lumpectomy, even in a 34D breast, and i could not leave it there, even if it "isn't cancer"! I still think that -- but it doesn't make me feel better about how i look in the mirror.  Dressed, i look fine - i'm hardly likely to show cleavage, and everything else is fine with the prosthetic. Most of the time i forget i have it on, and the biggest problem is packing the box when i go on a trip. I do swim without any prosthesis -- if it bothers someone, they haven't said so. On the other hand, i now change in a curtained cubicle -- always. I never used to bother.

Unlike many of the women who opt for a bilat, i'm not terribly worried about recurrence (don't ask me that when i go for my next mammogram - but it doesn't keep me up nights), so i never seriously considered a bilat ahead of time. Occasionally, now,  i wonder if i should have had a bilateral -- would it look twice as bad, losing both breasts, or only half as bad because it would be symmetrical? I don't know, so i won't try it. Right now, all i want is no more surgery!

Last point -- this site is really good for information - for example (just one),i don't think i'd have gotten nearly as good a fit of the prosthesis wthout it!

All the best!

mouser

DML

Glad I found this post.  I am opting for bilateral mx.  I was beginning to think I was the only one who opted for No Reconstruction.  I don' see the point. I am more than my boobs and it helps that my husband is not a boob man.  I will miss the arousal my boobs provide, but hoping that won't be too much of a problem.  Reconstruction wouldn't help that anyway.  Dxd 1/30, surgery 2/11/09

barbe1958

DML, my husband WAS a boob man, now he's a ME man. I also, thought of my breasts as a very important part of my sexual health. BUT, at least I am here to enjoy my husband! 

swest

I had my bilateral mx without recon. on 11/5/08 and was back to work in a week and 1/2.  Now I have a desk job so I sit most of the time.  I don't remember having pain.  Just really stiff. 

I choose to wait on the recon. due to not knowing if I had node involvement.  You can always choose to have construction later. 

Best wishes!

grammajan627

DVSB: I am 58 and decided on prophylactic bilateral mastecomy - surgery on Nov. 21, 2008. I'm just about three months recovered and doing well altho' see a mastecomy physical/massage therapist twice a week for adhesions and swelling, mostly on the right side. It's also helped with the tightness. I couldn't have tolerated all this before 2 months post surgery. Because of the numerous biopsies on that side, I've developed edema/lymphedema of the chest wall. I've had numerous surgical biopsies since 1988 with prolyphic dutal and lobular atypical hyperplasia with the fear mounting that the next one will be cancer - and probably be infiltrative due to the fact that the cells are already traveling. I have decided on no reconstruction - the repeated surgeries on the chest wall (implants) is a little more than I can bear - I've had enough surgeries and injury to those areas that enough is enough. My only regret is that I wish I'd had more information on recovery prior to surgery. Being single and having little support I really had no way to know what was normal and how patient I'd have to be to feel 'non-post surgical.' I got "set up" a little by my surgeon and two coworkers that all said, oh, in 2 weeks you'll feel better - NOT. I think a more realistic view is 3 months to get used to it (healing pains and reduced swelling) - and 6 months to start feeling normal about it. I went back to work at six weeks fulltime. Driving was hard for the first 4 weeks and the seat belt hurt for at least 4 weeks. A silky camisole helps with the irritation from clothes. I would feeling a "burning" sensation for about 4 weeks which finally went away. I still wear the camisole under my work clothes as I put cocoa butter on my chest every morning. I'm thankful I was able to have the surgery and hopefully prevent any cancer. The doctor warned me this is only 95% - two women in her practice both developed cancer post-surgery - so I guess if it's agressive enough, it will find a way. I want to live to be 90 and see all my grandkids graduate, get married, have their own kids, etc!

notlucky

I had bilateral mastecomies in Sept. 08.  My right breast had IDC, 2.1 cm, grade 3, ER+, PR-, HER2 positive so I didn't want to mess around with a lumpectomy.  I had a modified radical mast on the right and a partial on the left....because there were some calcifications but no evidence of malignancy but I felt I'd be facing more surgery on the left at some point if I didn't do it now.  My doctor said that implants can be more painful that the original mastectomy.  I found the mastectomies to be painful especially until the drains came out, then I would get a burning sensation while trying to turn over in bed at night. I did see a physical therapist and have full range of motion in both arms, I walk a lot and am as active as possible - am going thru chemo right now. 

My personal feeling is that the body goes through so much after surgery why add more pain and recovery time to get implants or recon?  Especially if you have to go on to have chemo or rads (I did not need radiation).  I may change my mind at some date about implants, but I am 55 and really don't want any more surgery (have had 3 includ. mast. since 2006).  For me, prosthetic breasts will be the way to go and if I really want to feel pain again I'll consider implants. Implants do need drains, and those hurt like the dickens!  In the end, you have to decide who you're doing the implants/recon for - yourself or others?  Don't feel hurried or rushed into a decision.  Surprisingly, men don't put as much importance upon breasts as the media would have us think.  My husband is just happy that I'm here and still finds me sexy.  Well, that's my story!

Dianne

chiquita

I feel the same way...I had a double mastectomy and so far I going on with chemo...I think my body is going to a lot and I am going to wait until my body heals...I really don't fell I have to have foobs...and I do not think my husband really care...he told me not to push into Reconstruction.

My friend went in for the mastectomy and Reconstruction at the same time and than refuse radiation not damage the skin and implants and also decided not have chemo so she would not loose her hair...well she is gone 6 months a go...I am going to heal my body and enjoy life!!!!

kmccraw423

I am 62 and had a bilateral mastectomy in December 2008 with immediate placement of expanders.  I was operated on twice that day due to a bleed.  A month later I lost the expanders to infection.  I wanted to wake up with boobs or a reasonable facsimile thereof.  I can't consider even trying for reconstruction for at least 9-12 months.  By then, who knows how I will feel.  Right now I would like to go ahead with reconstruction when my body completely heals.

The worse pain for me was the day they did the bilateral mastectomy and then had to go back into each breast to check the bleed and check for possible other bleeds.  I was in the hospital 4 days (because of the complication and I needed a blood transfusion).  I really wasn't in much pain and only took a pain pill the first night I was home.  I haven't taken them since.  The day after I got home my family came over to have Christmas Dinner with me - there were 10 adults and 4 children.  Every day after that got better and better.

After the surgery to remove the expanders, except for spiking a fever and needing another 2 blood transfusions, I felt fine.  I was walking the halls of the hospital, visiting in the visitors lounge and otherwise making a pest of myself.

I would, however, never jeopardize my health for looks.  I don't want to make a good looking corpse, I want to be an old lumpy living being!

smithlme

I had a unilateral mastectomy in April of 2007, followed by a TRAM in January of 2008. Guess what? The TRAM failed and I had to have the flap removed and the muscle amputated. Then, two months later, I was diagnosed with a new primary on the other side. I had a second mastectomy and have since been diagnosed BRCA 2+ and I am happy being flat. I tried recon once and I won't do it again.

Life is truly too short to waste my time trying to get back what cancer took away. I will be 50 in May and my family, friends and I will celebrate the fact that I am alive to see that age. I have recently joined a gym and take Yoga classes twice a week. It's time I thank my body for getting me through 5 surgeries and chemo and take better care of myself. And I never have to worry about a bra fitting again!

Linda

kmccraw423

Smithlme - I like your attitude and your tag line is fabulous!  I also like thanking your body for getting you through everything.  Take care - hugs!

anianiau

And you never do 'get it back'--reconstruction gives you something different. It may be what you want, but I don't think most of us kid ourselves that it's the same as the original equipment.

I can't say I'm happy being flat. But maybe, content (or willing) is a word that will work for me here.

For now, at least, I have no choice. Any attempt to wear a bra results in swelling above and below the band, however light the prosthesis and however loose the bra. I can fudge it with a cami that has pockets. That's it.

Daudine

The recovery time is faster without reconstruction. I had reconstruction and was ok in a month.

 Good luck!!!