total left mastectomy without immediate reconstruction

yodez75

Anyone out there have a single mastectomy without immediate reconstruction? I'm scheduled for total left mastectomy on tuesday. I currently have IDC, Grade 3, Stage 2 , TN. I know I will have a drain and bulb, just not sure what it will look like since I'm not having immediate reconstruction. VERY Nervous!!

Maya15

Hi yodez75, there are some ladies on the June surgeries board that you could ask, who have had this.

BarredOwl

Hi Yodez75:

Are you asking about the drain appearance? See section (2) of this page, with a schematic diagram:

https://www.verywell.com/surgical-drain-locations-after-a-mastectomy-430399

I had bilateral mastectomy and sentinel node biopsies, with no reconstruction, single incisions, but only one drain on each side. Also, the tubes were longer on mine.

I posted elsewhere on drain management solutions, in case you are interested:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/149/topics/844445?page=1#post_4719416

For more information about mastectomy without reconstruction, this is an excellent site created by a member of BC.org:

www.breastfree.org

Wishing you a smooth surgery and quick recovery!

BarredOwl

maryna8

Hi, Yodez

I also had a single right breast mastectomy and I have had no reconstruction and am 2 1/2 years past diagnosis. My breasts were small, so there was not much difference. I do wear a prosthetic bra with the smallest prosthethis they could get.

I am also TNBC, Stage 2, Grade 3. I am 63, and had a lot of pain issues after chemo plus a torn rotator cuff. I was not interested in more pain from reconstruction, although if I was younger I might have looked at it differently.

Wishing you the best, do you think you will do reconstruction in future?

Mary

debiann

I wish you good luck with your surgery. Are you considering recon in the future? Generally they leave extra skin, anticipating recon later. If you don't want recon you can ask that they remove the extra skin now.

yodez75

Hi Maryna8,

Yes, I want to do reconstruction in the future as I'm only 40 yrs old. But, I guess since my journey is just beginning, I very well could change my mind. I have large breasts, so there will def be a noticeable difference. Thank you for responding!

yodez75

Thank you, debiann yes, I'm considering recon later. The nerves r getting the best of me I'm afraid!