Reconstruction?

BlueKoala

I'm about to have a single mastectomy. My doctor says we will talk about having the other breast removed later. She says there is no evidence of cancer in it now, and doesn't want to do 'unnecessary' surgery now, but she thinks it may be necessary in the future, or even just desirable either for symmetry or because i may have a predisposition for breast cancer and may want a prophylactic mastectomy.

At the moment I'm not considering reconstruction. I would rather have the other breast removed and be flat than have one side reconstructed. I think I could live forty years with no breasts. But, I'm not sure I could live forty years with one breast.

I'm wondering what other younger women have done.

Meow13

I had DIEP reconstruction on left. One of my tumors was ILC and it hasnt come back in other breast.

The statistics say about one third of ILC is found in both breasts so I am suprised at your doctor's comments.

Are you doing tamoxifen or AI drugs? Suprised at chemo as treatment well.

BlueKoala

I had an MRI after diagnosis that came up clear on the opposite side.


I think I will be doing an AI, but I'm not sure if it is that or Tamoxifen yet.

Why are you surprised by chemo?

LM070917

I had a single mastectomy a year ago and still weighing up the idea of recon. It's just such a lot to go through and I wonder if it's worth it. More scars and pain to aesthetically look normal. I dunno. I think I might wait another year, just to see what happens and let my body recover a bit more. My surgeon has advised the latissimus dorsi recon is the one I should go with, if I do decide, but I have heard things like you can lose muscle strength (ability to lift arms up) and can end up feeling really tight around the torso. i think I'll wait a bit longer.

Meow13

Chemo is not as effective on ILC but if your grade was a 3 I guess you might want to try it.

Meow13

Also if you had fewer than 3 positive nodes, oncodx testing could let you know if chemo is effective.

BlueKoala

Meow13, I don't actually know what grade it is, but the chemo did shrink the tumour enough that it is no longer palpable. I guess I'll find out soon whether it was a complete response.


lottemarine, I don't want a reconstruction because I don't want the surgery I don't really need. And it turns out I would have to travel to Brisbane to get it done. But I wonder how soon I will tire of being lopsided. I don't know - do Medicare or PHI cover mastectomies for 'cosmetic' purposes?

BlueKoala

meow13 - oncotype testing isn't readily available here. I had neoadjuvant chemo, because the tumour was so large, and my surgeon said she would expect there would be nose involvement at that size.

Meow13

it might have been worth it to try neoadjuvant hormone therapy, but now you could consider it for prevention especially for your healthy breast. You are ILC and er and pr positive hormone therapy seems like a no brainer.

Meow13

Even with node involvement AI drugs prove very effect at killing cancer cells. Effectively starving them.

BlueKoala

yes, hoping that with the hormonal therapy I won't end up with a new primary in the other breast!

Meow13

Best wishes to you.

LM070917

Hey blue koala, yes Medicare do cover mastectomy and I think implants as well, as you say under recon. Yeah I think I'm gonna wait another year and then see..let us know how you get on