Scared--2x mastectomy w/o recon. or diep?

Bunnylunasmom

Hi,

I tested positive for brca1 and know I need surgery, but I'm unsure about afterwards, particularly whether I should go with a double mastectomy and stop there or to go on with diep. Scientific America had some scary things to say about hallucinations and other side effects of the anesthesia associated with the diep. I'm also worried about post operative pain, hard breasts, necrotic tissue, having to wear a tight bra or compression garment (which I can't do due to nerve damage) and 8-12 wks recovery with the didp. By the same token, I'm worried that if I don't reconstruction that I'll suffer a great depression from not having breasts. I am obese and have very large breasts, so either way I know there might be trouble operatively. I'm just scared all around. Would I like a tummy tuck with the diep? Yes, for the tummy tuck, no to the pain and long anesthesia time. My oncologist said I can have a reconstruction after a mastectomy, but do I wait and hurt twice?

Advice, please.

Thank you

morrigan_2575

hi. Just saw this post. I am not a DIEP candidate but, that was never my first option. I did Chemo before surgery (surgery coming in June) and I really didn't want to spend days in the hospital nor have multiple recovery points (donor places).

I'm doing a BMX with tissue expanders and then an exchange to implants 3 months later.

There are pros/cons involved with either DIEP or Implants just as there are with no reconstruction.

I think the main point is no option is final. You can do no reconstruction now and decide to do reconstruction later. You can opt for implants and, then change your mind and want DIEP or flat later on.

Just out of curiosity why have you eliminated Implants from your options?

Bunnylunasmom

Hi, Thanks for writing.

I have several moderate to severe autoimmune conditions such as Ra, lupus, sjogrens, Raynaud's, etc that make me inelligble for implants. Otherwise, I like the idea.

Thanks for caring,

Bunny