bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction

Hi mack3,

I would suspect that all three could probably be done at the same time but you would need to check with your surgeons.  As far as the recovery time it would really depend a lot on your body and if you have any complications or not.  It would also depend on the type of reconstruction you are having.  From reading things on the boards it seems as if reconstruction with expanders seems to take a little longer to heal than reconstruction without expanders.  It is also different time table for different flap recons as well.  So unfortunately there are many different factors that play into the recovery time table.  Sorry that I wasn't much help.

Keep laughing,

Jenny

Hi mack3 - and welcome to bc.org!

I had bilateral mastectomies with immediate reconstruction (DIEP/SIEA) and broached the subject with my plastic/microsurgeon beforehand. He rejected it straightaway. This is a complex and time-consuming enough surgery on its own. Besides, it's a crowded operating theatre already, what with FIVE surgeons and all their support staff -  oncologic surgeon to do the mastectomies (I'm BRCA-1 so a general surgeon wasn't adequate), my DIEP-experienced plastic surgeon, and three resident surgeons from USC/UCLA (because there is an emarrassing dearth of DIEP-able surgeons in So CA).

Just my experience. . .

Lisa

Bumping

jsbridges  let me  how you make out. I wish you all the best please keep me posted on your recovery! I would like to do the same procedures , but dr. is not to keen on the idea! I also need to decide the type of recon by Thursday that is another thing i need advice on have heard alot about tram and deip but really don't understand the deip?

I had double mastectomy with tram flap reconstruction in April and that surgery took 6 hours. Then on July 25th, I had TAH combined with a hernia repair (caused from the tram flap) and implants put in during same surgery. I had to get surgeons to schedule surgery together and that surgery lasted 6 hours also.  So, make sure you know how long it will take. Both of my surgeries took about 2 hours longer than they expected.

Debbie

Hello,

I am scheduled for a double mast with immediate reconstruct on November 18th.  My ovaries & tubes will also be taken out. I am BRCA 2+.  I got tested last November because my older sister was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  All of my siblings got tested.  Out of 6 we were the two with the mutated gene.  We told our Mother we should get extra X-Mas presents since she mutated us.  LOL!  The decision to go through the surgery was a very hard one.  I am 38 and I have no children.  Several weeks ago I found out I was thrown into premature menopause.  To say it was like a knife to the heart would be an understatement.  Because of my BRCA mutation my gyn said the ovaries & tubes needed to come out ASAP. 

This last year has probably been the hardest of my life to date.  All the doctor appts, MRI's, Mammo's and meds have literally thrown me into a depression.  As sad as I am I need peace of mind.  I haven't had in it in a while.  I need my life back.

Everyone is different & I don't know if my story helps at all.  I'm scared but I'm more scared of the unknown.  Good luck to all of you!

Ann

Carol,

Thank you for your post.  There is a huge sense of loss.  My heart hurts so bad right now sometimes I don't know how much more I can take.  It seems like I've been hit with too much at the same time.  I do best when I put it out of my mind, obviously that isn't very helpful.  I am talking to a therapist & all of my doctors insist on me speaking to a Psychiatris.  I have an appt scheduled for October.  The woman on this board are very brave.  I've been reading their posts since June.  It has been very helpful.  Thank you to al!

Ann

Ann -

I've never met a Texan that I didn't love!  You are in my prayers; you have a right to be depressed.  This journey isn't fun, except that you do have many opportunities to meet some of the most incredible women!  Secondly, you find a strength within that amazes even you!  Ask your doctor to refer you to a good psychologist who can prescribe something for the depression.  This is all about loving yourself, and not being shy about reaching out for help when you need it.   I  too have no children, and this is actually one less worry as I go through this journey.   I saw a quote today from another site that says it all:  "it's okay to mourn their loss; it's not okay to let it ruin the life that you've been spared." 

BTW -  I was diagnosed last week and tomorrow is the MRI, Chest X-Ray and Blood work.  The following week will be the surgery; I'm leaning towards having a double with reconstruction.  Unfortunately, my genetic testing can not be completed until December, so I can't use this info to weigh in on my decision.  I wish you peace and competent, wise doctors as you prepare, go through and recover from this surgery.    Hugs from Michigan!

Hi Ann - 

I had the BLM, SNB, BSO and tissue expander operation all on Oct. 13th.  The surgery took cooperation by 3 surgeons and lasted 8 hours.  I was in the hospital two nights, drains came out on day 18 and I was back to work every other day starting week four.  I had no complications and felt pretty good by the beginning of the 2nd week.   I'm 41, in fairly good physical condition and currently within my high to weight ratio (BMI range)  Hope this helps - if you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Ann - I am so very sorry that all this is happening to you at once. Please know that we are there for you any time of the day and night. Hugs to you. - Jean

Janice -Great post. I don't know how Ann is doing, but hopefully she will write back. There are a number of us that are going through tissue expanders and reconstruction right now, so you came to a great place. Best wishes. - Jean

Hi Janice, I'm BRCA 2 pos also, and just had my prophy mast 2 weeks ago with TE.  I had a mast for IDC and had a TRAM done last August.  I thought about doing all things at once and having the mast and ooph at the same time. My BS advised against it because she felt that with the changes an ooph bring (immediate menopause), for someone my age, 36, it might be better to wait til all this breast recon issues are done.  When I thought about it, I decided I could only handle the breast junk now and will have the ooph at the end of the year.

Hi, I'm new to this forum and have read through many messages with great interest. I guess I personally wouldn't want to do both the mastectomy (ies) and recon at the same time as an oophorectomy/hyst...i had sooooo much discomfort and had trouble moving in my hospital bed, and on and off exam tables, driving, etc that i was using my abs a lot more.  It could be that I was so much more uncomfortable because my PS did an initial fill at surgery of 120 mls and put in another 150 mls 8 days post op.  I could hardly move. He said that because i had Alloderm, that he needed the TE to push the Alloderm firmly against the overlying skin so it would incorporate better. On my last visit to "top them off" he said, "aren't you glad the filling is over already?"  Not sure about that.  And i have also read the "still having pain with TE's". Oh yes... the recliner and i are best buds now.   Anyway, if it were me, I would just do the surgeries separately. 

I was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 yrs ago[6 weeks after my sister was ]  We were both tested and were BRAC2+ and our mother had ovarian cancer and her sister had breast cancer at 39.  My sister had her breast removed and I had a lumpectomy and we both had chemo and radiation.  Six months after I finished radiation I had a complete hysterectomy but I still could not come to terms with the bi lateral mastectomy even though all my doctors said it should be done. I waited 3 years and finally knew it was the best ting for me.  Dec 11th 2008 I had my breast removed and skin expanders put in , after 3 months the expanders were removed and the implants put in and 6 weeks later they created nipples and then they tattooed.  all together it took 8 months to finish but I'am so glad I did it , wish I would have done it in the first place when my doctors wanted to[when they removed my breast they found pre cancer cells in the breast that was cancer free]  I'm  59 yrs old and it really wasn't bad just time consuming.  As far as having all of the surgery done at once I didn't and I wouldn't.  Thats a lot to heal from.  Good luck and God Bless.

I am about to have a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on Wednesday.  I am having silicone implants put in.  Does anyone know how long the recovery time should be for this  I am supposed to go on a cruise Jan 10th and am worried I will be miserable on this thing.  My Dr's state I should be fine, but recovery can be 2-6 weeks, months before I am able to do everything I did before surgery after surgery.