Please help me be armed with questions

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peggym
peggym Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I am seeing a PS and BS this week to make arrangements for unilateral mastectomy and reconstruction.  My original BS misdiagnosed, told me that a MRI and PEM scan showed a secondary benign lesion, so I went ahead with lumpectomy, excision of the secondary lesion and SNBs.  The secondary lesion is cancer (as was suggested on the MRI and PEM) but my lymph nodes were clear.  I am now planning a mx with a different BS. This post is not about my anger with my first BS, but rather how to proceed.

 I have read many posts which talk about the possibility of skin sparing and/or nipple sparing mxs and plan to ask about that.  I have also mostly decided to go the implant route rather than TRAM, so what questions do I need answered from the PS.  I know this is a big question, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited July 2009

    bumping up so maybe someone will see... also, did you try posting under breast reconstruction?  Might get more replies there.

    Good luck!

    edit, sorry, link not working!  Just go to the forum index and look for that title...

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited July 2009
    See if yiou can get a book called The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook by Kathy Steligo> it has absolutely everything including the questions to ask your doctors.
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  • Nerak50
    Nerak50 Member Posts: 11
    edited August 2009

    Hi Peggy,

    I had a double mastectomy and skin sparring immediate reconstruction with silicone implants.  The initial procedure went really well.  I came home from the hospital a day and a 1/2 after the procedure.  I had zero pain.  I did not take pain medication or muscle relaxors and felt really good.  My breasts looked like my own with all of my own freckles just lifted.  I was really relieved that I chose this procedure.  Unfortunately I did have some set backs that maybe you want to ask the plastic surgeon about.

    The top layer of skin did not survive and I actually smelled the decaying flesh.  I developed a high fever and had to be hospitalized for intravenous antibiotics and surgical removal of the top layer of skin.  The remaining shin was too thin and the implants could be seen in several spots.  I was placed on a VAC to improve healing and to drain the wound sites.  Eventually, I had to have my implants removed and expanders placed.  I am still trying to heal.  My breasts have my own skin but they don't look good.  They look like hills with many indentations.  I only have 50ml of saline.  My PS is waiting for me to heal before we start to fill the expanders.  My implants were 500ml.

    I did read something on this site about rejection and skin survival being a problem for women that are overweight.  I started this priocess at 180 lbs on a 5'4" frame.  I asked my doctor about this and he told me that rejection was more likely in smokers and women with pre-existing conditions.  I was very healthy other than the BC.

    Best of luck!  I pray that all goes well for you!!!

    Karen 

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