waiting a year for reconstruction?

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timerdog
timerdog Member Posts: 159
edited June 2014 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer

My PS likes to wait an entire year from my last chemo to do reconstruction. She says that the 1st year is the most likely time for a reoccurrence. She is willing to put the tissue expanders in this summer which means I will have them in for a year.

This waiting process sounds a little long. I read in the US how the reconstruction starts almost immeadiatly.

My PS is Sarah Wong and she strikes me as being amazing. I hope so because I did have a consult with John Semple but cancelled because I liked Dr. Wong so much! 

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  • flannelette
    flannelette Member Posts: 984
    edited May 2011

    hey Timerdog - like your new hair! I was never even offered reconstruction (well, I also didn't ask) this was because when I first saw my MX surgeon, and I happened to say something about reconstruction, he didn't say a word and just went on to something else. I just figured this was because my tumor was so huge that really, discussing recon was silly, from a life/death perspective.

    but, after my 18 month check-up he casually mentioned I could consider recon if I chose. he never said it, but i know he was thinking - 18 months and it was aggressive and it didn't reappear - it looks like we got the suckers - it's finally OK. So my feeling about your year is - why rush, don't you really want to be sure?  Take care, glad to see you're feisty as ever.

    ps isn't it wonderful you finally found a GREAT dr? after the initial fiasco? Sudbury or Toronto?

    Arlene

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited May 2011

    Because I had IBC (inflammatory) I was told I would have to wait at least a year afterradiation before I could have reconstruction.  Now I don't care & don't want it.

    The scar boost burnt me so bad, I was left with an open wound. It still hasn't healed after 2 1/2 years. So I am looking at having a scar revision so I can get a good clean scar. I'm sure most people aren't burned that badly, but unforunately I was.

    I hope everything works out for you. NJ

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  • Slainte
    Slainte Member Posts: 152
    edited May 2011

    I have to wait a year just to get an appointment with the either of the the two top recommended PS in my area!! lol. I made my appointment second month of chemo. It is set for Nov 2011, and then surgery date will probably take another six months. I am happynto wait until I feel better and can approach this surgery with a happy, positive mind.



    Christine

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  • Ghillie
    Ghillie Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2011

    I have been recently diagnosed with HER-2/neu status BC. Im waiting for the Protein Overexpression test to come back (FISH). The pathology report mentions core fragments range between 1.8 and 2.1 cm in length. Each fragment has a diameter of approximately 6 mm. ICD-9. Nothing on the reports mentions the stage I guess she will tell me me more after the MRI and the PEM test that I have scheduled for 5/31/2011. 

    I have been so scared but reading your comments on this forum has given me the strenght and I don't feel so alone knowing that there are other sisters experiencing the same problems. I had 3 opinions already. My doctor is suggesting a lumpectomy but she also mention that I should look or plan reconstruction. After much reading Im still comfused. Im leaning for latissimus dorsi flap. I understand that they take tissue from your back. I have a thin back and that worries me. The other concern is should I wait to have this reconstruction after or should I have it at the same time as the lumpectomy? Lots of questions and no answers. Any thoughts would be appreciated. God bless you all.

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  • Slainte
    Slainte Member Posts: 152
    edited May 2011

    Ghillie, so much information and so many decisions to make, it is all overwhelming. I chose mastecomty because of the size if my tumor( 2cm) the location of my tumor ( it was very close to the nipple so my nipple had to be removed no matter what) and the size of my breasts ( small). I felt there wasn't much point in a lumpectomy which would leave only a small amount of breast tissue with no nipple. As for immediate reconstruction, in my area that would have meant a delay in the surgery for up to three weeks (or more ) extra as they need to coordinate breast surgeon and plastic surgeon. There was no way I was waiting even one extra day to get this cancer out!! Everyone's situations are so different which makes each individuals choices so different. One question I ask myself helps me to make a decision. I ask myself " if the worst case senerio happens ie I have recurrence Down the road,, will I be happy with the decision I have made". For me I knew if all went well I wouldn't say, boy I wish I hadbkept my breast, but if it came back and I had had a lumpectomy I would say darn I wish I had had a mastectomy. But that is just me, everyone is so different.





    Christine

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  • timerdog
    timerdog Member Posts: 159
    edited May 2011

    I agree with you Christine. I have had a few regrets about my BC journey but getting the mastectomy was NOT one of them. WIth the reconstruction options available and the peace of mind it was the best decision for me. Plus, I do not have to have rads so that is a bonus as well. 

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  • NannaBaby
    NannaBaby Member Posts: 510
    edited June 2011

    I was disappointed at first, but now I realize that delaying recon was in my best interest.  A couple months after my mastectomy, full lymph node dissection, rads and chemo, my chest is a mess!  I have constant muscle tightness and pain, and swelling.  I can't imagine the pain and pressure if I had tissue expanders in!  My onc. never used recurrence as a reason, he wanted to keep me as pain free as possible :) 

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