Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) after Breast Cancer

MargaretEleanor - I'd already lost about 20 pounds in the year before I was dx'd with BC last September. I had a BMX with TEs in December of 2011. I didn't need chemo or rads, but my MO did prescribe Arimidex for five years.

I tried to tell her how I didn't need the drug, because I was 14 years post-menopausal, AND, I'd had a hysterectomy, so there were no ovaries producing estrogen. (I'm ER+)

She told me that estrogen was produced in - body fat!

Then I saw my PS for my final fills, and realized that I had in giant sized TEs. I asked him what would happen if he put in permanent implants to match the size of the TEs, and then I later lost weight.

He said the size of the implants would stay the same. "So I'd have stripper boobs, right?" I asked. He just smiled.

I knew I didn't want any more surgery, so I registered for the Optifast program at Kaiser (also open to non-Kaiser members). I needed to attend an orientation, have a battery of labwork, an EKG, a physician's exam, and clearance from my MO in order to be accepted into the program.

When she read the chart and saw I was going into the Optifast program, she was thrilled! She told me the very best thing I could do for my overall health, AND my ER+ breast cancer, was to drop this excess weight NOW.

In fact, she held off making me take the Arimidex until I'm done with the fasting portion of the program.

So far I've lost 24 pounds in 12 weeks. Doesn't seem like much, but that adds up to more than 40 pounds down from my highest, and slow and steady is best.

I get 960 calories a day in the form of shakes, soups, and nutritional bars. I eat only Optifast products, I am never hungry, I am off all my meds, and my fibromyalgia pain is almost gone. I've never had this much energy.

We do have to exercise. If you don't, your metabolism will just slow down until you stop losing. My pedometer is always on me - even on my robe!

They call it a "vacation from food"....I call it my "food detox".....I know that part of my problem was all the white sugar, white flour, and wheat products I was eating.

The liquid diet, or "Meal Replacement" phase lasts 16 weeks. Then we slowly transition back to real food. We are required to attend weigh-in each week, see the nurse for vitals each week, and attend a one-hour class. I love the other people in my group - they have been such cheerleaders!

Every month we have extensive labwork and a meeting with the physician. The Transition phase lasts 14 weeks. Once we are back on regular meals, the program continues for another year, to make sure we keep off the weight we have lost.

I found out my goal weight was too low! They want your BMI to be between 24 and 26. I think my total weight loss will be between 60 - 70 pounds. Some of my classmates have much more to lose.

I postponed my exchange surgery until September. I needed to be in Transition for at least three weeks in order to be healthy enough for another surgery. I gave it extra time just to be sure.

I know this didn't answer your question about weight loss surgery, but I did want to let you know there was another alternative.

I've been on every diet on the planet, and always gained it back. This is more than just a diet, and the first thing that has ever worked so consistently for me.

It isn't cheap, and it isn't for everyone, but it is working for me.