nipple saving mastectomy

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terrischnauzer
terrischnauzer Member Posts: 20
edited June 2015 in Just Diagnosed

has anyone been offered this

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited June 2015

    Terri - I had this on one side. Did you have specific questions about it?

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited June 2015

    I also had this done - you will sometimes see it abbreviated here as NSBMX.

    If you enter "nipple sparing" in the search box a number of hits come up - here is the link showing them:

    https://community.breastcancer.org/posts/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search_builder%5Bkeyword%5D=nipple+sparing&search_builder%5Bauthor%5D=&search_builder%5Bsource%5D=&search_builder%5Bdate_range%5D=&commit=Search

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  • terrischnauzer
    terrischnauzer Member Posts: 20
    edited June 2015

    I have idc in one area and awaiting results from second biopsy. Even of it's just dcis I'll still need a mx they've said. Would just be lumpectomy if one place. Consultant seemed reluctant to do nipple sparing as he said cells can get left behind or nipple can die due to lack of tissue left. I'm thinking well if you were gonna leave breast my breast entact anyway with lumpectomy then it's no different. I'm in the uk and he said it's done more in USA. ...I want to keep my nipple

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited June 2015

    Be aware that the nipple does not function in the same way as pre-surgery, and you will most likely not have any feeling in it, or for the most part in your reconstructed breast. Also, it may not end up in the same place that it was before, and you can have asymmetry issues if you have bi-lateral mastectomies, or if the nipple cannot be aligned with the other if you are doing a uni-MX.  Your surgeon should core out the nipple from underneath and send that tissue to pathology separately if you do this surgery, and yes, you may have issues with necrosis and the loss of the nipple - I believe it happens about 20% of the time.

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  • Englishmummy
    Englishmummy Member Posts: 337
    edited June 2015


    Hi,

    I just had NSBMX done on June 10. My BS is part of research team for this proceedure...she told me that they have found out that the chance of reoccurrence due to leaving the nipple is very minimal on the right candidate - can't remember the stats for what they are really worth,also, that it is better for the patient psychologically, and I was told the necrosis rate is 8% with a surgeon accustomed to the proceedure. BUT not everyone is a candidate, my cancer was at 6o'clock on the right and a high up 2o'clock on the left, both at least 2.5cm from the nipple: I am 41, fit ie. had small boobs, and do not smoke - the not smoking is a vital part according to my PS & BS. As SpecialK said they should send the path off seperately to be sure.

    TMI but my boobs are more symmetrical now than before the op, the nipples will likely not function or feel, but I do have feeling coming back in my breasts and I am only 3 weeks out, but I am told that is not to be expected as the norm. I am from the UK and live in the US now, no-one back there had heard of being able to keep their nipples, but there must be surgeons there that do it? I would be sure to research someone that has done that op though. 

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