Stage 3 and Delayed Reconstruction

I do think that makes sense and I understand your thinking. I am 4 years out and I have had similar thoughts. However, because I have researched this previously, I don't see any way for me to have a reconstruction that would be even remotely OK to look at it, so I doubt I will ever go ahead. Also, it is not covered by insurance where I am, so it seems like a lot of money for an extremely dubious outcome (in my particular case). But if you are a good candidate for recon, then I completely understand why you would go ahead.

Thanks for starting this topic. I too have been thinking about doing some "clean up" surgery on my chest. Nothing big just reshaping and smoothing the BMX scares. Have spoken to a surgeon and says it would be a day surgery. But, I just can't get past the trauma to my body again…even if its on a smaller scale. I am 4 1/2 years out and I fear "awakening" anything…maybe thats crazy! I would love to see if there are stats on that. Please don't let me bring fear to this topic, just my wondering if it would weaken my body and waken some problems? Cheering you on if you go for it!!

Lucky to have a real choice, 3.5 years out, desperate to feel normal and still another 3 years to wait on an inhumane waiting list.............

I am british but living in Spain and it is pitiless, I had to battle for two years to even get them to recognise my right ro recon....and I really don,t know if it will succeed.....it feels an impossible dream

I had a bilateral DIEP reconstruction about 2-1/2 years after my original surgery. I have been very pleased with my results. My gynecologist comments on how good they look everytime I have a check up. Don't think that you can't get good results. Just research the plastic surgeon.

It's a hard operation to go through, and there are still twinges every now and again, but nothing that makes me regret it. As techtonicshift says, you should really want it. I did, and that's what got me through the recovery

Peacestrength, because of the features of my particular BC--there was dermal lymphatic invasion--I had extensive rads, and they cooked the bejabers our of my chest and back. The DIEP included excising a lot of the damaged tissue from my chest. I did have some issues, although not with the original surgery, which was 100% successful. Because of the rads damage, I needed many minor tweaking surgeries, and I got cellulitis a couple of times. Some time in the hospital, IV antibiotics, and all healed ok.

My sister had her DIEP last July and she's doing beautifully. No issues with the radiated side.

Peacestrength, I had no post-surgical complications. Both my breasts were completely rebuilt from belly fat and skin. The breasts themselves have been completely numb except for the last few months when it seems like the nerves from the surrounding chest have decided to grow into the edges of the flaps. I don't know if you've ever had any areas where there was regeneration of nerves, but it's a strange sensation—sometimes tingling, sometimes burning. Time will tell how far they go into the flaps.

I sometimes have twinges on the radiated side, kind of on my ribs. And there's a movement I just cannot do without some pain like a nerve is pinched: reaching down to the left floor of my car to release the gas door. Ouch!

But they are not major enough to make me regret the surgery. At my age, my arthritis is more of an issue.

I haven't had any issues. Nips and areolas were completed from groin skin last week (AARGH) and stitches come out today hopefully.

I had an appointment with a PS lined up in January and have now cancelled it as I can't deal with the thought of the lengthy DIEP surgery and recovery. Unfortunately my BS thinks I should have a prophylactic mastectomy of "good" breast. Really uncertain what to do. The six monthly surveillance is also very stressful (MRI alternating with mammogram/US). These decisions are SO hard.

Hi. I had a delayed tissue expander reconstruction on my cancerous side using some of my lat from my back to help out the fragile radiated tissue expand to my previous side. I also had a prophylactic mastectomy and recon on my non affected side. That was just a tissue expander. I had it done three years out my...almost five years ago and am so glad. I opted not to have nipples constructed as only my husband would see them tattoos instead. As a result at 60 wearing a bra is a personal choice. I decided to go for reconstruction because of my active lifestyle. It was not a highlight of my life when my prosthetic ended up on my yoga mat as I taught a mixed class of about forty individuals. The quickest scoop and stuff in Ontario. Cost wise it was converted by my health care. Swimming and scuba is better. I usually went as a unicorn one dd and one zero. Swim prosthetics are lighter but need to be rinsed after immersion i salt or chlorine and regular ones are not recommended for swimming. Granted they are not normal when naked but tbe scars all all but invisible now. No pain unless I don t do some stretches for about a month. Nothing onerous just simple twists and extensions. Love feeling whole even though the sexual component is gone as my nipples had to go due to the location of the tumor. The best thing I did for my morale.

I decided to have reconstruction because I was 40 at diagnosis/mastectomy/treatment and these goods are still on the market

I'm now 41 and will hopefully be having my expander removed in March and my implant put in. I'm not excited for yet ANOTHER thing to recover from, but I'm very excited to have a breast that moves again!

I don't think it has anything to do with whether or not your breasts define you. It has to do with feeling whole again. I'm planning to get a mastectomy tattoo I think, once my reconstruction has healed. (assuming my lymphedema allows it) I used to want a nipple reconstruction, but as I've done more research, I've become less satisfied with the result of a perfect looking nipple. As I have one natural breast and one recon breast, I think that it would be forever a comparison between the two. One would be the real breast and one would always be the recon breast. If I decorate the recon breast and OWN it as not real, then I have a real breast and a COOL breast. I think it all ends up being about how you look at things, and taking the power back wherever you can, even subtly.

I didn't have a trouble free DIEP but after 4 months everything was nicely healed. I hated the TE and then the PS decided that the skin there was too thin to use so ended up not using any of the stretched and fried skin anyway. This was after she tried hard to get me to go with an implant. I go in for my stage two next Thursday and swear that it better be good because this is the last one for me. I just want both breasts to be in the same hemisphere when I take my clothes off. I'm so tired of tight bras just to get them near to the same level. In the last 2 years I've had DIEP, two hip replacements, eye surgery and a broken knee cap last month. I'm so over constantly being in a state of recovery. Would I do all over again? Yes! Thinking abut a tattoo to finish things up but I only plan one step at a time.

To feel whole again is why I want reconstruction, I feel so damaged as I am, I don´t want any more surgery, I hate hospitals but I NEED to feel whole again...................and symmetrical even if not perfectly identical