Reasons for delaying reconstruction?

It was more likely due to subsequent radiation or chemotherapy treatments

OOPS. - Dreaded double post!

Laura I don't know why anyone would need 6 weeks off for a lumpectomy. Also if you have a lumpectomy, reconstruction is not usually needed, sometimes people have a revision later on.

Since you are having chemo before surgery, hopefully you can shrink the mass, have a lump, and rads. (Rads do take 6 weeks if you are not doing canadian fraction, I did not work, but many people do.) I probably could have worked the first 4 weeks.

That being said Laura, there is nothing wrong with your plan. All of these choices are personal. Some people are totally comfortable reconstructed, some people hate it. Some wear a prosthesis, some don't. I really think the only wrong plan is one that someone else pushed on you.

I had a mastectomy 4 weeks ago and my reconstruction had to be delayed because while I had quit smoking a few months ago, I continued to use the patch. My plastic surgeon said (and this was confirmed with other opinions) that the restriction in may blood vessels from nicotine takes up to six months to correct itself. If I had done reconstruction immediately, there was a very good chance that the wound would not heal and I would have many, many complications. This has happened to many women whose surgeons either didn't ask about nicotine history, or didn't know better.

elise,

Many women delay reconstruction because they will be having radiation treatments, and radiation can damage the skin/area that will be part of the reconstruction process. If radiation is not part of your treatment plan, you can pursue reconstruction immediately.

Laura,

I agree with cookiegal. If chemo shrinks your cancer enough, you may be able to get a lumpectomy, which DOES NOT require six weeks off from work. (I went back to work part-time the day after my lumpectomy, and was back full-time the next week). My chemo cleaned out the active cancer in my breast and compromised lymph node. My surgeon ended up taking out a golf-ball sized amount of tissue from my affected breast. There is a small dent in my right breast above my nipple; I have not bother to research or pursue reconstruction because the small dent is insignificant to me. I'm not sure whether that breast would still be able to breast feed, but my left breast has been untouched. Of course, I'm 48 and finished having kids, so this is theoretical for me. Best wishes with your treatment, and I hope you retain your fertility!