Recon at Stage IV?

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Two years ago, after neoadjuvant chemo for Stage III, I had a unilateral mastectomy. I opted to delay reconstruction because a) I needed to do rads, b) I had an opportunity to do a clinical trial with Kadcyla, c) I hadn't yet decided whether to remove the healthy breast.

So I delayed through rads and nine months of the trial, thenopted to put it off another year to give my body time to heal from the trial. Six months in, I got the brain mets dx. So I still am a uniboober, which is fine for now, but I plan to be a "long-timer" and I do want pretty new boobies.

How long would I have to be off treatment to do a TRAM or DIEP? Would insurance still cover it at Stage IV? How risky would it be to me? If it's a choice between life or breasts, obviously I'll keep rockin' the prosthesis, but I'm not also not some saint with no sense of vanity. I would really love to have two nice breasts again...

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  • jensgotthis
    jensgotthis Member Posts: 937
    edited June 2016

    I'm stage 4 and had a unilateral MX in May of this year. I'm delaying recon until after rads, then will do DIEP. Insurance pays for reconstruction for mascectomy patients. My choice for DIEP was based on a few things, primarily that it's more investment up front in terms of it being a large surgery and recovery but then I won't need to replace implants down the road. I'm pretty healthy now so I'm assuming now is the time to go for it vs 10 years from now

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited June 2016

    No idea about insurance, but if you want a recon, and you're willing to live through one, go for it. (I'm a uniboober with no plans to change that).

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited June 2016

    When I was stage 2 I was told that ins is required to pay for recon at any time, right away or years later if you are undecided. However, I'm not sure if that is a national law or a PA law. As for that kind of surgery, I haven't had it, just implants. I think most people are very pleased with the results and the ones I have seen look fantastic. Much better than mine, but I was afraid of extensive surgery. I decide on Bmx and I'm very happy that I did it, due to the symetry and never wearing a bra or prosthesis. It's very convenient.

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited June 2016

    I did bi-lateral as I did not want to go through same surgical procedure twice if I had gotten it on other side. My onc had me wait 1 year due to having inflammatory bc with bone mets before doing mast. I have symmetry and wear no more bras anymore. My upper back does not hurt anymore either,

    Terri

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2016

    For those who have had it after Stage IV, how long did you have to be off treatment to get healed up???

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited June 2016

    I didn't have it at stage 4, however, I had recon with tissue expanders and had chemo right after that, getting fills once a week and chemo every 2 weeks. No problems healing at all. My surgeon advised taking zinc and vit c to help with healing. The zinc was 224 mg per day. She said it sounds like a lot but it's not. Vit c I forget but I think it was 2 grams. I healed well and I was a heavy smoker. When I had the drains taken out the holes were even closed by that night. She said there might be a bit of drainage from them. I did end up with a seroma and I think it's because of the holes closing up so soon.

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