Single mastectomy reconstruction

AmieM
AmieM Member Posts: 5
edited August 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

I was diagnosed with DCIS recently at age 50. I opted for single mastectomy. It was a very difficult decision. But, it made sense to me at the time. I have a tissue expander in place, and now it's time to finish the reconstruction. I was always a small girl, 32-34 B bra size. I want to have some symmetry between the natural breast and the reconstructed one. My plastic surgeon is very optimistic. She recommended to have the tissue expander enlarged to a size C, then add a small implant to my healthy breast to created some symmetry.

I am very worried about cancer recurrence on the natural breast. If I listen to my surgeon and I will have an implant on the natural breast, is the implant going to interfere in any way with the mammograms in the future? Is this lowering my chances of early cancer detection on the natural breast? Can the implant rupture during the mammogram? Anybody had this done? Thank you.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • bikefam
    bikefam Member Posts: 127
    edited August 2016

    Sounds like my case is very similar to yours. I also had DCIS and a single mastectomy. I was small (A cup) and didn't want to go huge, but the PS said he couldn't made an A cup. So he put a small (100 cc) in my non-cancer side and 350 cc in my mx side. I am a small B and actually like it very much. I have had one mammo since this happened and they have a way of pushing the implant back and just filming the breast tissue. And no, it did not rupture. My Onco had scheduled what they called a diagnostic mammogram, which meant that the radiologist read the mammo while I was still there, and if he saw anything suspicious, they would take me right in for an ultrasound. My natural breast and implant aren't exactly the same, but they are growing on me. My husband likes them. And no one can tell in clothes. Good luck. I think you'll be fine.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ddfair
    ddfair Member Posts: 109
    edited August 2016

    Amie,

    I understand your fear of getting cancer in the remaining breast. However, that is not very likely baring some underlying pathology. Perhaps someone will chime in with the stats on that.

    As to your questions about implants and mammograms, let me offer some experience. I had silicon implants for 10 years before getting cancer. Mine were placed over the muscle in 1983. When I discovered a lump just beneath the skin it was really difficult painful and expensive to get a readable mamo. They had me sign papers stating that I realized the mamo could rupure the implants. I decided to have a lumpectomy and have the implants removed at the same time. I have since learned that implants never last forever. Everyone developes some amount of scar tissue around them. Depending on how much you may get capsular contracsure. That may require further surgery. At best, you're looking at having touch up surgeries for the rest of your life. I know the products and procedures have improved since 1983 but I would advise against having an implant in the remaining breast. Couldn't you have it lifted, shaped,whatever to match the reconstructed side?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories