Reconstruction for Athletes

Hi Ande-Pants,

I am a long distancetriathlete too!

It is very important to me that I can still do the activities that I like after reconstruction. They are what make me, me. I have decided on a DIEP surgery. I don't have a lot of tissue, but my surgeon believes he can make me a small A. I was previously a C cup, which I felt was too large and got in the way of my activities. So I think I will be happy being smaller - really, I just want a little something so I look more normal in clothes.

Andi Pants3 - sorry to welcome you to this forum. But glad you're here asking questions. I had a single mastectomy 13 months ago, having spent the first month after my diagnosis researching and talking about reconstruction options, single mastectomy vs bilateral. In the end, I couldn't come up with a good reason to remove the healthy breast. At mastectomy (tissue and nipple sparing) a tissue expander was inserted under my pectoral muscle. Then it was chemo and radiation. To this day, 13 months later, not a day goes by when I'm not aware of the expander. I feel it swimming, biking, running and pretty much every time I use my right arm in an up/down motion. I recognize that an implant can't be this uncomfortable - why would millions of women continue to have them? but for me, I've got to get that pec back in place with nothing artificial under it. My DIEP flap is in December - it'll be 9 months after end of radiation. I know that the recovery will be long and I don't expect to get back to my pre-diagnosis level of activity quickly but I do anticipate that this reconstruction will be the one that allow me to feel the most "normal" years from now as well as be as active as I want. I'm a D cup today and last summer my surgeon told me I had enough belly for one or two significantly smaller breasts. The last thing he said to me at my check in 3 months post mastectomy was "call me in the summer to schedule reconstruction and don't lose any weight." So I didn't lose any weight (hard to on aromatase inhibitors!).

I'm extremely athletic and going with direct to implant at Nola as well. I didn't want the diep flap.

I was told it should not effect my activity level. The implants will be tight at first then settle. I'm using barre3 as my recovery to help with tightness. Surgery is in a few days. I'll keep you updated on the progress.

Hi, Andi-Pants3,

I recently had a nipple-sparing BMX with immediate reconstruction and was able to have pre-pectoral tissue expanders placed. I am athletic and was very concerned about limitations after a mastectomy so I discussed it with my PS and she suggested over-the-muscle would be a good way to go based on my activity level. She did say that she wouldn't know for sure whether she could do it until she saw the skin flap left by the breast surgeon so I went into surgery hoping for pre-pectoral but knowing it could end up under-the-muscle if she couldn't make it work. The skin flap ended up being good so over-the-muscle she went.

My recovery has been pretty quick and not too painful. I used Norco at night for about 5-6 days and used Tylenol during the day. I was told by my PS to start raising my arms above my head right away and I was stretching and moving as much as possible the day after surgery. I had a 'don't lift over 20 lbs' weight restriction so I used 10-12 lb weights at home to do light stuff during recovery and I walked every day. October 17th was the three week anniversary of my surgery and on the 18th I went to the gym. I've been able to shoulder press, tested out a couple of pull ups on Wednesday, and I'm going to try deadlifting this weekend. I do have some tightness, but continue to stretch (especially in the shower) to keep loosening it up.

The tissue expanders have not been too bad. My PS is filling them with air instead of saline so they don't feel heavy, they just deflate a little over time and she will refill again a few weeks as the skin continues to heal. When she added air 3 weeks after surgery I had about a 36 hour period of discomfort, but Tylenol took care of that and they've been ok since then.

Expanders will be replaced by implants at the end of November - I'm looking forward to that. I did not have radiation or chemo so I can't speak to how that would have affected my surgery and recovery. So far I'm very happy with how things are going and am hopeful for a good final result.

These decisions are so hard to make. There is so much information to take in and consider based on what others have done and what your personal feelings are. Good luck with your research, you will find what works for you.

I am a very active female athlete -- box, soccer, run, mountain bike, weight lifting, swimming -- to name a few. Not bragging, just wanted others to understand how athletic I am.

So, in 2015 I had a double mastectomy with no reconstruction. My PS wants to get it started in November. BUT, he says I will be "side lined" for the first initial month. I am very anxious over this whole thing. Unlike a lot of people, I am in no rush to have this done. It bothers me somewhat, to not have what every woman has - breasts. Getting dressed in locker rooms, in front of everyone does not happen either.

I guess I'm looking for some advice or wisdom - how did you come around to making the decision? My mom says I should do it now when I have the time.

But to me, 30 days is a long time for me to not be able to workout. It is something I need to do - keeps me in check

Help folks and thank you in advance for your knowledge.

Thanks

Donna