Change your mind about reconstruction

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Faith2019
Faith2019 Member Posts: 1
edited October 2019 in Breast Reconstruction

I had a TE put implanted when I I had my MX a year ago. I have finished radiation and chemo and the PS is ready to replace the TE. I am having second thoughts about the flap and having surgery again. Has anyone changed their minds at this point of the treatment? Can I change my mind and just have the TE removed and go on with my life?

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2019

    Hi Faith, and welcome to Breastcancer.org!

    We're so sorry you're having difficulty making a decision. Your body is just that -- yours -- so if you don't want further surgeries, that is of course your prerogative. Many of our members here are very happy with going "flat" and choosing no reconstruction -- you may have luck posting in the Living Without Reconstruction forum as well.

    We hope this helps and we look forward to seeing you around the boards! Let us know if you need anything at all; please keep us posted on how things go.

    --The Mods

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  • gretchy
    gretchy Member Posts: 106
    edited September 2019

    I agree with the moderators. Your body. Your choice. My sister had masectomy and read about all the risks of reconstruction so didn't do it. I think for formal events she wears a special bra. I am thinking of reconstruction at this point in time.

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  • IBJUSTFINE67
    IBJUSTFINE67 Member Posts: 32
    edited September 2019

    I am so glad they know what to say!!! Can't say that enough. It's your body...period. Also, treatment plans, how you decide to heal, when to go back to work, etc. Only you know how you will react to the options you will be given for treatment. No 2 cancers are identical. There are so many factors including age, genetics, history, stages, grades, hormones, proteins, etc. Omg, things I wish I never would be that familiar with♡ Trust yourself honey♡

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  • SBert99
    SBert99 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2019

    Faith,

    Great responses already given, so I'll tell you my experience. I was diagnosed last May and had a bilateral mastectomy with TE's implanted in July. A few more surgeries in the following weeks for seroma and hematoma. In September and October I had radiation. I could barely lift my right arm due to pain from tight muscle and tendon at the front edge of the armpit. The RO sent me to Lymphedema therapy and the therapist was great. We got my swelling down with therapy and using swell pads. But every time I'd use my upper body for something I went right back to pain, swelling and tightness. My therapist used lots of different techniques including cupping to move the lymphatic fluid and loosen the tightness. After hitting a 10 for pain while driving home one day, I'd had enough. I told my lymphedema therapist, we did extensive trouble shooting and decided the TE was causing the problem. I had the PS removed a couple syringes of fluid and my pain level and swelling decreased significantly. The TE was sitting on a group of nerves. I immediately wanted the TE's removed but the PS made me wait for 2 reasons. 1) He wanted me to think about how and if I could handle going flat. 2) He wanted me to get my stamina back. So on September 23, 2019, I finally had the TE's removed. My recovery has been night and day different from last year. Drain tubes out at 7 days and no problems with seroma this time. I quit the pain meds yesterday and I have to remind myself to take it easy. The PS asked me how I was doing and without hesitation I responded, "I'm happy". That's when I realized I was was happy. The constant pain had worn me down to the point I never felt like myself anymore. So for me, I found the TE removal liberating.

    Good luck on your journey. And as my one doctor says, "You will be happy with whatever you do because it was your decision." I always found that an odd thing to say, but I get it now.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited October 2019

    SBert99, I am kind of suprised. I had my DIEP surgery done at the UW hospital on campus in Seattle. When I was shopping around on reconstruction every doctor told me to wait until all treatment is finished, treatment like chemo and radiation before reconstruction is attempted. Not one ps wanted to deal with radiated skin. They would if they had to but preferred not to. Sometimes doctors think they know how you will feel only you know. I knew it would drive me crazy to have a foreign object under the skin.

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  • SBert99
    SBert99 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2019

    Hi Meow 13,

    Hind sight, I should not have tried reconstruction. I'm just glad to have TE's removed.

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  • RadQueen
    RadQueen Member Posts: 313
    edited October 2019

    Gretchy, had my bilat.mast done Aug 19, was in hosp for 3 nights. Had skin and nipple sparing mast. with TRAM flaps done and it went great. But it's a long surg almost 10 hr start to finish. The most painful part was when I had to cough.after. To get to the arteries that feed the flap they have to cut down into your abdominal muscles a bit. So of all the pain which looking back wasn't that bad,was up walking day 2 the abdomen hurt the most. Now a month and a half post, belly scar all healed and the breast scar on L completely healed and only a 1/2 inch area on R breast not completely healed but well on its way. If I didn't have to have Chemo I would be back to work in a very busy Level 1 Trauma Center.

    For me this was the way to go and am very happy with the results. I have a great Surgical Breast Oncologist and a great Plastic Surgeon. And yes did a lot of research on both. Looked at a lot of before and after pictures and liked what I saw. Hopefully by next April or May will be able to have the 2nd surg where the Plastics guy will revise my scar ( make it one thin line) and give me a nipple lift. Told me I would have a 20's years old boobs. I never had that to begin with so looking forward to it.

    Happy


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