Delayed reconstruction? Anyone?

I had a single mastectomy on August 20th. Waited two weeks for the oncotype to return and from that determined no chemo but 5 weeks radiation. There was a micro metastisis in the sentinel node. Now, 2/3rds of the way through radiation I'm facing hormone treatment after as well as reconstruction. HOWEVER, right before I was diagnosed I was scheduled to have a hip replacement surgery which was put on hold. I have severe stage four arthritic hip. So surgeon gave me a cortisone shot and sent me on my way. I went back to get a second shot last week and asked if he could do surgery after radiation. He said yes but that he'd prefer to do it before I start hormone therapy (obvious reasons) Does anyone know of any reason this plan would not be a good idea?

I had a single mastectomy, went completely flat….one sided. Interesting experience to say the least. lol I have not heard of any thing about recon "triggering cancer cells"…interesting as well. I had DIEP on one side a little over a year after the first dx. I was dx with a recurrence in the middle…. Recurrence 7 months after mx with no recon…ya.

Do what will give you peace….worry about the statistics, the what if's….just do what gives you peace and don't look backwards.

Hello, I answered most of your questions on your other thread, questions for everyone who has done reconstruction

However, about surgery awakening dormant cells and causing a recurrence: You may wish to read this thread on TORADOL (ketorolac) linked to Recurrence Prevention. There is a theory that the inflammation from surgery (not just reconstruction, any surgery), can awaken dormant cells. The drug Toradol/Kerorolac lowers inflammation and thus may prevent recurrence. There was a video linked in this thread that is very enlightening. Toradol/Kerorolac is not very expensive.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topics...

Best wishes.

I had my reconstruction about five years after I finished treatment. My doc was really concerned about potential complications from reconstruction surgery delaying the start of my chemo treatment. And so for that reason, I'm not sorry I waited.

I wound up having a diep flap surgery. Overall, mostly happy with the results. The nipple reconstruction didn't take so I'm not thrilled about that but also don't want yet another surgery.

I didn't wait to lose wait before having the surgery...and I don't think 20 pounds really makes that much difference one way or the other. FWIW. And, you may want to ask the surgeon, but those extra 20 pounds might be better for diep.

Best of luck to you whatever you decide.

Hey everyone, I am back to this thread again because I have decided to go ahead with the DIEP surgery. Had my CT scan and am waiting on a surgery date. I am having a hard time with this decision. I have gone flat for over a year and have gotten used to certain things about it. My family thinks that I should be proud of my flat chest and that I shouldn't feel the need to conform to society's expectations. I USED to feel that way, but now I don't feel like walking around like a breast cancer poster child for the rest of my life. It's not about conforming, it's about feeling like myself again. Yes, I've tried numerous prosthesis and even my expensive ones don't stay where I want them to unless I wear a really tight, uncomfortable bra.

I just want some feeling of normalcy, and while my family will support me, I know they would rather me not go through more surgery and the risks that come with it. So I'm feeling like I'm being a bit selfish, and maybe even like getting the surgery is a bit of a cop-out. Has anyone gone through delayed reconstruction and felt this way? My mom told me that instead of spending all that money on surgery, maybe I should spend the money on counseling to help me be at peace with the body I have now.

Thank you sbelizabeth for the encouragement. You are right of course, and I know it in my head at least. I'm trying to get to a point that I don't feel guilty about my decision. I am alive and I am relatively healthy and I feel like I should be happy with that. I don't really want to do this, but I don't really want to be flat either. I also didn't want to have cancer but there it is (I like the term "crapalatic")!

I do know that my family are just scared for me. It's been hard on them too and they are the ones who end up taking care of me after all. Even my mom's comment was not meant the way it came out-she genuinely though I should look into counseling as another option. I don't hold it against her-like I said, she's scared for me. She was here for me when I needed her and that meant the world to me.

I saw that you had both chemo and radiation. Did the radiation affect your diep procedure at all? One doctor told me that sometimes the radiation can affect the blood vessels and make them less elastic and I've had a lot of issues from the radiation already. I really like the nipple tattoos that I have seen and will be looking them when the time comes. I wouldn't want reconstructed nipples that I have to worry about hiding for work anyway (I'm in front of teenagers all day 😉).

Do you feel like your procedure helped you regain that feeling of normalcy? I hope that you are doing well and wish you all my best.

Thank you ladies for sharing your experiences. Sbelizabeth, the PS did tell me that more tissue is required for the radiated side because of the reasons you describe. Immediate reconstruction was never presented as an option for me either, as my BS really believed I would be getting chemo right after and didn't want to prolong recovery (thank you, Oncotype!). I am glad of not getting the immediate reconstruction now of course since I ended up getting radiation. Plus at the time I really was just focused on getting the cancer out and not worried about how I looked after.

mnsotamom74, I totally relate to what you said about looking like Winnie the Pooh! I've heard that phrase before, and after I did, that is what I think of when I look in the mirror. It wouldn't even be so bad if I had something up top, but I am concave up there with no fat at all and the belly that just...protrudes. I too gained weight after my surgeries (I was a couple of years older than you), but even at my thinnest and most fit have always had a belly- it's just the way I'm built. If I were a thin build I would actually enjoy going flat. I am an active person and for exercise, having no breasts is awesome.

I think what really pushed me towards my decision was that someone close to us recently took their own life. It got me thinking about that if there is something that makes you feel better about yourself, why not take advantage of it? I have the utmost respect for all ladies who choose to go flat and are at peace with that decision. It is a fabulous option. But I was just pretending to be OK with it. People congratulate me on my bravery but inwardly I cringe. If reconstruction was not an option (and who knows, it still may not be) then I would have to make my peace with that and move on. But it is an option, so I want to live my life to the fullest and be the happiest I can be.

Again, thank you guys sooo much. I really needed to hear from those who get it.

Peregrinelady, I have read the stories of many women who have gone through diep, and most seem happy that they did it, except of course those who had flaps that didn't take or had major complications. Of course, those are the stories that scare me, since even my MO has told me that I've got "all kinds of weird things going on." Which makes me feel like if something strange is going to happen, I'll be the one it happens to!

Anyway, I'm going to stay positive. Thank you for sharing your experience-it gives me courage. I'm so glad it worked out for you. You ladies are all incredibly strong!

Floral, I get where you're coming from. I think that if I were in a different stage in my life I would maybe be OK with occasionally wearing prosthesis, not having to wear them every day. As it is, I am a teacher and nowhere close to retirement. I spent all of last year trying to discreetly adjust my prosthesis after they rode up every time I had to write on the board, or sweating profusely under them while dealing with a hot flash mid-lesson in front of a room full of teenagers. I have tried so many different bras and inserts, and while the silicone prosthesis stay put and look more natural than anything else, they sure get uncomfortable by the end of the day. I have often marveled at the irony of the fact that I've spent much more on my bras after having my breasts removed than I ever did when I had breasts.

I'm so glad your TEs are working out for you so far. I've never had them but I sure have read a lot of stories about them! How long do you have to wait for your exchange surgery?