I'm a loonatic...

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kcq
kcq Member Posts: 166
edited June 2014 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi everyone-I hope someone will give me opinions on their recons.  I was DX with LCIS and ILC in RB on 5/1/07---(MRI shows abnormalty on LB-will do follow up MRI in six months)--completed chemo-currently doing Herceptin and Tamox.  I am scheduled to have a mast and DIEP recon on my RB on 11/19.  I had a terrible time decided this.  Here is my issue----I am reconsidering doing expander and implant.  I am truly a loon--my surgeon will probably have me committed.  I just dont know what to do.  Here is the thing---If I were told that I would have not problems with my implant for ten years----I would do the implant.  My fear is it being hard or rippling or being painful or causing infections.  Please-can anyone offer words of wisdom?  let me know your recon and how it is going.  Thanks so much. 

LOONEY KIM

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  • SLH
    SLH Member Posts: 566
    edited October 2007

    Hi LK...I had LCIS and ILC in one breast, but I had a bilateral because of family history, and the odds of having it return. I wanted one arm that wasn't compromised by lymph node removal, for IV's and blood pressure. I didn't have radiation or chemo.



    I had expanders and implants 2 years ago, but I'm thinking about having them removed because of tightness and muscle pain. I've been reading the stories of women who go without recon, and they recuperate so quickly! I didn't even consider going without recon, and probably needed to go thru the last 2 years of discomfort, in order to consider being without breasts.



    I haven't heard from women who had trouble with implants. Everyone I know did really well. I've felt like the odd duck with my problems! I'll be watching your post to see what others say.



    Sally

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  • ophelia
    ophelia Member Posts: 337
    edited October 2007

    Hi Kim, I haven't done my reconstr. yet  but I'm planning IGAP (similar to DIEP but buttocks is donor site instead of abdom.)  I also considered implants and was told that they usually need replacing every 10yrs. Since I'm only 43 I figured I'd have to 3 to 4 replacements in my lifetime, assuming I live to be 73 or 83. What an optimist!

    You're definitely not a loonatic.  It's wise to research all your options.  Good luck in you're decision making.

       

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  • Wendy56229
    Wendy56229 Member Posts: 228
    edited October 2007

    I agree. Check out all of your options. I had a bilateral in August and haven't had recon, yet.

    I have come to the realization that I really didn't like my breasts as they were compared to having none. I was a large C. I like being flat and I don't feel like I'm all boob as I did before. I needed the comparison to know that. When I get recon, I'll be getting small ones. I can't wait.

    Speaking of which, I'm glad I waited because it has allowed my body to recover from the mast and it has given me time to research my options. No doctor told me about DIEP flap reconstruction. I found out about it here, so I'm very glad I didn't have immediate TRAM reconstruction.

    Good luck.

    Wendy 

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  • Patrish
    Patrish Member Posts: 251
    edited October 2007

    hi Kim,

    you are not a loon!  you are very wise to keep your options open if you can. if you are not having rads, no reason why you shouldn't try an implant on the right.  you may need to have it replaced in 10 years, but I figure by then, they will have come up with an implant that will last forever, and you can get that kind next.  since you have had lobular, and have had an iffy mri on the "good" side, why not put the diep in your back pocket in case you need it later.  if your implant works out, and your other breast if fine, great, you have avoided a big surgery.  if your left breast shows bc, you can then decide whether to have another implant on the left, or go for the bilateral diep, or even forgo reconstruction altogether, if you wish. I am sure you know that you can only do the diep once,  so I think you are smart to start with an implant, and see how things go.  I am sorry I cannot address the question of hardness or rippling with an implant.  I had a single diep.  but I had IDC, not as likely to recur in the other breast as lobular.  I would have tried the implant first if I had not had rads.  best...Pat

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  • kcq
    kcq Member Posts: 166
    edited October 2007

    Good Advice, Pat---thanks

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  • rubytuesday
    rubytuesday Member Posts: 2,248
    edited October 2007

    Pat gave some excellent advice so I won't repeat what she said but I totally agree with her.  I wanted to add that my sister has had implants (cosmetic surgery) for about 12 years now with no problems and she hasn't had them replaced yet either.  I also hope to keep mine longer than 10 yrs. but am optimistic that by the time they need to be replaced, hopefully there will be a better way to 'rebuild' us that is less invasive.  Best wishes!

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  • maddyayre
    maddyayre Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2007

    Hi, I am in the same situation as you, but have all ready decided with implants....but now want to go into my surgeon and say...OH NO....I want the flap......I am just flipping back and forth. I am concerned about this hardening thing....and you are right.....ten years and everything fine and I would do it in a heartbeat.....but I really don't know how many really have problems or more I should say with implants, or with the donor site for flap. 

    Maddy 

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  • gracejon
    gracejon Member Posts: 972
    edited October 2007

    We really have a lot of different options.  Kathy Steligo's Breast Reconstruction book is excellent and discusses all your options.  In making my own decision I felt like I was at the edge of the very highest diving board ready to jump off.  Should I dive?  Should I jump in?  Should I turn around and climb back down the ladder?  You need to be comfortable with your decision and should be commended for educating yourself.  Whatever your final decision it will be right for you.  Having second thoughts even up to the last minute I consider very NORMAL.

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  • Mizsissy
    Mizsissy Member Posts: 371
    edited October 2007

    Kcg,

    I ended up having a lumpectomy, but only after laboring over the decision and spending a lot of time thinking the pictures and discussion I had with the plastic surgeon.

    He discouraged the implant idea...even tho this appealed to me because it seemed to involve the least cutting. I belong to a group of women who began treatment in January and my experience with them has me very leary of implants.  They are troublesome, they don't stay in place, and it is hard to get them to look realistic.  The DIEP procedure seemed to be the one that worked out for most.

    Good luck with your decision!

    Mizzy 

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  • dianes
    dianes Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2007

    Hi Kim, I spent over 4 years with implants(first saline and then silicone) after a bilateral mastectomy and am now 6 weeks out of having them removed and recovering from DIEP.

    The years with the implants were miserable, pain everyday, tightness in my chest and multiple surgeries to try to correct this, all of which failed and brought me little comfort. Although the decision to once again go through surgery for the DIEP, was difficult(14 hours), I am already in far less pain than since my original surgery  & recon and feel like it was the best decision I could have made.So far there have been no major complications and I actually travelled to the Caribbean 4 weeks after surgery, or 3 weeks out of the hospital.My one sister on the other hand has had implants for 14 years and no problems...It is a big decision, but I feel like the DIEP is more natural and as I said my pain issues and contracture have vitually disappeared...

     Good luck to you on your decision, will think about you...Dianes 

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  • Savgirl
    Savgirl Member Posts: 20
    edited November 2007

    I had augmentation nine years before my breast cancer diagnosis.  I had never had a problem with my implants.  I asked the surgeon who removed them during my bilateral mastectomy how they looked when they came out, and he said they looked like they had just been put in the day before!  I am sure I could have gone on indefinitely with those implants.  I chose implant reconstruction after mastectomy and am pleased with the results.  There is no guarantee how long these implants will last, but the doctors have to disclose to you that they are not considered "Permanent", although for many people they are.  Good luck.

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  • cc01
    cc01 Member Posts: 101
    edited November 2007

    SavGirl,

    Did you have one step reconstruction or expanders and then implants? Who did you go to? I also currently have a cosmetic implants and I am awaiting my biopsy results but was told it does not look good. I have saline implants and love them and will do implants again. It's great to hear you like your results. What are your stats and what size are you now post reconstruction. I am a 34D now and I want to stay that way if I need reconstruction. I am tiny just 108 pounds so I got allot of size from my 400 cc saline HP with my augmentation.

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