Regrets About My Cancer Reconstruction

My providers did say that the incision areas are a high risk for reoccurrence. I had to have mine removed related to infection too. Not a great experience.

I am sorry you are going through this. It's horrible, and to speak with anyone who has not been through this damned cancer has no idea what we go through and the choices we have to make. I couldn't even keep my expanders right after my radical mastectomy due to first the pathogolgy post radical mastectomy showed cancer on the back of my breast so two weeks later i was opened up again, they had to scrap off my first layer of muscle and I had one postive lymp so they took the lymph tree. The doctor said there's no point in putting the expander back in after the second revision to the mastectomy, because I was going to start radiation and that would cause an infection, and it probably wouldn't last. Then, while healing, I got a necrotic infection in the left breast, and they had to take that expander out and cut more skin off. So I ended up with some skin on hanging on my left side and nothing left on my right side for a year and a 1/2, and I was not a candidate for implants. So I waited a long time to have a deip flap surgery. Which was rough, but I'm happy with the outcome. I just don't have any nipples or areolis, but I can get those tattooed on. I don't feel like having any more surgeries is smart, right? Because I have metastasis to my bones now, so who knows how long I'll live. I am on Verzenio, and I'm also on fulvesterant and a bone sparing drug called zometa. So, that's my treatment right now. So far, so good, in fact, that zometa, i've been on it so long that they only do it once every three months now, and I don't have it every month. I want you to know you're not alone. In these decisions, we, as women, have to make, it seems like so quickly, lifelong decisions that affect us for the rest of our lives. We are put through so much and are not even allowed to stay in the hospital by some insurance companies. It's ridiculous.

So sorry to hear all you have been through. Who needs headaches over insurance on top of it all? I know my health & body are not able to handle massive surgery & poisonous treatments. The MRI contrast dye was way too toxic for my body. Have an over reactive immune system, so my body will reject those silicone implants. Only treatment this far has been Letrozole; very concerned how it will effect my bones & joints. Wish there was something natural I could do to shrink my tumor. Stage 1 ILC, yet the only thing the doctors here can offer is a masectomy which I can not do because they will not address strokes from past anesthesia. Mammograms(until too late) & Pet Scans do not detect ILC. Can not have a CT scan, allergic to the contrast dye. MRI contrast dye I will never allow again due to extremely adverse effects. Have PMR & hashimoto's disease. I will not be able withstand it all. Prayers out to you.

These are horrible experiences. I will not allow this, but to go so far as CA, TX, FL it is so far away. How many trips necessary? How can the doctor manage good after care or address complications when many miles apart. Just do it & hope for the best. Too bad if I have had bad past experiences from the anesthesia alone. Awful adverse effects from the contrast dyes. Things go wrong in surgery per my past experiences. Not one doctor has discussed what happens post surgery. Not one doctor has an alternative to mastectomy. I will either die or be forever in suffering from surgery & treatments. At this point I feel my only options are to die from cancer, or procedures, or from both. Keep a positive attitude. Many say they were positive pre-surgery only to experience all this ill treatment post surgery.

It's completely understandable to have complex feelings about treatment decisions, especially when facing a recurrence. Many people in this community have shared similar concerns about their surgical choices and the "what if" thoughts that can follow. These feelings are a natural part of processing a difficult journey, and sharing them here shows real courage in reaching out for support.