Should I Get Reconstructive Surgery After Cancer?

Any experiences with implants ?

I’m glad I went all the way!

I’m still getting my expanders expanded

210 cc and growing

I felt the same way. Didn't want foreign implants in my body. Checked out DIEP, too involved. So I'm flat. Wear prosthetics

When I have my surgery (lumpectomy) they are taking my implants out (they are old) I will not be putting any new ones in. My concern is what would happen if the BC returns? Having implants have affected (limited choices or made it more challenging medically) so I will not be doing that again.

I had the flap, using my stomach. I am really happy with the results!

I am on the same page as you 100%! For me though, bc of the breast cancer & having to have reconstruction, either way I think I'm not going to like myself in mirror especially. But that's why they have this wonderful app, so all if us can chat & lift each other up! My mastectomy is scheduled for 2/22 & I too at first felt the same way. I have battled depression & self esteem issues my whole life, so either way it's inevitable for me. I honestly think even though I am terrified of the thought of implants & risks, bc I want reconstruction, my plastic surgeon thinks it's probably my safest option. I am a single mom of 2 younger boys too, so since the other option is more extreme & healing time is longer, it's not my best option. I already have my sister planning to devote her time & other family members as well to helping me & care for my boys though. I quit smoking Sept of 2022, but I still vape. Apparently vaping can affect recovery or healing time of reconstruction, which I totally understand, but that is also a risk factor in decided to go implant route for reconstruction.

I’m 45 and I have a mastectomy schedule for January 29th. I’m really on the fence about getting implants or going flat on the one side.

I don’t know if it matters if I’m flat if I don’t have cancer anymore.

Does anyone have feedback on prosthetics

I have my bilateral mastectomy scheduled for February 5th I was super surprised when I was diagnosed I screen with mammograms yearly since I was in my 30’s I’m now 62. My doctors say I’m the poster gal for why women should go each year since my breast cancer developed in a years time. Also 2 different cancers in each breast .. also no cancer at all in my family history.. I’m stage 1 but have 3 masses in one breast , and small lobular in the other the one breast it was suggested to remove the breast I’ve decided to remove the other .. they say nothing in the lymph nodes but of course they have to remove sentinel nodes at surgery so I don’t really know what my treatments will be after surgery so daunting to not really know to mentally prepare.. I’m blessed to have a great supportive spouse , grown children and my sister in law flying in from Texas to help me recover.. a recovery room at home set up to heal but I truly don’t know what to expect in this recovery process.. I read a lot and asked many questions but am anxious to say the least.. thank you for letting me vent this out .. I’m going also to do reconstruction I see my plastic surgeon this week one more time .. have questions and concerns still ..

Hey guys thanks so much for everyone’s feedback .. I had my double mastectomy on dec 11 .. it did not go as planned , due to finding more cancer in the left breast so I have spacers in now .. I’m going to have radiation because 1 lymph node came up positive for cancer .. I am waiting on my oncotype test now to determine whether I get chemotherapy as well.. I will say stay strong and try not to get frustrated as I did , I got so tired of hearing that I’m in a gray area and nothing is black and white .. when all you want to hear is the plan .. hopefully next Friday I will get the full plan .. still not back to work .. but recovery is going very well and I’m happy I went with the reconstruction.. I am happy with a small b size just a little something .. but that’s just me .. I still balled my eyes out when the bandages came off..

I would have cried too

So stressful

I'm at 450 cc and that's plenty. I also have an Inspire battery for sleep apnea on top of the expanders. So blessed. Implants should be scheduled next 4 months after initial surgery.

My plastic surgeon is putting expanders in initially. I'm not 100% sure if he mentioned the implants were ok if it came to radiation or not, but judging by his comment "If pathology report does come back invasive, & I need radiation, I then need to at LEAST wait to continue reconstruction for 6 mths." I assume that means expanders stay in place until radiation is done & time frame is reached & the implant part gets held off...I'm praying that it does not come back invasive though, as it's been extremely hard dealing with this at only 37, single mom of 2 younger boys (8 and 12), & also just losing my mom to metastatic aggressive breast cancer April 2023. Korina, you've got this! We all are here, & my heart truly sank & eyes watered when I read your update 😞 we're stronger than we give ourselves credit for, & this is why this is here..we all relate & are going through very similar emotions & things! It sucks, I agree though. I'm terrified of my bilateral mastectomy come Feb. 22nd. I know it's not going to fully process & hit me until it actually happens. I've been very up & down with emotions & I'm sure I'll break down once I see myself afterwards too. But I was fortunate they caught it early, & my chances look good, so I just have to keep pushing myself & remind myself that this fight is for my mom who heart breakingly lost her fight to this crap, & for my 2 boys I'd do anything for. We all have each other! I'm bad about getting on here much, I've just been overwhelmed with work & trying to get everything done before the 22nd!

I am in the middle of this storm I had mastectomy on my left breast in November and reconstruction only a month later for the beginning of necrosis on my skin. My implant is not perfect. I have a whole under my left arm where the implant was pinned and it still hurts. I don’t know if I will be doing it again and I pray every day that I will not develop any other problem .

Do they usually do the reconstruction at the same time they do the mastectomy, or do you have to wait? Trying to figure out what to do

Karen, I just had a bilateral mastectomy Thursday Feb 22nd. If you're having reconstruction (depending on the type of reconstruction), I decided on implant route bc I'm a single mom of 2 boys & the other route was too invasive & too much in recovery time it wasn't ideal for me. If you go implant route, they place expanders in at the time of mastectomy, & you have to wait to heal on further reconstruction (I can't remember how long exactly, my follow up is tomorrow). However in my case, my reconstruction depends on pathology report, & my dr called yday & it's delayed a wk as they were unsure if there was traces of invasive cancer so she sent it off to mayo clinic for second opinion. If there's any trace I have to have my lymph nodes removed on the cancer side. If that happens idk if my reconstruction gets delayed. But I'd assume most surgeons do the same (idk how other reconstruction type goes though however) if implants, only expanders are put in at time of mastectomy. If u go the flap route, I'm unsure if they do it all at the same time? I know they used a nerve blocker during my surgery & it started wearing off the other night & man am I feeling that & hurting. Sleeping a lot, but the pain sucks.

This is such a deeply personal decision that only you can make, and it's completely understandable to feel conflicted about the different options and their potential impacts on both your physical and emotional wellbeing. Many people in this community have faced similar crossroads after cancer treatment, and there's no single right answer that works for everyone. Consider discussing your specific concerns about different reconstruction options with your medical team, and remember that whatever choice feels right for you is valid - whether that's pursuing reconstruction, exploring alternatives, or taking more time to decide.