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Mastectomy and breast reconstruction pros and cons?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Jun 20 5:47am | Replies (229)Comment receiving replies
Thank you for the info on decision making. I am 70 and considered a good candidate for reconstuction by the surgeons The plastic surgeon showed realistic pics of the procedure and it was traumatizing to me! I am now reconsidering my choice as I have become quite anxious about having 2 surgeries mastectomy and abdominal tissue reconstruction at the same time 6 hours. Surgeon also gave me the silicone implant to hold and feel as another choice. It seemed quite heavy and I feel it would feel like a foreign object and be irritating.
Now I am thinking I can't handle this and will just have the mastectomy, get it done and get rid of the cancer and accept this amputation as it is, but I am not wanting to have regrets either.
Replies to "Thank you for the info on decision making. I am 70 and considered a good candidate..."
I don't understand the abdominal tissue reconstruction. I had my right breast mastectomy, and at the same time the plastic surgeon put in an expander. I now can have the per?permanent implant put in. I'll hopefully get that done before the end of the year.
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I cannot tell you what either surgery is like, only that I really wanted a mastectomy with no reconstruction. My local surgeon refused and 17 years ago I was not savvy enough to fight for what I wanted and I believe that surgeon thought he was giving me the right choice of a partial mastectomy. My grandmother had a Halstead mastectomy back in the day and she wore a prosthetic so she would look balanced but she never regretted them being gone.
I met a woman who had a bilateral in her 60s and got tattoos that were floral and beautiful on her chest. I don’t feel like we have to be reconstructed, especially if you are traumatized by the thought. Cancer shouldn’t have angst over this on top of everything else. Have you discussed this with family? Significant other/spouse?