Mastectomy and breast reconstruction pros and cons?

I am very happy for you that you are doing well. My surgeon from Memorial Sloan Kettering said that she feels lumpectomy is the route and doesn't see any problem with it besides not getting cleaned margins which she will go back with a second surgery to clean the margins. I am very tempted to do the lumpectomy, but the mastectomy feels safer. I definitely like my second surgeon. Now, I have to decide between lumpectomy and mastectomy.

With the expander s. Do you have to have a revision later

I don't understand your answer.

I had two mastectomies and "went flat." I don't wear a bra or prostheses of any kind. I am very comfortable but I am older and don't have a partner (divorced). Surgeries were easy (I had a paravertebral block so little pain at first and no pain meds after surgery.)

I had a mastectomy and went for the reconstruction for a more balanced body.
However, I had an inept plastic surgeon, and I got a very bad reconstruction.
I had another plastic surgeon look at me and said he could correct the damage, but because of my
age, he did not recommend it. Then he offered me a painted nipple, said I might feel better.
Here I am with another incentive male doctor thinking this would all go away by putting a
painted nipple in place.
This has been a terrible journey with the lack of sensitive care I received. with my cancer.

Disgraceful and insensitive. Reconstruction of nipple and /or nipple tattoos are definitely options but NOT a solution to a botched reconstruction. I’m so sorry this happened to you ; as if we haven’t already gone through the trauma of the diagnosis and surgery!

I recommend another plastic opinion. If you live in the NY metro area I would recommend my doc.

Just want to say that I was told we have a right to symmetry, so a second mastectomy needs to be covered. I had some medical reasons for mastectomy of my non-cancer breast, but I also didn't like having one breast. With both gone, I feel balanced and symmetrical and don't need prostheses.

Did you have Multifocal?

@trixie1313 . It looks like you had multifocal tumors. Correct?

polianad22
Actually, no. The first one was invasive ductal on the one side of the breast and the second was neuroendocrine on the other sidewhich is an aggressive cancer usually found in the colon or liver first, very rarely seen in the breast so not a lot of info. Neither was related to each other.