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Single mastectomy with reconstruction and symmetry surgery

Posted by maggiejinx @maggiejinx, Jun 9 10:08am

Hi. I am scheduled for a single mastectomy with reconstruction and symmetry surgery on my right side but I’m not sure when I’m having the symmetry surgery. I have to meet with the plastic surgeon on June 17th and the surgery is July 11th. Afterwards I’ll be put on hormone blockers. I feel very blessed that I won’t need chemo or radiation but I’m a little worried about the surgery. Has anyone had this? Did you have symmetry surgery at the same time or later down the road? I haven’t even begun to research the hormone blockers but I’m sure they will have some side effects I’ll be dealing with. I just turned 50 and am premenopausal. Any advice or tips would be much appreciated!!!

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Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Jun 9 12:02pm

I had a partial mastectomy using oconoplastic techniques meaning they technically reconstructed that breast, and surgery for symmetry on the other side (mastoplexy). It was done all during the same surgery. 3 1/2 hour, outpatient. A nerve block was used so I had very a little pain afterwards. That evening I went for a long walk (through hallways of hotel & hospital, I traveled to cancer center).

The oncology surgeon removed the cancer, and then the plastic surgeon stepped in to reconstruct both. It did mean coordinating the doctors to be there, which the cancer center handled, but limited the choices of surgical dates.

I’d opt for this choice if I had to do it again. Heaven forbid!!!! 😬

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1 reply
maggiejinx | @maggiejinx | Jun 9 12:18pm
In reply to @triciaot "I had a partial mastectomy using oconoplastic techniques meaning they technically reconstructed that breast, and surgery..." + (show)
@triciaot

I had a partial mastectomy using oconoplastic techniques meaning they technically reconstructed that breast, and surgery for symmetry on the other side (mastoplexy). It was done all during the same surgery. 3 1/2 hour, outpatient. A nerve block was used so I had very a little pain afterwards. That evening I went for a long walk (through hallways of hotel & hospital, I traveled to cancer center).

The oncology surgeon removed the cancer, and then the plastic surgeon stepped in to reconstruct both. It did mean coordinating the doctors to be there, which the cancer center handled, but limited the choices of surgical dates.

I’d opt for this choice if I had to do it again. Heaven forbid!!!! 😬

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Thank you so much for your reply!! That’s what I’m hoping for (to get it all done at once)! Both doctors are scheduled for mine I know he will do the reconstruction and I’m hoping the symmetry will be at the same time so I have one less surgery. That’s wonderful that you had little pain afterwards!! How long did you have to have your drains in?

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1 reply
Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Jun 9 12:30pm
In reply to @maggiejinx "Thank you so much for your reply!! That’s what I’m hoping for (to get it all..." + (show)
@maggiejinx

Thank you so much for your reply!! That’s what I’m hoping for (to get it all done at once)! Both doctors are scheduled for mine I know he will do the reconstruction and I’m hoping the symmetry will be at the same time so I have one less surgery. That’s wonderful that you had little pain afterwards!! How long did you have to have your drains in?

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Because it was a partial mastectomy, I did not have drains.

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1 reply
maggiejinx | @maggiejinx | Jun 9 1:02pm
In reply to @triciaot "Because it was a partial mastectomy, I did not have drains." + (show)
@triciaot

Because it was a partial mastectomy, I did not have drains.

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Oh Ok! Thank you!!

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cjefferson67 | @cjefferson67 | Jun 23 7:58am

Hi, I had reconstruction surgey in 1990. I had ductual carcinoma in my right breast. After my surgery I wasn't put on anything. However, I wonder if I was put on an hormone blocker would this had preventedmy cancer from reoccurring. It reoccurring in 2002. I had chemo and radiation which put my in remission for 23 years now. If the hormone treatment is going to prevent the cancer from reoccurring then that's a plus so perhaps you won't have to take the cancer treatments. Also, I had a translation. Were the surgeon took muscle my back and used I'd to reconstruct my breast. I'm not sure if breast surgeon do this still. I think they use implants. Not sure! When ever you get this type of surgery on your breast it's very important not to put pressure on the sight if you can help it. After your surgery they will out tube in to drain the surgery sight. You will be just fine! Always listen to your body.

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1 reply
maggiejinx | @maggiejinx | Jun 30 2:12pm
In reply to @cjefferson67 "Hi, I had reconstruction surgey in 1990. I had ductual carcinoma in my right breast. After..." + (show)
@cjefferson67

Hi, I had reconstruction surgey in 1990. I had ductual carcinoma in my right breast. After my surgery I wasn't put on anything. However, I wonder if I was put on an hormone blocker would this had preventedmy cancer from reoccurring. It reoccurring in 2002. I had chemo and radiation which put my in remission for 23 years now. If the hormone treatment is going to prevent the cancer from reoccurring then that's a plus so perhaps you won't have to take the cancer treatments. Also, I had a translation. Were the surgeon took muscle my back and used I'd to reconstruct my breast. I'm not sure if breast surgeon do this still. I think they use implants. Not sure! When ever you get this type of surgery on your breast it's very important not to put pressure on the sight if you can help it. After your surgery they will out tube in to drain the surgery sight. You will be just fine! Always listen to your body.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!! I met with the plastic surgeon and the plan is for the single mastectomy on July 11th with a tissue expander and then in 2-4 months me reconstruction and symmetry surgery. I feel so very blessed that I won’t need chemo or radiation but it’s still a lot to wrap my brain around and I feel so busy with life that I haven’t had time to yet! I am going to be put on a hormone blocker. I appreciate your advice so much!!

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