Would you have breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy?

Published

I have to do a presentation on Friday about reconstruction surgery after breast cancer. The topic is really about why some women choose to have the surgery and some do not. So, if I may ask, if you had to have, or have had a mastectomy would you have reconstruction surgery and what is, or was, the reason for your decision? (e.g. Religion, self-esteem, appearance, spouse or partner,....)

It's so hard to say without being in that situation, but I can speculate....I probably would, for the reasons truern listed. It would be very challenging to find a dress or a bathing suit with a totally flat chest. Plus, I know myself well enough to know that my self confidence may suffer without 'balancing' my body out. I'm far from vain, but this is how I've known my body for years and years....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

And whatever individual decision is made should be honored and respected. :up:

Absolutely and fwiw I have a friend that just puts gel packs, like implants, in her bra so her clothes look fabulous. Not that it would help bathing suits but I'm content to do a tankini and it would work there. So as I said in my op I definitely can't say for sure but I think what my friend chose to do is a happy medium without undergoing elective surgery. I keep myself trim and in shape but I'm just not as concerned with my physical appearance as when I was younger. After a certain age there really is only so much you do and I know I'll never look like a 20 or 30 yo again. Just my :twocents: of course.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

46 yo...I have 5 children and breastfed. I have an almost A size breast now. (5'4" 115 lbs) For the ladies who have already had implants....I love what my husband says...."They're NOT fake! They're REAL! Just not naturally occuring!" (He has a great sense of humor!)

My hubby wouldn't care and he would leave it up to me. When I had my children and the milk came in I was a 34D+. Shrunk back down each time. My little boobs still sag a tad but not much because they weigh nothing! LOL! I don't look my age (most see me as mid-thirties! :D ). My body isn't perfect by any means, but I am happy with the way I look. I would definitely get reconstruction. I just might actually rebuild to a FULL A!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health, Case Management, OR.

Well seeing as I would love to have implants, yes at this time i would have them reconstructed. I am newly married, not yet a mom and 28 years old, so my breasts and self image are extremely important. If I was older 60+, I do not think I would undergo reconstruction. Another surgical procedure would just add more risks to who knows what health problems I could have at that time and I am hoping by that age I will be comfortable with my own body and not feel it necessary to woo the world with my womanly chest :-). I had a great aunt recently have a mastectomy and she chose not to undergo reconstruction. With the pads they have for your bras, no one even has to know about it except those that see you naked, who are...we hope....only your most close and trusted!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in My son...for now..

At 25. 5 yrs I had to actually make this decision. I had a mastectomy as a means of saving my life. It took me awhile to decide to in fact have reconstruction. But I'm glad I did. There are many pitfalls to both sides of the coin. For me, I was too young to feel scarred by anything, but at the same time I wanted to ignore that part of my body. Though my husband accepted either way, it was honestly a completely personal decision. After reconstruction, I had both of them re-done after one encapsulated...and went larger !!! I never thought about "fixing" myself one way or the other, but like TRUERN said, until afflicted and faced with so much confusion, its really hard to know exactly what one would do.

For the purposes of your research paper, I did go to a support group where there were women who didn't want reconstruction because they thought it would either hamper their recovery, or that it was forever apart of their lives and altering the physical aspect of their experience wasn't warranted.. So don't know, just some food for thought.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.
At 25. 5 yrs I had to actually make this decision. I had a mastectomy as a means of saving my life. It took me awhile to decide to in fact have reconstruction. But I'm glad I did. There are many pitfalls to both sides of the coin. For me, I was too young to feel scarred by anything, but at the same time I wanted to ignore that part of my body. Though my husband accepted either way, it was honestly a completely personal decision. After reconstruction, I had both of them re-done after one encapsulated...and went larger !!!

Hillary:

For one so young you've had many big decisions to face in the past 4 years: Mastectomy, not one, but two reconstruction procedures, having a baby, and nursing school I think. That's a lot of heavy obstacles to face and overcome. Good job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:yeahthat:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, telemetry/stepdown.

I can't speak from personal experience, but my mom had a mastectomy almost 10 years ago.. She said that she decided not to have reconstructive surgery since she had already been through so much surgery and pain with the cancer treatment and the removal of the breast.

I think I would opt for the reconstruction, but if I was in the situation, I might feel differently..hard to say until you're there I guess.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am thirty five, and yes, I would have reconstructive surgery.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Well, I'd either have to have a double mastectomy, or a reconstruction, because at a 44DDD I'd be walking around completely lopsided if I had only one breast!!!

Then again, if I were to come down with any sort of cancer, I would most likely opt for hospice and comfort measures. I've been blessed with fifty good years, done most of the things I wanted to do, enjoyed myself tremendously, and I have very few regrets. I wouldn't want to spend whatever time I may have left hanging over a toilet bowl, dealing with mouth sores and all sorts of rashes, feeling weak and miserable all of the time, and bouncing in and out of hospitals. No thanks..........unless there's at least an 80% chance of survival, I don't want chemo, radiation, or disfiguring surgery just to gain an extra few weeks or months of existence.

But, that's just me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

if i had to make the choice tomorrow, i think i would have the reconstructive surgery.

my grandmother had breast CA with a bilat mastectomy @ age 65. she went ahead and got implants afterwards. we were all kinda like why? at the time... and she said it made her feel more like a woman and she felt bad enough.... she said she didn't want to be just a bald, pasty, boobless old lady. she is in her 70's now and she looks great!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am scheduled to have my reconstruction done in April. I had a bilateral mastectomy last year in Aug. I had two lumpectomies before that and then had Chemo. I had the option of just having the lumpectomy and then radiation, but my PS informed me that the radiation made a successful reconstruction almost impossible. I decided to go with a L side Mast. and a R side prophylactic mast. I must say, my reasons for the reconstruction was all for the physical effect. I had breast implants before my cancer was Dx. I am still quite self conscious with my husband. I do not have nipples and the breast are REALLY hard. I look like a Barbie in this area. I can't wait for April. The final result is going to be GREAT! I am still young and just couldn't bear to look at myself without my breast.

Hope this helps. If you have any questions for me, I am more than willing to answer.

Good Luck.

Christian

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion