Eta i didnt mean to post the angry face, im on my ipad and clicked reply before i realized i had clicked the wrong face and i dont know how to change it.
They can do reconstruction, however it's several surgeries done over months. It's a gradual rebuilding. They have a direct implant process, but I am not a good candidate for it, because of previous Surgery, radiation treatments, and a BMI over 30. The mastectomy alone leaves you unable to lift your arms for several months (because of cutting through muscles, etc). I hated my body after a c-section, scars from a mastectomy would be much worse. I have seen reconstruction scars, and quite honestly, they aren't pretty. I hate being vain, but it's bad enough hating to look in a mirror with just the scars I have. I refused to look at myself for several years when I had my first surgery.
Yes, chemotherapy is not as bad as it used to be, but for breast cancer treatments, especially for someone who has had it before and it's recurrent, the chemo would be high dose nasty stuff that makes you throw up for several days after each dose and lose your hair. We asked all the same questions.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I always said "if this ever happened, I would definitely do...." and it's never like you want it to be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kjc  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers...
I do have some questions though... forgive me, I know nothing, just what I've heard...
Don't the doctors reconstruct the breast(s) in the event of a mastectomy? My neighbor was treated in the 60's and they started reconstruction right away. Instead of mastectomy, think 'breast enhancement'.
As for chemo and hair loss, I've read that there's newer treatments of chemo that are way more targeted than earlier treatments years ago, with fewer side effects. If your doctor says you'll lose your hair anyway, I'll donate my hair so you can get a wig made if this would help you. Just let me know.
I'm so sorry this is happening to you, I can't imagine what it's like to have to go through this. Hugs, Kathy |