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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 |
If mastectomy is chosen many times (not always) the reconstruction process can begin with the mastectomy. A plastic surgeon will place saline expanders in the breast if there is not enough breast tissue and over a period of months the woman will return to the plastic surgeons office to have more saline injected via a port into the expanders until the desired size is achieved. Then once this happens a second surgery is performed and the permanent implants are inserted. But I have seen some surgeons recently with a larger breasted woman go directly to the permanent implants. There are even options where the plastic surgeon will do a tramflap to have enough tissue for reconstruction which is when they basically do a tummy tuck and use the skin to add to thhe breasts. Many woman will have bilateral mastectomies w/reconstruction. Most woman that do bilateral mastectomies will say they chose this route because they never want to worry about doing down this road again.
