Why Breast Reconstruction?

When my surgeon told me I had breast cancer, and that my life would never be the same, he was right! Facing the fact I had cancer and dealing with all the decisions that needed to be made has been one of the most intense times of my life. First my doctor let me choose to have a lumpectomy with radiation, or a mastectomy with reconstruction. I chose the first, but although the lymph nodes were negative, due to a lack of clean edges, I needed a modified radical mastectomy. I had that the next week with reconstruction.

That was in October 1998. Why reconstruction? I didn't want to be flat on one side. I also felt I was too active to wear prosthesis. I jog, lift weights and use my arms a lot as a physical therapist. I just didn't want to bother with a prosthesis, although many women do well with these, and some women feel comfortable without any prosthesis. It was also a matter, for me, of feeling more womanly with reconstruction, although that is not a criteria for femininity. Why reconstruction now and not later? I wanted to have one, not two, surgeries and then get on with my life. Were these decisions easy? No, but I needed information.

On Monday, after my lumpectomy, I spent four hours at the plastic surgeon's office, discussing types of reconstruction - implants with silicone shells that would be saline filled, or use of my own muscle tissue for a new breast. My plastic surgeon informed me, I was too lean for anything but the implant! The surgery took about four hours.The implant was placed under my pectoralis muscle with my injection port for expansion of the implant, under the skin in my lateral rib area. My surrounding muscles were lifted to put in the implant, so I did have soreness in my pectoralis (chest), scapula (under my shoulder blade), and abdominal muscles.

After my stitches were removed, I went weekly, then biweekly to be pumped up with around 60 ccms. of saline per time. My chest area would feel tight the first two days, then the muscle and skin would stretch and feel more comfortable.

It took about three months to expand the implant. However, I returned to light duty work three weeks post-op. This was earlier than planned, but I could plant tulip bulbs and slowly jog two miles. I felt good.
Well, was that it? No! Three months later, in January, I had reconstruction for a nipple. Later I had a tattoo to give color for an areola to surround my nipple.

My daughters thought it was pretty cool that Mom was getting a tattoo. At the same time, I had an augmentation mammoplasty of my opposite breast with an implant that was fully inflated at the time of surgery. I now feel very comfortable with my reconstruction. I run, lift weights, and even kayaked in June. Due to too much chest muscle pressure on the implants, I have stopped doing push-ups!One special note is that at first, my insurance company refused to pay the full amount for the later pre-approved surgeries. I appealed to the insurance company, who reviewed my records, and paid the full amount! A recent law mandates that insurance pay for augmentation mammoplasty if the noncancerous breast is asymmetrical (not the same size or in the same position).
This is my eighth year as a breast cancer survivor. It is now December 2006. I thank the Lord for my life and His presence with me throughout my surgeries and recovery process, and for my wonderful husband who has been so supportive.