| Dec 04 2007 |
- My compressed nerve in my neck is healing well; doc encourages aerobic exercise and strength training
- Oncologist says I'm doing really well (see rad oncol later this week)
- New plan for breast reconstruction surgery for me!!!!!
- I am not a candidate for the TRAM flap that was originally thought to be done due to my bad back and neck (http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/reconstruction/types/tram.jsp)
- New plan is a combo surgery;
- PHASE 1: Plastic surgeon will do a latissimus flap while I'm laying on my side; (kind of like doing a skin graft because my skin isn't elastic enough to stretch for implants) ( http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/reconstruction/types/latdors.jsp)
- PHASE 2: The breast surgeon will do a left mastectomy while I'm laying on my back; http://www.breastcancer.org/pictures/treatment/skin_sparing_mastectomy/index.jsp)
- PHASE 3: The plastic surgeon will come back in and place spacers in at the two breast locations (I'll be in the hospital 1-2 days; I'll have a pain pump and drains).
- PHASE 4: A few weeks after surgery they will begin gradually filling the spacers every few weeks (this will be painful).
- PHASE 5: Replacing the spacers with silicone implants (about 3-4 months after Phase 3, I think this is a day-stay surgery)(http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/reconstruction/types/silic_safe.jsp)
- PHASE 6: Out-patient surgery to make nipples (optional step)
- PHASE 7: tatooing nipples (this will be about a year after the initial surgery)
The most likely risks are pain from spacers and implants (especially since my ribs already hurt from radiation), scar tissue (which would lead to another surgery to fix), and infection (risk with any surgery). The unlikely risks are implant rupture; there is no increased risk for silicone over saline. The implants will need to be relpaced every 10-15 years.
This is the best way to obtain symmetry for me; there will be quite a bit of skin discoloration due to back skin vs. chest skin but my skin is permanently "tanned/burned" from radiation anyway. There will be scars, they'll fade over time probably the worse being on my back.
My biggest concerns was 1) change in size due to weight loss/gain, 2) different looking breasts/nipples due to one being an implant/reconstructed and the other being reduced, and 3) potential future surgeries to prevent/treat future reccurance. So the left mastectomy solved all of these. My other concern was cutting into stomach muscle for the TRAM flap effecting my back; obviously this was a concern of the doctor's as well.
I don't know when surgery will be, the surgeons are coordinating their schedules. I do know that I'll be on bed rest for about two weeks and will need a lot of help during recovery. I'll also need a lot of babysitting help for all the extra doctors visits during the next year. So we'll try to keep everyone posted as much as possible!
Hugs - Jessi
