Comments | willowisp: Initial Thoughts on Reconstruction

willowisp

Initial Thoughts on Reconstruction

Mar 20, 2015 16:26

[I have marked this as "Explicit" because it involves certain parts of the anatomy to which many people are overly sensitive. I really wish LJ had more nuanced settings, since this is about the medical aspects. Come to that, I also wish LJ had some way to make part of a post visible to all so this disclaimer could be seen before having to jump ( Read more... )

mastectomies, brca2, reconstruction, mastectomy

Comments 7

lecil March 20 2015, 23:03:43 UTC

No idea if a "well, if they were my breasts" is of any use, but I think I'd be inclined towards reconstruction, but getting
the breasts I've always wanted (or at least a close facsimile) but that genetics have decided to ignore me about.

You need to be comfortable, emotionally and physically. And it's okay if Andy is in your equation, for all the reasons
you mentioned.

I'm assuming there would be implants involved? What are the technical issues there? How long do those things last
now a days, and are you in any particular risk for abnormal scarring?

callicrates March 21 2015, 01:17:51 UTC

The numbers we were given are that implants have a failure rate of about 1.3% per year, after which they can either be left in place (harmless, looks a bit odd) or replaced (surgery). Some very unlucky women have them break in the first year. Some are going on 30+ years and are just fine.

Because of Cat's diabetes she's at higher risk for infection with any surgery but the doctor didn't mention any risks associated with scarring.

Now if you'll pardon me I need to go sit in the corner so noone can see how brightly I'm blushing.

lecil March 21 2015, 02:05:35 UTC

Okay, you get a couple minutes of blushing, but that's enough.

Maybe because I own a pair AND I've a habit of hanging out on nudist beaches, I find
embarrassment over breasts to be bemusing. :) Of course, as I'm sure you're well aware,
honesty is the best thing you can give Cat right now as she makes this decision.

{{HUGS!!}} to both of you!

callicrates March 21 2015, 03:02:48 UTC

It's not the subject per se. I've gotten to the point where I can talk to my mother-in-law about breast issues without melting down. It's the blunt (and accurate) comment on my tastes in the matter.

We've got this pretty well in hand. It's a big thing with a lot of decisions to make, each of which has unforeseen and sometimes-unforeseeable repercussions, but we're in a pretty good position to deal with it. I think. I hope. I am very glad that my opinion counts for something.

agrimony March 21 2015, 00:24:56 UTC

My mom had a lumpectomy for her breast cancer but I don't think she had a mastectomy. I know that one breast is dramatically smaller than the other now, but I can't tell if it's gone entirely.

Not that this is relevant to anything or even remotely helpful. But your post made me think about it. :)

esmerel March 23 2015, 17:32:18 UTC

I don't know if you know firni - she's a friend of josh's. She had cancer and a double mastectomy and I can't remember if she's done/going to do a reconstruction. She talks about it on FB off and on - if you wanted to potentially bounce thoughts off of someone who's been through it.

jklgoduke March 24 2015, 13:13:55 UTC

So, right now I'm recovering from breast cancer surgery, in the form of a lumpectomy + removal of two lymph nodes. And it sucks. I can totally understand your reasoning for having the double mastectomy, but going through bonus surgical recovery? Ugh! Then again, other people apparently recover a lot more easily than I seem to be, and I really hope you're one of them. And I respect your reasons for thinking about it too. (Hi Andy - nice blush!)