Mastectomy and reconstruction?

[siobrennan]

Hi guys

I have found out recently that I am to need a double mastectomy and reconstruction at the grand old age of 29......... I have the BRCA1 gene mutation and everyone in the family who had it has passed away young including my mum.

So have any of you guys had this done for any reason? If so were the results natural looking? I'm not scared of the op as such I just don't want the reconstruction looking obvious. I know I'll have scarring but I can deal with that

Many thanks xxx

 

[lucyboo]

Hi guys

I have found out recently that I am to need a double mastectomy and reconstruction at the grand old age of 29......... I have the BRCA1 gene mutation and everyone in the family who had it has passed away young including my mum.

So have any of you guys had this done for any reason? If so were the results natural looking? I'm not scared of the op as such I just don't want the reconstruction looking obvious. I know I'll have scarring but I can deal with that

Many thanks xxx

One of my clients went through this last year. She's now 51. About 10 yrs ago she had breast cancer & also carries the brca1 gene.
A year on she has just had the final part of reconstruction, tattooing. She wanted to show me the results as she was so pleased.

Her new breasts had been constructed after using the skin taken from giving her a tummy tuck & they look amazing!! There Is scaring but it has faded a lot and she has been told it will fade more.

I am in the process if having the test done as my mum & her sister have both had breast cancer. My mum was 57 when diagnosed & my aunty was 29. Unfortunately when my aunty was 42 she developed secondly bone cancer & passed away at 45.

I know if I do carry the gene there Is no question of having the op & seeing my clients results I know that a looks wise I would still have my femininity xx

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[lydia c]

I can't advise at all but I just wanted to wish you the best of luck I'm sure you will be fine x

 

[KayaPapaya]

Crikey, what a massive thing to deal with. I admire your straightforward and matter-of-fact attitude to it. The very best of luck for the operation.

I have an aunty (related by marriage) who took this decision (but over 20 years ago) so wouldn't have been done with the same care-standards as today - and probably not as well reconstructed - although I don't know that for sure.

And a friend now 38 who had it done probably 5 years ago. She was also very pragmatic about it all, and it needed to be done, so that was it. (after watching her mum battle for many years with the disease, and finally sadly passing).

She had reconstruction at the same time I believe, and although I have not seen them without clothes on, they're very nice new boobs as she calls them, and she likes them better than her old ones as she was able to get a slightly larger size. She didn't get new nipples for a while though, and was self-conscious about that. I believe she's had them now, but she very rarely talks about it. It's done, and that was the past, so unless she mentions it, we don't if you know what I mean. Not that we don't want to, but she just doesn't mention it ever!

SHe's fit and well and is thrilled the worry is almost gone for her.

The very, very best of luck to you, you're wonderfully brave xx

 

[Crystal colleen]

Hi I can't offer any advice either but I will say you are making the right choice.I saw on Lorraine the girl that was in the pop band her name is Michelle she I think has that gene or a jene that meant she had an 80-90% chance of breast cancer and she opted to have both breasts removed and reconstructed and she said it was the best thing she ever did and she knows that she will now not get breast cancer and I think she's going to have one more child and have a hysterectomy and ovaries removed.

If you google it you will be able to read her story and procedures.

Your very brave much love xxx

 

[siobrennan]

i think i have to be matter of fact lol not much i can do about it otherwise!! I've shed tears, but now just wanting it over and done!! I nursed my own mum for a total of 5 years before she passed and i don't want my little girl to have to do that for me.... so for me the decision was an easy one!!
It's a similar gene to the one Michelle Heaton has, the risk is the same for breast cancer and I'll have that risk for ovarian and other "woman's" cancers also so I'll be hoping to have another child before getting my ovaries and womb removed but they don't advise that until your 35+ because of the high risk of other diseases that your natural hormones protect you against.
It's crazy, Just want "normal" looking, smaller boobies now!! xxx

 

[Tjo]

i can't offer any advise but didn't want to read and run.

you are one brave lady x

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[waffle4]

Wow what an inspiration you'll be to your daughter. Wishing you good luck and good health xxxx

 

[Salon27]

Want too wish you all the luck in the world and certainly think you have made the right decision. If you havn't already watched a tv documentary with Dawn Porter titled 'My breasts could kill me' try too, it will answer a few questions you may have and hopefully put ur mind at rest, shows sum great documentaries', especially with a young girl :hug: x

 

[siobrennan]

thankyou I'll watch that over the next few days. Hospital on wednesday so hope to have some answers then. Starting to worry about all my summer wedding bookings now though, would hate to have to cancel any brides :S that probably sounds a bit silly but I don't want to let anyone down!!!xxx

 

[waffle4]

thankyou I'll watch that over the next few days. Hospital on wednesday so hope to have some answers then. Starting to worry about all my summer wedding bookings now though, would hate to have to cancel any brides :S that probably sounds a bit silly but I don't want to let anyone down!!!xxx

I'm sure everyone would understand if you needed to cancel so don't worry about that. You need to put yourself first now. Good luck for Wednesday x

 

[xxhaylzxx]

I'm just wondering how you went about having the test to see if you carry the gene? Also what is the criteria to have the test?

 

[airendaie]

I read this a few days ago and thought it might be of interest to this thread.

BBC News - Breast cancer: Drugs v mastectomy

Basically for those ladies affected by the BRCA1 or 2 genes may be given the option of taking Tamoxifen instead of a mastectomy. I don't know when this might come into effect but might be interesting to ask your specialist. My mum is still taking Tamoxifen after having a breast tumor removed a few years ago. I don't know of anyone else in the family who has been affected so haven't had the test. I think you're really brave, a lot of people would just bury their head in the sand and hope for the best!

Air x

 

[gr8nailz]

Hello, my love. I know EXACTLY how you're feeling.

At 27 years old, I was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer that kills young women. My only option was a mastectomy. I had reconstruction, too. I had an amazing plastic surgeon so my results were equally amazing. In the U.S., there are options: silicone or saline implants or your own tissue.

If you want to discuss this in this forum so that other people will be informed, I'm cool with that. If you'd like to be more private, feel free to PM me.

Hang in there, sweetie.

Tammie

 

[mini4mum]

My friend who is 31, has just had a mastectomy & reconstruction. She has the same genetic mutation & was diagnosed with aggressive cancer two years ago. She had all the treatment, which for her was horrendous. She just had her two year check up and they found another tumour just before Christmas. She was devastated. So decided to have a double mastectomy (second is being done in 6 months). I think if you carry this gene, watching my friend go through 3 rounds of chemo & then radiotherapy, is the right decision. Why put yourself through all of that if you can have a double & reconstruction! It's a no brainier😉. We are currently saving & trying to raise money for a new wig as her previous wigs were well used!
Interestingly, there was a report on the Bbc news last week with a lady who had a double job because of genes & was worried about her young daughter. The medical reports were saying that girls that carry this family gene will in the future be able to take a pill to stop any cancer! How amazing is that!
Wishing you a healthy New Year. :hug:

 

[happyfeet]

Good luck with your surgery lovely, a brave and good decision by you :hug:

My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and cancer of the lymph nodes back in 2011, she had a mastectomy at the beginning and has since come through chemo and radiotherapy, she is just finishing up her herceptin and has some other meds she has to take for the next 4-5 years. She has healed very well, I've seen where her breast was removed and its amazing how smooth and clean the removal is. She is due to have reconstruction at some point this year. She always laughs and says if nothing else going through what she has, she will end up with new perkier boobs (they are going to lift her remaining boobie), a bit of fat taken from her bottom and tummy to reconstruct the missing boob and a bit of a tummy tuck to boot. She is also pleased hair has also grown back much thicker, darker and hasn't got a ounce of grey either. She obviously wishes she'd not been diagnosed with cancer, but she likes to look on the bright side.

A speedy recovery to you, I'm so sorry to read about your mum, I bet she's really proud that you've taken this decision, not only for you, but for your daughter as well.

Much love xxx

 

[siobrennan]

thankyou everyone xxx
I was advised to have the test by a geneticist as my mum had developed breast cancer, ovarian cancer and also a tumour in her heart none of which were in any way related to each other, all primary tumours ie one had not spread to the next. So the family history was traced back and it seemed that almost all the females died young of cancer (mum hadnt known her family) So I decided to wait until after mum had passed away as I didnt want her to feel in some way "guilty" if I had it too (I know this is how I feel about my own daughter).

Tammie you are fab!!! those are the ame options here and I hope to get it done with my own tissue, namely my baby belly lol!! was the recovery very long? I'm trying to get to the gym 3 times a week and 2 exercise classes now to get my strength and fitness up in preperation for it all xxx

 

[xxhaylzxx]

I am interested in having this test done as my mum had breast cancer but was miss diagnosed before they found out it was cancer. She passed away 6 months later. I'm not sure that I would be able to have this test as I don't know if any other women in my family have had cancer. Can you request to have it?

 

[siobrennan]

sorry to hear about your mum honey xxx i don't know, i think there has to be a strong family connection and/or a family member with multiple primary cancers as most breast cancers are not genetic. worth asking your gp though, no harm in asking xxx

 

[gr8nailz]

If you can use your OWN tissue, you'll get the best results. You basically get fabulous, natural looking breasts AND a tummy tuck, too! It's a win-win!! With the right plastic surgeon, your results will be beautiful. You'll have a body that women voluntarily go under the knife for.

Please try and see the silver lining around this cloud. You'll have a lovely set of breasts, a nice flat tummy and you'll have eliminated your chance of getting breast cancer.