National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

Rejection of reconstruction
by Ev on 3/27/2008 at 11:15 am
in category Tell Your Story

I'm now trying this site in hopes that someone will respond. Thank you.

This is my first time on this link. 7 years ago a very small lump was discovered in my left breast. I had a lumpectomy, lymp nodes removed and radiation. I had a very difficult time with the radiation as I kept burning so it was stretched out to 7 weeks. 4 1/2 year later another growth was discovered. Again very early. I was not ready to be aggressive so a partial was done. This Dec, another growth was there. I knew I had no options left so I agreed to remove the left breast and the right one so long as reconstruction could start immediately. We were doing an expander with saline input until it reached a good size, however the left one started reacting and finally rejected what was being done. I had surgery this Monday to remove what was in place and am now told it will need 6 months to heal and them MAYBE we can try again, perhaps something different. The clean healthy right breast is doing fine. I can't get over the fact that Radiation which helps at first can become such a horrible influence for reconstructive surgery. I'm terribly uset because the last thing I wanted was a flat breast and having to use a prostesis may be what I actually end up with. Plus although I know that the right breast had become vulnerable I feel so bad that I invaded a perfectly healthy breast. I knw that's dumb and that I am doing preventive stategy but still. . . I am so angry about the effects of Radiation. Is there anyone out there who can relate r share with me?