Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
mastectomy with reconstraction
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
mastectomy with reconstraction
by sanam, Mar 06, 2003 12:00AM
I will have a bilateral skin sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. My question is will the surgeon need to do a separate incision for lymph nodes or the lymph nodes could be extracted via mastectomy incision? I have invasive ductal carcinoma in right breast, I am doing prophylactic mastectomy on the other breast. Will lymph nodes be also extracted on the other breast? Will I also have a risk of lymphoma on that other breast?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Mar 06, 2003 12:00AM
Dear sanam, This depends on the type of skin-sparing incision your surgeon plans to do. It may be that a separate incision under the arm is done to reach the nodes, or an extension from the primary incision toward the axillary (under the arm) nodes can be done. The type of incision done depends on your surgeon's preferred technique, your anatomy, where the primary tumor is located. The lymph nodes are removed as part of the staging of breast cancer, if there is no indication of cancer in the opposite breast, removal of the lymph nodes under the arm will not need to happen.
Risk of lymphedema (fluid accumulation in the arm)increases with the interference of the drainage of lymph system. If the lymph nodes are not removed in the left breast there would be no increased risk in that arm. (lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system and not associated with breast cancer)
Risk of lymphedema (fluid accumulation in the arm)increases with the interference of the drainage of lymph system. If the lymph nodes are not removed in the left breast there would be no increased risk in that arm. (lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system and not associated with breast cancer)
I had invasive ductal and had a mastectomy w/reconstruction in 1993. Then a simple mastectomy in 1995 on the other side (after concerning findings on mammograms but no cancer). I am well and happy and disease free now 10 years later. Yippeeee!
Are you having implants, or a tram flap, or dorsal flap done? In any case, prior to surgery, I made sure I had plenty of loose, open in front shirts (hurts to raise your arms above your head to put on a t shirt or sweat shirt), got my pain rx's filled in advance of the surgery (was not married at the time and I didn't have any help at home, wanted everything there ahead of time), and had plenty of frozen meals ready. ( My friends at work all pitched in, though, and had my meals brought to my home from area restaurants for an entire week).
Stock up on Ginger ale, crackers, and soup. You may be nauseated at first from the pain pills and just the trauma of surgery.
If you have long hair, get some soft scruchies or something to put your hair back. You will not feel much like moving your arms all around to blow dry your hair.
You will need an electric shaver for some time for your underarms. Numbness is very common under your arms, esp. on the side where they take the lymph nodes. My doc told me never to use a razor again, due to the numbness I would notice a slight cut. I used an electric shaver for a while, maybe 6 months or so, then went back to carefully using a razor. I still am numb 10 years later.
Another thing that no one told me about was that my breast are almost completely without any sensation. The doctor told me when I asked him later about it, that it was due to the stretching of the major nerve in there (they don't cut it) and that sensation would eventually return. It didn't. I don't know if that is usual or not, but it happened to me.
You will undoubtedly have several drains in place, but the nurses will tell you how and when to empty them. I believe they are removed in about a week.
I was surprised how quickly I recovered, and was (against my doctors advice) riding a horse on my 7th post op day. Went back to work in 2 weeks. That was pretty stupid, though. I was just so exhilarated to have survived, I wanted to go back and sort of foolishly prove to everyone that I wasn't going to die or anything.
I will tell you that with 10 years perspective, I think I am pretty well adjusted to it all. I change in the locker room at work without a minute's hesitation. I am not sure if anyone even notices. It has been quite a journey (try dating while you are in the midst of having your breasts reconstructed!) and trying to raise 2 boys thru their teen years. I am now happily married. And healthy.
email me if you would like
***@****
-c