Bilateral mastectomy surgery approaching, Tram flap or silicone implants? Help

[careermatchmaker]

Cancer and breast cancer run rampant in my family medical history.  I had a lumpectomy of lt. breast 7 yrs ago and now cancer has returned in lt. breast. Mammos and US suggest IBC and went on Antibiotic regime and then aspiration and nothing to aspirate thinking maybe Mastitis or seratoma.  Now, the drs. suggest going in and removing breast. Because I continually receive bad mammos and some form of mass that needs removing each year or so....8 operations on left breast!  Geneaologists recommended to my dr.to remove both breasts as a precautionary measure. He and I agree. I am so tired of surgery and breast problems, especially cancer this time. I have been remarried only 2 yrs. Reconstruction using silicone implants and expanders or tram flap?  I have stomach hangover above the hysterectomy scar and a "tummy tuck" sounds nice.  I want to live but also want to look at myself in the mirror and say not bad for a woman who is now surviving cancer than oh my gosh, look at me, I had cancer.  Thank God for touching drs. hands to help women recover emotionally as well as physically.  I would love to have "a new chest" as promised if I have either one of the reconstructive measures.  Any suggestions?

[LAD0713]

A related discussion, reconstruction issue was started.

[sandy424]

A related discussion, I tested positive for BRCA-1. was started.

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear careermatchmaker, My suggestion is to have a consultation with the plastic surgeon who can review the options with you and discuss risks and benefits of these procedures.  In Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book she has a very good section discussing different procedures, reading that information before your consultation will give you a good base for questions to discuss with the surgeon.

[surgeon]

Either form of reconstruction is likely to make you satisfied. There's no doubt in my mind that the most natural result is from TRAM reconstruction. The downside is that it's much larger surgery, and when both sides are done (depending on exactly how) it can leave a hernia (bulging) of the lower abdominal wall. The chance of complications (mainly poor healing) is higher than with implants. So for many women, implants make more sense because the surgery is much less complex and uncomfortable to start. It's a tough choice.