I'm sorry to hear that the planned surgery has been adjusted. It's understandable in the current health situation that hospitals want to keep people as in patients for as little time as necessary. Whilst it's of small comfort to you at the moment it makes sense to delay your reconstruction and try to keep your hospital admission to a minimum.
However, on a positive note, it's not uncommon for reconstruction to be delayed for a number of different reasons so I'm hopeful that one of our members who has been in this situation will be able to post to share their experiences with you.
You might also want to give our team of nurses a call. I know that they will be able to chat things through with you and I'm sure that they will be able to offer some information and reassurance. You can call them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
I hope that all goes smoothly with your surgery next week. Know that we're here to support you.
Hi, I am in exactly the same position as you, had a mastectomy on 23rd March and the reconstruction was delayed due to CV. Just wanted to check how you are feeling now? and how you are coping? I feel relieved that they have removed the breast but daunted by the prospect of going through further surgery and then a reduction on the other side too. I am also still suffering with pain post op which is frustrating but no doubt to be expected.
I had a mastectomy in August 2018 and a delayed reconstruction was planned as I had radiotherapy. My reconstruction was planned 19th March (the waiting list for delayed is quite long and you have to wait a year after radiotherapy) It was cancelled he evening before due to Covid. Anyway, it really hasn’t been that bad. I am used to it and the prosthesis are good. In clothes you wouldn’t k ow. I am looking forward to new boob and cflat stomach soon though! Who knows when?
Hello, I'm also in the same boat here. I was meant to have a mastectomy and immediate implant reconstruction because I am very slim and I can't have a delayed reconstruction. My operation got cancelled 2 days before the surgery. I was put on Tamoifen in the meantime but no one has told me when I'm going to have my surgery and I'm worried that during this wait, my cancer might get worse. Any idea of when the hospitals will start the reconstructions again. I know that NHS England announced that all services should return to normal within 6 weeks. I am also aware of a lady that will have a mastectomy and reconstruction next week in an NHS hospital, but my hospital is still refusing, because apparently the reconstructions have been cancelled.
How frustrating it must have been for you to have your operation cancelled two days before the surgery. I can understand why you would like to have some answers at the moment but unfortunately the coronavirus is making everything so difficult to predict. It can be so terribly unsettling. Perhaps you could give your hospital a call and ask them whether they have any idea as to when your type of surgery and reconstructions might be starting again? They might not be able to give you an answer straight away though.
Our nurses are available on this free number 0808 800 4040 - their line is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm if you would like to talk things through with them.
I hope that you will hear from others on the forum who find themselves in a similar situation having had their operation cancelled at short notice.
I just happened upon your post. I am also waiting indefinitely for a mastectomy and immediate implant reconstruction. Also too slim for a DIEP flap. No one seems to have any news. Have you heard anything? The waiting is doing my head in...
I just had my operation 2 days ago. Mastectomy and implant reconstruction. I'm at home and trying to recover. I hope your operation won't take too long to happen. It is very stressful to wait.
Hello Zvigo. Like you, my surgery for DCIS - a mastectomy with immediate implant construction - was cancelled three days before it was due. To be honest, I could have gone ahead with the mastectomy but new NHS rules meant that the implant was no longer possible, Like you, I am slim and an implant could not be done later. I have no wish to have reconstructive surgery using muscle from my back as that would be another major operation (which in any case could now be years away from happening). I fear a mastectomy alone would leave me pretty depressed. (I had a different cancer in the other breast in 2006 and that time had a quadrant lumpectomy, followed by chemo and radiotherapy, which went well and I am grateful for.) The cancer this time is unlikely to require radiotherapy or chemo but the cancer is high grade and I fear leaving an operation too long.
At first I was told that the mastectomy with implant would likely be delayed by about three months, but this week I was told it was very unlikely to happen until the end of the year at the earliest. It's all very worrying and you have my sympathy. I have also looked at having the surgery privately (I could use my savings), but it seems private hospitals and surgeons are using the same NHS guidelines.Also many private hospitals are being used by the NHS and their theatres have been 'mothballed'. It will, apparently, be some time before these theatres can be used again.
My best wishes to you and anyone else finding themselves in this particular boat,
I am so sorry you are having to go through this. I am in almost the same position though have never had cancer in the other breast. I am too slim for a DIEP flap and don't want to have any muscles rearranged as I am really sporty and would suffer. I could have a plain mastectomy but, like you, it would depress me too much. This whole situation sucks. Sending hugs to you
