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.
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.
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.
Glad to hear this op has gone ahead. I was diagnosed in mid March with DCIS and I'm waiting for elective surgeries to start. May I ask how long you had been waiting before the pandemic? I'm trying to work out how long I might have to wait.
I was diagnosed with DCIS end of January. I had my lumpectomy end of February. Then I was scheduled for a mastectomy with implant reconstruction end of March but this got cancelled due to covid. Finally, I had my operation on 20th of May. Hope this is helpful and yours won't take too long.
