Hi BiggybearsMum, 

I'm really sorry to read this and am sending you a big virtual hug. I haven't been in exactly the same situation and I hope my bumping this post back to the top this morning that someone else sees it and replies. 

I had a right masectomy and reconstruction mid December and have recently found out that they didn't get clear margins. Is that the reason they are looking to re-operate on you? Is the problem in one breast?

I also wondered if you were on tamoxifen for five years after the lumpectomy? Sorry for the questions. 

I have not had radiotherapy before and so that is what they are recommending now for me. It must be so hard for you not knowing what options you actually have. Perhaps you could ask the nurses on this site? 

Anyway, I just wanted to send you a hug and a bit of support - Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

Thanks for the virtual hug it was really needed xx 

i had a lumpectomy 2013 on right breast and 14 rounds of radiotheraphy, i did not take tamoxafin, but was advised at the time, to take it for 5 years, as this would lower the chances of cancer coming back in on left side, As for the right side i was advised with radiotheraphy chances of cancer returning is extremely low, they were taling 1-2%. Last september i found a lump in the right breast, after biopsy i was advsed that mascectomy, and implant would be advised, and may be chemotheraphy. this was the recommendation of MD team. Two weeks ago i got my histology results back, and was told that 2 tumours on the right side were found and one was a tumour behind the nipple.  I could not feel this one and was told its cancer.  This tumour's margin was close to skin, the Surgeon is not sure if there is still some cancer cells there, on the recommendation of MD team, they have advised on right side to remove the implant and the skin and nipple, send it for testing, as so much skin would be removed another implant will not be placed.

I am refered to plastics team if they can do a reconstruction from my own skin/muscle. I am very small build a size 8, and A cup size.  regards to radiotheraphy you can only have it done once as the skin and muscle becomes really thin so if you have it when you have the lumpectomy then you cannot have it done again if it ever comes back which makes me feel very angry as why did they just not remove it back then instead of the lumpectomy.

Good luck with everything I really hope it works out for you.

Hi, 

Thanks for the explanation. I'm really sorry to read about your journey so far.  I'm just trying to get my head round this, so I can't imagine how it feels for you. So have I got this right - left breast also had cancer this time and has been removed and you have an implant in that breast now. Right breast was original source of cancer in 2013 when you had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Right breast now has positive margins and so they need to re-operate and you can't have another implant on that side and so you've been referred to plastic surgeon to look at reconstruction on that breast only? I hope I got that right, but sorry if I didn't.  

I know that some plastic surgeon's have said they can't do DIEP reconstruction on certain body types. Having said that I also know of other petite women like yourself who have successfully managed to have the diep reconstruction. I don't know if that was what you were thinking of, but just thought I'd let you know that in case it helps a little. 

Sending you another big virtual hug and hoping the plastic surgeon can reassure you with their recommendation. If you feel up to it, please let me know how you get on. 
 

Hugs Mickey xx ️