Hi Neenj,

I can't help with the first bit but can give some opinion on the second.

I had no choice but to have a mastectomy with reconstruction using an implant (not enough fat to use my own tissue apparently).  Initially I would have preferred reconstruction using my own tissue for the same reasons as you and the fact that things like 'alien products inside me' trigger my depression.  This would be to the extent that I could end up attacking my own breast just to get rid of it.  However, I have come to realise that we don't actually feel most of our breast tissue, any sensation is actually on the skin and that sensation is retained even with having an implant.  Makes sense really since our breasts are mainly fat anyway and fat doesn't feel.  So thankfully I am not remotely aware of having anything 'alien' inside my breast, except that I know it's an implant, thankfully there is no feeling of it being different.  My surgery had a great result and I've healed well.

My mum, on the other hand, was able to have her mastectomy reconstruction from her own tissue, she also had a great result and healed well.

I guess one downside is that any tissue of your own can develop cancer where the implant can't, but the chances of it are so slim anyway.  There are potential downsides to the implant in the sense of lifespan etc. but the warnings all err very much on the side of caution.

So it really is personal choice and maybe one way to look at it is to see which type of surgery your surgeon has best results with?  Still, if your main reason for being against implant is the sensation of something alien inside you then thankfully I can state that it isn't like that at all.  Good for me as my only other option was to have no reconstruction and then I'd have to buy a whole new wardrobe.

Best wishes with your decision-making.

LJx

Hi Neenj,

This is a difficult decision. I have had 2 bouts of mucinous breast cancer in the past 8 years. First time around I had a lumpectomy, followed by Tamoxifen. A year later I had a double mastectomy, followed by Letrozole. I felt much better after my mastectomies, as I felt that I had done all that I could to get rid of the cancer. Due to having previous surgery, I was not a suitable candidate for reconstruction. 

I have managed well with my prostheses and have a selection for different purposes. I still manage to go swimming and to the gym every week, without being too self-conscious.

I hope that this can help you in your decision making.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you Twintwo for taking time to reply to my ramblings. It’s good to hear others’s Stories and really does help to read of different perspectives and experiences. 

Still not really decided but am just absorbing info at the mo. Hoping for that epiphany moment....  

i hope your journey is going well x

Hi Jolamine

Really good to hear from you. Must confess I’ve been following your GB&U page since first receiving my recall following mammogram. I’ve dipped in and out and you and the other ladies helped me loads. Was good to see such honesty and humour winning through such horrible moments. Such support, even, from afar is fabulous. Warms the cockles

not sure what I will decide as yet. But talking about it definitely helps. Tis difficult when there is no black and white path to choose between. Shall await my epiphany whilst trying to assess my own personal pros and cons. 

Thank you once again for your reply. I really do appreciate you sharing your story - and boy is it a story and half!  

Take good care x