Breast Reconstruction

I had all but given up on having 2 breasts again and resolved that I was going to my grave as a Uniboober.

During my appointment with my surgical oncologist a few weeks ago, the handsome Dr. Ewan, I asked him if he knew of a plastic surgeon that might help with my 3 breasts … ok, let me clarify … after surgery, I was left with a mini-tit, a medium-tit and my natural maxi-tit … and I really hated the 2 I wasn’t born with. I was hoping a plastic surgeon would be able to get rid of all these flaps of skin I seem to have.

Dr. Ewan referred me to a plastic surgeon who I saw a few days ago and I’m thrilled to say that I may have 2 breasts again without resorting to those horrible tram-flap or diep-flap reconstruction surgeries that would leave me with little muscle control over my abdomen or shoulder.

He did tell me about a fourth option that I wasn’t aware of: Latissimus Dorsi Flap. This surgery apparently does leave a very large scar from the upper back to the front that connects to the new breast.

I play tennis and the thought of losing any muscle in my abdomen, shoulder or upper back is not something I am particularly interested in.

Ok, ok, the good news … he said that I am a candidate for an implant!

It’s only 2 day surgeries (1 to insert the expander and 2nd for the implant) and I’ll be uncomfortable for a week to 10 days … so I am thrilled of this possibility!

It’s what I wanted initially until I saw that other plastic surgeon 1.5 years ago that said she wouldn’t give me an implant because of my propensity for infections.

I did let the new surgeon know that I get infections easily and he said he hasn’t had a patient with an infection in 10 years and unless I have constant infections with the implant over a long period of time, the implant can be removed which will solve the problem.

Dr. Ewan also said that I may have to have a breast reduction on my other breast if I wanted an implant … and I’m happy to say that the new surgeon will give me a lift on my natural breast and I can go as big as I want.

The new surgeon blushed when I said I wanted to be the size of  a stripper! Of course I really don’t want to be THAT big, but to have 2 nice sized boobs again will be fabulous!

I asked him if the new breast would look like a transgendered male, as I had heard that before, and he assured me it wouldn’t. He only said that there will be a roundness to it that isn’t on my natural breast.

And just as wonderful news is that the flaps of skin I absolutely hate is actually good to have … he can use the extra skin to help with the expander. How terrific is that!

I’m still in a bit of shock that I can indeed have an implant so I’ll wait for a week or 2 until the information sinks in and decide when would be a good time to do this … I’m thinking either just before the December holidays or just after new year when business is also a bit quiet.

It just goes to show how a 2nd opinion is valuable.

If you want more information on breast reconstruction in Canada, visit this web site.

Touch Your Own Boobs – Be Self Aware

I received an email this morning (August 25, 2011)  from someone purportedly from the Communications and Information Branch at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care  (MOHLTC). In it, she writes the following:

“Ontario has one of the highest survival rates for breast cancer in the world, with nearly 90 per cent of women surviving the disease. Yet research provided by Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) reveals that more than half a million women eligible for Ontario s Breast Screening Program (OBSP) are not getting screened.

You can do your part in ensuring your loved ones aren t part of this statistic. The province of Ontario is encouraging early detection by expanding the OBSP. Women between the ages of 30 and 69 who are at high risk for breast cancer because of genetics or a personal or family history are now eligible to receive an annual breast screening MRI and a mammogram through the program.

Women over 30 are encouraged to talk to their family physician to discuss what breast cancer screening option is right for them, and for their mothers, friends and loved ones to do the same. Regular screening, combined with greater self-awareness and improvements in treatment, has been shown to save lives.

Women can visit www.ontario.ca/screenforlife and complete the  Time to Screen  tool to find out when it s the right time for them to get screened. They can also view videos of a former cancer patent outlining the importance of screening and Dr. Rene, a radiologist detailing the screening process [URL added by BloggerBarb - it's the only video I could find on screening]. Please feel free to include any of these links in your blog …” [added by BloggerBarb: here is a Google link to lots of videos on breast cancer screening]

Sage words indeed.

I have been getting mammograms for at least 10 years and although they didn’t catch my breast cancer, I was a pesty patient in my doctor’s office wondering what the pain was … so please, please, if you are reading this, talk to all the women you love in your life (sister, aunt, lover, wife, significant other — young and old alike) about self-examination if they are in a non-risk group and those over 40 who are at risk just for being alive at that age to get a mammogram.

And if you are in Canada and don’t have a family doctor … my question is why? Get yourself a doctor today! Don’t wait until you’re sick … don’t go into an emergency room … don’t use walk-in clinics all the time … they don’t know your history and may not think of cancer when you walk in with swollen glands or a lump that could also be a cyst.

Can’t find a family doctor? Did you know that you can check your local hospital’s web site to find new doctors accepting patients? Yes, it’s true … that’s how I found mine about 6 years ago when my other doctor left her practice to pursue environmental medicine: I stupidly waited too long to find a new doctor and yes, it was not easy — I think I interviewed about 3 or 4 doctors before finding the one I have now … who hopefully will be around long after I’m gone