I am seeking advice about breast implants and am hoping that those of you who have them can give me some information as to the benefits as to over or under the muscle, the best kind of implant and the recovery time.
I had a 3 cm tumor taken out in Jan and 1.9 cm was cancerous. I underwent a lumpectomy the following month to take out more tissue, of which .3 cm was cancerous. Prior to the first surgery, I was a 36 B. The lumpectomy left me with the bottom half of my breast and the nipple. I also have the muscles from that area as well. The upper half of the breast is smaller (but not awful). My cancer required 8 sessions of Chemo, Herceptin injections for 1 year and 5 weeks of Radiation. I will be thru with my final Chemo by the end of this month and my oncologist said I could have the plastic surgeon perform the reconstruction before the radiation.
I was the first person on either side of my family to have any form of cancer so I depended on my surgeon and oncologist to determine my treatment. The only thing I said to them is that I was on a 100 year plan and whatever I needed to do to get there I would do. I am extremely happy with both doctors and we have made quite a team. I know only 2 people who have undergone breast reconstruction after masectomies (I didn't have that). One had an inplant under the muscle and the other actually had breast reduction. I would like to be able to have an intelligent discussion with my Plastic Surgeon and any information you can give me beforehand would be graciously appreciated.
Oh yes, after the lumpectomy I was cancer-free and the rest of the treatments are to prevent it from coming back.
Thank you in advance for your advice,
Anita
