Bi-Lateral Mastectomy with Immediate Reconstruction, Nipple Reconstruction - Westchester, NY

I went into the surgery in good health. I was driving after two weeks and back at the gym (slowly but surely) after three weeks. It takes a while for everything to settle into place and all the swelling to go down before you know what you are going to look like. You have to be a patient patient :) The results are very different than they were for women a few years back. Because I opted for the double mastectomy, I did not have to have radiation which would have been required for a lumpectomy. If it is medically prudent, I would strongly recommend that women choose bilateral mastectomy over single mastectomy or lumpectomy.

Of course you have to consult your surgeon/oncologist. There are many different types of breast cancer and staging and nature of aggressiveness. In my case the cancer was detected early and in the milk duct (all those years of nursing didn't protect me after all). The option I was given was to have a lumpectomy, but they would have had to remove the nipple anyway and the surrounding margins, and then have 5 weeks of daily radiation or have a mastectomy. Knowing Dr. Salzberg's excellent work, and wanting to avoid radiation I chose the mastectomy ...and make mine a double ;) I did not have chemotherapy, but that decision was only made immediately following the mastectomy based upon the pathology of the sentinel node biopsy. They also did this very sophisticated test (I think called an onco dx) to determine whether it would be advantageous for me to have chemo. Based on those results it was decided that it wouldn't be. I was lucky. I know many women who opted for lumpectomy or single mastectomy and then regretted their decision because they always worry and are terrified of their future mamograms. I don't worry (and I don't have to have mamograms). I hope that this was helpful. btw, not only was my plastic surgeon more than amazing, but I highly recommend my surgeon - Dr. Andrew Ashikari.

btw... The photo was taken recently, I am 50 years old. I had the surgery when I was 48.

This information was really, really helpful. Thank you so much for sharing all of this.

I can't believe you are 50 by looking at your pictures...and you mentioned you had kids?! Wow, you look phenomenal. Good job taking care of yourself! 

I had same feeling when I was diagnosed. I felt lucky that it was caught early and decided to have a bilateral mastectomy to avoid radiation. When nodes were clear I still decided against chemotherapy. Felt like regardless, oncologist make you feel as if you have to. I still chose not to in attempt to have a better quality of life later. Thanks for sharing, you reminded why I made the decision. I am having my expanders removed for silicone implants in April. I have been "expanding" my muscle pocket and hope my final outcome is as good yours. You look great!!!

Thank you so very much. My oncologist was very supportive of my not having chemotherapy... and actually told me that I should begin to meditate (!!!). And, he is the head of oncology at a major hospital (not a quack). I wish you the best of luck with your health and reconstruction. We are the lucky ones...

If I would have chose a lumpectomy they recommended radiation. I knew that was something I didn't want done to my body. In order to avoid radiation I went for masectomy. I chose bilateral because alot of people get it 10-15 years later on other side. I wasn't sure if I would be as lucky to catch it early if it happened so I decided to go for it. I feel fortunate and felt I did everything I could. No chemo. but they did recommend hormone therapy and I chose not to do that either.

My cancer is non aggressive, it's in the muscle, not in the duct so there are no fear of going to the other breast, when it's gone it's gone, yes, they told me that if I pick lumpectomy with radiation 10 years it will come back so I decided to do mastectomy, I'm not in love with my breast so it's an easy decision, now I'm mending and it's really getting me down, is this normal? A few more days and the drains will be gone. I pray to God that this won't happen to me again. It was 6 months after my pregnancy when the lump came out. This will pass right? The blues?

That am lucky no chemo, no radiation, and no therapy. I hope my sadness will really pass...sigh, it's the weather.

Yes... your story sounds similar to mine. They are all so different. I really can't help but wonder why so many women are being diagnosed with breast cancer. I used to joke that it is so common now that I don't even get any sympathy ("you are the second person who told me this week" or "yeah, five of my friends had breast cancer")... It is like having the common cold. I don't know whether our environment and diets are so much more toxic, or whether we are that much better at detecting what might have once gone untreated, with some women living their whole natural lives not even knowing and dying from something else....or a combination. I know that my friend diagnosed one year before me has been dead one year now, and therefore I know I am lucky. I have two young daughters and I wasn't going to take a chance. I am glad I was aggressive with my surgery (though there are times when I mourn my old breasts and miss my real nipple). I also wonder....what if men had to have their sexual organs removed at the rate that women are having their breasts removed..... nah, would never happen ;)

TF, It is natural to have bouts of sadness after everything you have been through, and even the anesthesia can have long lingering effects (for me I felt remnants six weeks after surgery)...but, if you are depressed (weepy, unmotivated, significant change in appetite or sex drive, basically if your mood is effecting your quality of life) you might want to talk to a doctor. But then again, you just had a baby (congratulations!!), you just recently received a traumatic diagnosis, and you just had major surgery, you have been through a lot !!! It is very early...you still have drains in. Life starts to get better once the drains come out. You made the most courageous and loving decision for your baby and everyone else who loves you. Things will get better and you have your beautiful child to enjoy. Give it time. Try to be good to yourself. Make sure other people are helping you. You need it now...you can return the favor later :)

Also what are your healthy regimens, food and exercise that you do after remission. I am a walker, I golf, bikram yoga and I ballroom dance. Do you suggest anything especially the food?

Thank you so much for everything. You are really cheering me up right now, in a few days, when this drains comes out, I think I will be a lot perky. Yes, they said that when diagnosed early it's like just a fever. I am doing my best that yes, I will be like you over and done with and moving on. I'm glad this happen to me at an early age so that I will be more aware of what I am eating and my regimen in life and even picking friends. To be around good people, that's one of the best thing that you have in life. thank you so much for the encouragement, I'm almost there.

I had almost the same cancer and experience you talked about above. I am so not happy with my Implants. they are horrible I feel guilty when I complain (I think my Lord I am alive and for the healing) I had one of the top plastic surgeon in Dallas Texas but I did not get a good job they are not pretty I just wante Small, Round and Perk, what I got was large, flat and ugly. I even went back and he redid I am not sure what because these look as bad as the first. I was large I had like a 32-34 DDD and it was hard to find bra's and they made dents in my shoulders. I would really like to go back and get it redone, not sure if my insurance will pay and where to go. coming there would not be a option as it is so far. I tell everyone talke to your surgen and make sure they and you understand I was so overwhelmened I just did not know what to ask for I guess. It is good to have someone to share with

Anon, I will tell my surgeon that, I want small round and perky! hahahaha! I'm 32A right now, barely a since I'm 110 lbs, my surgeon told me she can assure me full B if I get lucky I'll be a small C which I prefer. I hope you find a better surgeon, yes, a smaller boobs does help for the back.

Did you have your nipples removed? I think they come out flatter looking if you do. One side of mine is more flat, but my doctor does fat injections (not sure if there is a medical term) to round out the breast, and also when the nipple is reconstructed they seem to look less flat. Mine are not small or perky... I wear a 34D. Mine are not perfect. I have scars. But...I don't have cancer. I used to look around the locker room at the gym and I rarely saw a woman with stunning breasts...when I did they were in their 20's. We have to accept that we are not going to be the same, and they are not going to be perfect. I am single (at 50) and was very concerned about being intimate (showing my post-mastectomy breasts). The P.A. in my doctor's office said to me "Any man who doesn't love you because of your mastectomy, you shouldn't be with anyway". Ha !!! she is right. I do know that many people fly in from all over the country to see Dr. Salzberg. It might come down to what is more important. If you are so upset all the time, maybe it is worth flying up for a consultation (Westchester county airport is a quick cab ride away). It might be that we have to accept that we are more than our [RS bleep]. :)

p.s. fat grafting.... i think that is what they call it when they round out the breast.

Thanks for the come back that is tottaly true and I do not want to be perfect i am just trying to satified because I am so Blessed. My Surgen suggested I did not wear a bra and really there is no need the way my construction is there is not really a breast to go into the cup

Hi Tiffany. It has been a little while since we were writing. How are you doing now? Drains out? Life beginning to get back to normal? Hope you and baby are well. :)

I am glad you are on the mend. Give your new breast some time. It takes quite a while until it looks like it will end up looking, and even longer for the numbness to fade. I wish you good health. Sadly we are a very big sisterhood, but a very loving and supportive one. :)

Thank you so much, I'm trying to be very positive with this, moments come where I want to cry. I don't miss my boobs believe me, I'm not attach to them, I'm flat chested before, who cares now, I'm just so active and now I have to slow down. Thank you so much for the pictures, I'll have one nipple reconstruction and that was really helpful to see, it looks beautiful! I have my expander now. I only have a single mastectomy, hopefully it will look great, I know it will not look perfect together, but hey, my PS told me we'll try full B and if I'm a good girl it will be a small C. I always try to laugh and say to myself, God wants to give me the only missing thing he missed when he created me--the boobs. Thank you again.

Tiffany, the drains are horrible, blech, we all know it. You will feel better once they are gone (I had four of them). My breast was comletely numb for a long time. I could put ice cold moisturizer on and not feel it...eventually some feeling started to come back, not all. Some women had very sensitive breasts and nipples before surgery and it is more upsetting to them to lose sensation, other women not so much. We all have to keep our eye on the prize - long, happy, and healthy lives.

Thank you so much for posting and for keeping my spirit up. I broke down today and finally talked to the social worker at the hospital and they told me that yes, what I'm feeling is the mourning part right now. Okay, if this is the worst part then I'm good then, I'm almost there. Thank you so much again for the patience talking to me, I feel so much better, all the information helped, i was so overwhelm the last few days until I read your article and I saw your pic and I was just so encourage that everything will be back to normal. I promise to live well and to pay forward just as you are doing right now. thank you again.

you help a life today, just so you know. Thank you for being a great survivor and telling your tale.