Are you considering breast reconstruction following cancer? Consider this??????

Question

I elected to have a tram flap breast reconstruction after mastectomy and chemo. Now, six years later I am still paying a very dear price for this decision. I have spoken with other t.f. patients and all are having the same health problems. If you elect to have this procedure you may expect to have the following:1.Hernia (during the surgery , your abdominal muscles will be removed and shoved aside to make a tunnel for the fatty tissue that they will force out thru the hole where your breast was. Without those muscles your internal organs will eventually protrude outward. God put this barrier there for this very reason.) 2. Pain (your back will take on the added strain of not having muscles) 3. Numbness(your whole stomach will feel like youv'e had a shot of novocaine for the rest of your life!!) 4. More surgeries to correct all of this . But nothing will ever help . The damage will already be done. Please consider implants or.......nothing!! I wish I had. Good luck to all of you

Answer 1

Okey-dokey, I have to reply to this because like everything else in life, there are always two sides. I have to say that I am very happy with my TRAM surgery. Like someone else mentioned, my doctor also put in mesh to prevent hernias, and I have never had that problem. I am having no back problems, in fact, I had problems with my back before I had the TRAM. As far as the numbness goes, I don't care about that until I have an itch. Then it's not so nice, but otherwise I am enjoying my new belly button.

I was not eligible for implants because of my radiation (radiated skin isn't as pliable), and they are not 100% safe either. Plus, my doctor mentioned having to have them replaced about every 10 years. I was 30 when I had my TRAM, so I would be looking at 3 or 4 more sets of implants. No thanks.

Everyone has different experiences. As far as I am concerned, I would do it all again, the exact same way I have done things. People need to do what they are comfortable doing. For me, I hated my prosthetics and am very very happy that I did what I did.

Good luck to you. I hope you find some peace with your TRAM, it's never easy to know what the "right" decision is.

Answer 2

I also had tram flap breast reconstruction, but 1. my doctor put in the same wire mesh used to correct hernias so that I wouldn't have hernias in the future. 2. I added back-strengthening exercises to my routine to make up for what my now cut ab muscles can't hold. 3. Okay, you've got me there. It's numb, but dang if it ain't hard too! 4. No more surgeries because I did my homework before I had the surgery. I knew I didn't want implants because of the problems associated with them. I'm sorry you had a horrible experience, but they aren't all bad. Tram flap reconstruction worked for me and it can work for others too.

Answer 3

I am so sorry this happened to you. I appreciate the warning. I have not had to have breast surgery but see the doctor every 6 months. My daughter is at very high risk for breast cancer and she says that someday she wants them both whacked off. I'll keep your warning in mind if/when she ever has this done.

Answer 4

This site gives details of cancer and the cancer industry, and contains links to some natural cures.
Cancer
http://dgwa1.fortunecity.com/body/cancer.html

Answer 5

I thought implants were the only thing used by US surgeons.

Answer 6

Wow!