Let’s Honor All Choices and Decisions after Mastectomy!

I am speaking to anyone who knows a person who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. I am speaking to anyone who knows a person who has a genetic mutation putting them at high risk of developing breast cancer. These individuals are faced with difficult choices after hearing the news in either circumstance. Let’s honor all decisions and choices after mastectomy, please!

No one can fully understand how difficult the decision is except the person facing a surgical treatment option. Your body, the body you had before mastectomy, is going to be altered. I hear far too often from those facing mastectomy they are questioned, criticized, and left feeling unsupported and confused about their decision to reconstruct their breasts or remain flat. Why does this happen?

Here are some statements I hear from those who don’t feel supported:

• Oh, you’re getting a boob job, huh?
• Wow! I wish I could get a tummy tuck. Want to use any of my tummy for your new boobs because I’ll be happy to donate?
• Why in the world wouldn’t you have breast reconstruction when you can?
• I don’t understand why you’d put yourself through a long surgery like DIEP flap.

Let’s Clear the Air!

First of all, it’s not a boob job! My feeling is there are misconceptions about the word plastic surgery. It is perceived as an aesthetic procedure, like the ones we see or hear in the media, when you tell someone you are going to a plastic surgeon. Sometimes I think if people replaced the phrase “boob job” with “breast job” it might take on a whole different meaning. We are living in an era of unprecedented progress and new techniques in plastic surgery specific to rebuilding breasts. Plastic surgeons don’t just do Botox, butts, and “boob jobs” …. ARGH!!! Plastic surgeons replace and rebuild body parts affected by disease, life threatening disease. The phrase “boob job”, often said as a light-hearted comment, can sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to someone deciding on options for breast reconstruction.

We have amazing options these days. You can use implants, your own tissue, or a combination. A patient can use their own fat to fill in areas needing more symmetry at a second stage of breast reconstruction. Areas of the body being used today are the tummy for DIEP flap, the inner thigh for TUG flap, areas of the buttocks called the GAP flap, the back muscle or LAT flap, the lateral thigh or the LTP flap. I venture to say; the possibilities will expand over the coming years. I marvel at these possibilities and am glad we have these options available.

When a woman can use her tummy tissue to rebuild an amputated body part, that is not a tummy tuck. It is called DIEP flap. It is performed by a surgeon who trains in a sub-specialty of plastic surgery called microsurgery. Did you ever think you’d be telling people a microsurgeon would be tying together blood vessels taken from your tummy area and reconnecting them to your chest area to make new, soft, warm, breasts? Do you ever tell those who question your decision your plastic surgeon trained hours, days, and yes, years to get to the point they could successfully perform microsurgery? Tying blood vessels together with tiny needles similar to the size of human hair takes amazing skill. This work is done under high-powered microscopes; Hand-eye coordination at it’s finest!

The Choice not to Reconstruct after Mastectomy

Maybe you are content with the decision not to have breast reconstruction. There is a transitional period accepting your new body with either decision. Perhaps you didn’t want further surgery. You decide remaining flat and having breast cancer removed from you body is what makes you comfortable and happy. No one should look down on you or question you for making such a decision after a traumatic event of being told you have breast cancer. Please let your plastic surgeon know you have aesthetic expectations, too, when remaining flat. These discussions and finding this information take time for those affected by breast cancer. That is honorable!

I want to believe the final bullet point is often said out of concern and love. “I don’t understand why you’d put yourself through a long surgery like DIEPflap.” When you tell family, friends, and loved ones about the extent of the surgery, recovery time, and the fact you may have to travel, it is a difficult concept for anyone to wrap their head around. But please consider what the patient went through to make this decision. Patients must often become their own best advocates in this process. They have done their homework and researched a microsurgeon, breast surgeon, or plastic surgeon who can answers all questions they bring to the consult. I find this to be honorable!

These are often exhausting decisions involving time, roadblocks, multiple visits to the doctor, and emotional strain on those faced with this decision. I ask you to consider what it took to get there and be kind, patient, supportive, and respectful. Honor their efforts, emotional journey, and choices.

What advice do you have for those struggling to explain their decision for surgery when faced with mastectomy? Whether you are a caregiver, or one who has been through this, I’d love your feedback.

I am honored to feature the new Natural Woman collection of photos from Canva for the featured photo for this blog.

Disclaimer

References made to my surgical group, surgeon and healthcare team are made because they are aligned with my values and met my criterion after I did research of their practices and success rates. Any other healthcare provider that displays the same skill, compassion education and outreach to patients will be given consideration and recognition on this website.  The information contained on this website is not a substitute for or should be construed as medical advice. Please consult a licensed physician for medical advice.