TNBC Polls & Surveys - Nipple Reconstruction...?

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Nipple Reconstruction...?

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Category: TNBC Forums
Forum Name: TNBC Polls & Surveys
Forum Description: A place to ask questions and survey the community
URL: http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=4532
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Topic: Nipple Reconstruction...?

Posted By: booboo
Subject: Nipple Reconstruction...?
Date Posted: Aug 31 2009 at 10:25am

Hi, everyone...shamefully, it has been quite a while since I have posted or even been on site. To be honest, I stayed away all summer to try and get this whole thing off of my mind for just a little bit.

I had my exchange surgery in April of this year (2009)and now I face whether to finish the process and go ahead with the nipple reconstruction or not. Most of me wants to leave them alone but I do not want to regret not going forward (since insurance will cover it now through the end of the year). But somehow I just cannot face another surgery and recovery. My loving, supportive husband is leaving it up to me and says it makes no difference to him - he finds me attractive with or without them, bless his heart! I have gotten used to not wearing a bra which is great but part of me wants to look as normal as I can too. I fear surgery....I am way out of shape, overweight, my hair grew back really weird and feel ugly all over. So, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, I have heard about the 3-D nipple tattooing...anybody done that or know about it? I would love to see some pictures.

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Fondly,
Barb
Age: 48, dx 8/08 (at 46) trip neg , dbl mast 8/08 w/recon, stage 2, 2 cm, grade 3, 14 nodes (-), chemo 9/08-12-08 (Adriamycin/Cytoxin/Avastin)x4, Avastin trial cont.

Replies:

Posted By: unklezwifeonty
Date Posted: Aug 31 2009 at 6:48pm

I had no idea insurance could force you to have the procedure this year. I'd recommend you take opinions from couple of plastic surgeons and then go with your gut. Can't go wrong with that!

The nipple reconstruction and areola tattoing are minor procedures that are done in office under local anesthesia. So if it is major surgery you are worried about, you should have no worries about nipple/areola builds.

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Dx: Jul/09. Age: 37. Grade: High. Size: 3cm. BRCA: -ve. Lumpectomy: Aug/09. Micromet 1/9 node. Chemo Start: Sep/09. Kicked from E5103 due to Taxol reaction. Now on AC->Abraxane. Zometa (S0307).

Posted By: booboo
Date Posted: Sep 01 2009 at 3:33am

Thanks so much for your response. It is not the insurance co. forcing me to have it...it is just we have met our deductible this year (imagine that...) and it would not cost us anything to have it done this year. I love my plastic surgeon - he and his staff were fantastic, and did a great job on my reconstruction. I do not fear the tattooing part, only the surgical part and going under anesthesia again.

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Fondly,
Barb
Age: 48, dx 8/08 (at 46) trip neg , dbl mast 8/08 w/recon, stage 2, 2 cm, grade 3, 14 nodes (-), chemo 9/08-12-08 (Adriamycin/Cytoxin/Avastin)x4, Avastin trial cont.

Posted By: unklez
Date Posted: Sep 08 2009 at 1:02pm

Dear Booboo,

Nipple and areola reconstructions can be done under local.

Good luck!

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Wife Dx: Jul/09. Age: 37. Size: 3cm. BRCA: -ve. Lumpectomy: Aug/09. Micromet 1/9 node. Chemo Start: Sep/09. E5103. DD ACB-> DD Abraxane (Taxol reaction). Zometa (S0307). Canadian Fraction Rads.