Breast Reconstruction - Is It For You?

at 11:55AM, 1:55PM, and 3:55PM

If you're one of the many women facing mastectomy, or who have already had one, this show is for you. Suzanne and her guest, Louis Bucky, M.D., a plastic surgeon from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania discuss various options for surgical breast reconstruction.

According to Dr. Bucky, reconstruction isn't just about vanity and appearances, it's about good health. Women who have had mastectomies are physically unbalanced, which can cause a host of problems related to the spine and posture. By having reconstruction, or by using a properly weighted prosthesis, women can regain their symmetry. Reconstruction also makes wearing clothes easier, and can give women a psychological boost to help them transition through this stressful time.

Seventy-five percent of women who have mastectomies have surgical reconstruction; of those, roughly half decide to have artificial implants (silicon or saline), and almost half choose a Tram flap, in which fat is taken from the patient's stomach and moved to the breast. A third option is to use a combination of artificial and natural tissue. The Tram flap is an option that many women like because it gives them a very natural look, without putting any foreign material into their bodies.

Am I A Candidate for Reconstruction?

According to ibreast.com, if you have early stage breast cancer, you can usually have immediate reconstruction. Remember that this will require two surgical teams and two operations, which can be a scheduling challenge.

If you have intermediate or advanced stage breast cancer (involving a tumor that is larger than 5 centimeters and lymph node involvement), you will probably undergo chemotherapy or radiation promptly after surgery. You may have to delay the reconstruction 6 months to a year until you are finished with treatment.

If you have locally advanced or inflammatory breast cancer, you should not have immediate reconstruction for several reasons, including:

1. The necessity for healing time from reconstruction surgery would delay chemo or radiation.
2. Reconstruction of any type can distort tissues around your chest wall that your doctors must continue to monitor because of high risk of recurrence.
3. Radiation will temporarily (and sometimes permanently) stiffen the body tissues, which could impact the reconstructed tissue.

We hope this show opens your eyes to the possibilities you might have after mastectomy. Please look for our other upcoming shows on "Non-surgical Options After Breast Cancer" and "Breast Cancer Survivor Stories," all in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.