While the majority of women in the study received implants, Susan Brown of the Susan G. Komen Cancer Society says that today, women have more power in reconstruction options. Though more time-consuming and not right for everyone, options such as autologous reconstruction can create breasts using fat and muscle tissue from other parts of the body.
Victoria St. Martin, 33, was working as a reporter at a local newspaper in New Jersey when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 30. Blogging on her website, breastcancerat30.com, about her experiences, St. Martin says she was blown away by the surgeries and possibilities of reconstruction.
“I walked into the meeting with the surgeon feeling like I had no options and walked out realizing I had a choice,” she says.
Following a double mastectomy, St. Martin opted to have DIEP flap surgery, in which her breasts were reconstructed with tissue from her stomach through four surgeries, while undergoing chemotherapy.
Reconstructions are not always smooth sailing. Even for St. Martin, two additional surgeries were needed, one to remove a cyst and another to remove dead tissue, but she says reconstruction almost served as therapy.
“In a way, mentally and physically, it fixed me,” says St. Martin, who is currently a graduate journalism student at American University and works at The Washington Post. “When you are diagnosed, you feel broken, that you and your breasts will never be the same, but there is sort of a rebirth after chemo and reconstruction.”
Brown says that when making the extremely personal choice whether to have breast reconstruction or opt out, women need to cover their bases and know as much as possible before surgery.
“When faced with this decision, women need to be proactive and get the information they need so they can ask questions about the options, rehabilitation and the cosmetic results they can expect, which all contribute to the decision a woman makes.”
Article Appeared @http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/16/breast-cancer-mastectomy-reconstruction/5619881/