| Any diagnosis to cancer is over whelming – there
are tremendous implications for one’s
health, family, and quality of life. But women
hear they have breast cancer and that they
will lose one or both of their breasts, the
emotional tool is extreme. In addition to the
worries about health and family are added concerns
about how you will look and feel, and how others
will react to you. Because many women identify
their femininity with their breasts, the idea
of loosing one or both breasts may make you
feel less of a women Which is to some extent
very true. In spite of all above facts reconstruction
does not appeal to all women, many find a sense
of comfort knowing that breast reconstruction
is an option available to them after mastectomy
surgery. Some women appreciate being able to
return to a physical appearance similar to
that before the breast cancer surgery. Women
describe a sense of emotional healing, restoration
of self-confidence, femininity, joy and peace
of mind after breast reconstruction. |
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Some women
choose breast reconstruction because they feel
it allows them to return to as "normal" an
appearance and lifestyle as possible. Some women
find the mastectomy scar constantly reminds them
of the breast cancer. Other women prefer not
to wear an external prosthesis (artificial breast)
for a variety of reasons. Reconstruction of a
breast is one of the most rewarding surgical
procedures available today. New medical techniques
and devices have made it possible for surgeons
to create a breast that can come close in form
and appearance to matching a natural breast.
Frequently, reconstruction is possible immediately
following breast removal(mastectomy), so the
patient wakes up with a breast mound already
in place, having been spared the experience
of seeing herself with no breast at all. Not all
women will have mastectomies. Some will choose
lumpectomy and irradiation. Nor will all women
having mastectomies want the additional procedures
involved in breast reconstruction.
Despite
the
growing acceptance of reconstruction among
mastectomy patients and members of the medical
community,
the general public is still largely unaware
of the physical and psychological transformation
that is possible through reconstructive breast
surgery. The education of all women about
the spectrum of therapeutic alternatives available
to them is necessary so that they can more
effectively
influence their own destinies and play an
active
role in their own health care.
A plastic surgeon is a part of the "Breast
Management Team" and should be visited before
having breast cancer surgery to review the possible
breast reconstruction options that would apply
to individual diagnosis, general health and personal
desires. Great strides have been made in the field
of breast reconstruction in recent years, resulting
in more aesthetic breast shape and appearance.
It is important for you to realize that your reconstructed
breast will not look or feel exactly like your
natural breast. While it is not for everyone, many
women who have undergone breast reconstruction
experience a faster and more complete emotional
recovery from the loss of their breast.
The decision to have breast reconstruction
depends on your own individual case, medical
condition,
general health, lifestyle, emotional state, and
most of all breast size and shape. You may consider
consulting your family, friends, breast implant
support groups, and breast cancer support groups
to help you in making this decision. Your general
surgeon, plastic surgeon, and oncologist should
work together to plan your mastectomy and reconstruction
procedure to give you the best possible result.
But bear in mind, post-mastectomy breast reconstruction
is not a simple procedure. There are often many
options to consider as you and your doctor explores
what best for you.
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