Choosing not to have a reconstruction

Choosing not to have a reconstruction

Andrew – Plastic surgeon: There’s nothing wrong with that decision to not have breast reconstruction but I think, the big things there, the important thing is if you choose not to have one now, that doesn’t mean you can’t have one in the future - we’re not closing the door entirely. I think it’s a personal choice and I really don’t think it’s a wrong choice. I think it’s something that is very mature to think about all your options and then say you don’t really want to have one. There’s nothing wrong with having that sort of issue – it means that you can move forward in life and recovery after having the mastectomy and chemotherapy and radiotherapy if that’s what’s happened, and we can revisit the reconstruction anytime down the line. A lot of that is mostly support from a physical point of view using prosthesis; using special bra’s and in some cases also, mental support, physiological support in overcoming that physical change that you have.

Jen – Breast care nurse: Not choosing a reconstruction is not that uncommon. Many women will have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy or have bilateral mastectomies and they’re happy with that and they’re happy to wear or not wear prosthesis or foam. You don’t have to have a reconstruction.

I think again, that’s a bit of a community misconception if you’ve got breast cancer - you don’t worry, you go in and get new breasts and whoopy, off you go – that’s not true.

Many women choose to not have reconstruction for different reasons – physical, emotional. All age groups can choose not to or to - it’s not an age thing. It tends to be more women who feel, perhaps, they want a very simple approach or potentially, they’re very comfortable not having breasts - just very comfortable in their own skin and don’t need that shape there.

Dianne – Consumer: After I had cancer, first time chemo, radiation, surgery, all of them things. When I got it the second time and had to go for surgery again, the last thing I wanted was more surgery and more pain after that so, and I’m a little bit older, obviously, they’re not so important – I feel like they’re [breasts] have done their job, so I was happy to get rid of them and not worry about that part of it. I just didn’t want to go through any more surgery or pain.

I feel good now. I felt good about my decision to start with because I wasn’t willing – I was not willing, to put myself through any more pain; any more surgeries; any more hospitals – I was done, pretty much, and I really felt like I was done so I was very happy with the decision.