Post Cancer Treatment: The Decision For Breast Reconstruction
The emotions that occur with a diagnosis of breast cancer and a subsequent mastectomy can be devastating. A breast reconstruction can be emotionally as well as physically rewarding for a patient. The woman who has lost her breast due to cancer has to deal with the difficulty that comes with this treatment. A post cancer treatment to help deal with these issues is breast reconstruction.
Not every woman will decide to have a breast reconstruction surgery for their post cancer treatment. However, for some women the reconstruction of their breast can help to regain self confidence and restore the self image that has received a difficult blow. The surgery can provide a woman with a natural looking breast, but it will not look and feel the same as the breast that was lost due to a mastectomy.
Who Should Choose Breast Reconstruction For Post Cancer Treatment
Making the decision for the procedure is a very personal one that should be done for the woman and not for anyone else. A good realistic expectation from the surgery is an important part of the success. No one should have a breast reconstruction that is doing it to live up to some image of what a woman should look like. Nor should they have the expectation that the reconstructed breast will be a perfect replacement for the one that was lost. If you have a good coping mechanism for your illness and post cancer treatment, you might be a good candidate for this type of surgery.
The ideal patient for a breast reconstruction is someone who does not have any additional medical conditions that must be dealt with along with their post cancer treatment. She should also have a good outlook and realistic expectation for the surgery and what it can bring to her life.
Discuss Your Needs With The Doctor
Breast reconstruction should be discussed with your doctor as a part of your post cancer treatment. The decision can be made to have the surgery at the same time as the mastectomy or at a time later after healing has occurred. The decision for the timing of the surgery will largely depend on your doctor’s prognosis for the surgery and your post cancer treatment. If there are additional treatments that must be undergone after the surgery, the breast reconstruction may be delayed until they are completed.
Also, the decision on the type of breast reconstruction should be discussed as well. There are two ways that the reconstruction can take place. Breast implants or the creation of the breast with natural tissue from other areas of the body are the two ways to reconstruct the breast. Discuss the type of reconstruction with your doctor to find the right method for you.
Make sure you are ready to handle the emotional difficulty of a breast reconstruction surgery as a part of your post cancer treatment. The loss of a breast can be devastating and the results of your breast reconstruction can also be difficult to handle. The breast will never feel the same as the one that was lost and you should be prepared to handle this loss emotionally and have a good outlook for the results of the surgery.
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