• Topic
• Cancer >> Breast Cancer in women >> Breast reconstruction >> Breast reconstruction

Breast reconstruction

• Cancer >> Breast Cancer in women >> Choosing not to have breast reconstruction >> Choosing not to have breast reconstruction

Choosing not to have breast reconstruction

• Clip
• Cancer >> Breast Cancer in women >> Women 50 - 69 >> Gillian - Interview 49 >> Gillian was diagnosed with DCIS at a follow-up appointment in which she was given a mammogram.

Gillian was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, aged 51. She had a lumpectomy, radiotherapy, tamoxifen and Arimidex. In 2007 she was diagnosed with DCIS. She had a mastectomy and immediate LD flap reconstruction, and chemotherapy.

• Cancer >> Breast Cancer in women >> Women 30 - 49 >> Tess - Interview 53 >> Tess had a family history of breast cancer. Two years after her first mastectomy, she had a second one and breast reconstruction. She was happy with t

When Tess was diagnosed with breast cancer, aged 33, she also found out she was pregnant. She had a mastectomy, chemotherapy and tamoxifen and Herceptin. She later had a second mastectomy with immediate breast recontsruction, and had her ovaries removed.

• Cancer >> Breast Cancer in women >> Women 50 - 69 >> Gillian - Interview 49 >> Gillian felt slightly rushed into deciding whether to have breast reconstruction at the same time as a mastectomy. She had only just been diagnosed wi

Gillian was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, aged 51. She had a lumpectomy, radiotherapy, tamoxifen and Arimidex. In 2007 she was diagnosed with DCIS. She had a mastectomy and immediate LD flap reconstruction, and chemotherapy.

• Cancer >> Breast Cancer in women >> Women 50 - 69 >> Ingrid - Interview 48 >> Ingrid was happy with her reconstruction but has had discomfort in her shoulder since having radiotherapy. Lymph drainage massage has helped.

Ingrid was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, aged 58. She had a mastectomy with immediate LD flap reconstruction. She also had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and Arimidex. During chemotherapy, Ingrid had a bi-lateral pulmonary embolism.

• Cancer >> Breast Cancer in women >> Women 50 - 69 >> Janet - Interview 50 >> Janet had both breasts reconstructed after a lumpectomy and is very happy with how they look.

Janet was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She was told she’d need a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Janet chose to have chemotherapy before surgery and was able to have a lumpectomy instead. She also had tamoxifen and Femara.

• Condition
• Cancer >> Breast Cancer in women >> Breast Cancer in women

Publication date:  December 2001    Last updated: June 2010

Review date: June 2012

 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and occurs in rare cases in men. We interviewed 53 people about their experiences of breast cancer. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

 

See also... Breast screening and Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)