| With today's advanced surgical
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| | whether you experience intervening
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| procedures, most women who undergo
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| | infections or other breast problems.
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| surgery for breast cancer are candidates
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| | Immediate Reconstruction: Yes or No?
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| for breast reconstruction. There are
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| | Once you know you must undergo
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| various types of reconstruction, and they
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| | mastectomy, it is usually difficult to
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| are available to women who have had a
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| | also have to think about reconstruction.
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| mastectomy, partial mastectomy, or
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| | This is the time to surround yourself
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| lumpectomy.
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| | with supportive individuals, be they
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| The decision of whether to have breast
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| | family, friends, health care providers,
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| reconstruction arises at a very emotional
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| | or breast cancer support group members.
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| time usually at the same time a woman
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| | It is also the time to educate yourself
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| learns she has breast cancer and needs
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| | about reconstruction. This is a way to
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| surgery. It is a time when many questions
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| | take charge of your health, to have some
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| come up about reconstruction, the most
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| | control over the direction your life is
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| common of which are answered here
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| | taking.
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| briefly:
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| | When it comes to the question of whether
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| Is age a factor?
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| | you are a candidate for immediate or
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| As long as a woman is in good general
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| | delayed reconstruction, ask your breast
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| health and chooses a procedure that is
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| | and reconstruction surgeons to explain
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| compatible with her physical condition,
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| | why they are recommending one or the
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| age is usually not a factor. Breast
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| | other.
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| reconstruction is frequently done for
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| | The primary factor that determines the
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| women in their 70s.
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| | best approach is whether the cancer has
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| Who should not have breast
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| | affected the lymph nodes and to what
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| reconstruction?
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| | extent. Chemotherapy usually is not
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| Women who are in poor general health, who
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| | started until 2 or 3 weeks after
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| have psychological problems that would be
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| | mastectomy to allow for healing. If your
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| exacerbated by the surgery, or who have
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| | surgeons believe you must begin
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| severe diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, a
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| | chemotherapy immediately to get the best
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| recent stroke nine-art attack, or severe
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| | possible outcome, they may recommend
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| lung disease usually should not have
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| | delaying reconstruction.
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| breast reconstruction.
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| | Combining mastectomy and reconstruction
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| Do I have to make a decision about having
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| | adds days and occasionally weeks to the
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| reconstruction before I have the
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| | healing period, which would significantly
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| mastectomy?
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| | delay chemotherapy and possibly have a
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| No, but the best time to think about
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| | negative impact on your prognosis.
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| breast reconstruction and to consult with
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| | If your surgeons say immediate
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| a reconstruction surgeon is before you
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| | reconstruction is an option for you, you
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| have your mastectomy. Depending on the
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| | must decide if it's best for you.
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| type of mastectomy you have, you may be
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| | To help you make a decision, it may help
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| able to undergo immediate reconstruction
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| | to look at the pros and cons (outlined
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| while you're still on the operating
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| | below) and to discuss your concerns with
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| table. There are advantages and
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| | those close to you. The best candidates
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| disadvantages to having immediate
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| | for immediate reconstruction are women
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| reconstruction (see below). Not all
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| | with early breast cancer who are in good
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| mastectomies lend themselves to this
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| | general health, women with small breasts,
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| approach, however, which means it is
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| | and those who need both breasts
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| important for you to understand all your
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| | reconstructed. However, even if you are
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| options prior to mastectomy. Then if you
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| | ready physically, you may not be mentally
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| choose to delay reconstruction, you at
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| | or emotionally prepared. In that case, it
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| least were given the opportunity to make
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| | may be better to delay reconstruction.
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| an informed decision.
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| | Advantages and Disadvantages of Immediate
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| Are there any health conditions that
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| | Reconstruction
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| could have a negative effect on
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| | PROS
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| reconstruction?
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| | · Avoiding an additional surgical
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| Women who smoke are more susceptible to
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| | procedure.
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| postoperative infections and slow
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| | · One less procedure means less chance
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| healing, so if you smoke it is best to
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| | of complications.
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| quit before surgery. Obesity is
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| | · Less recovery time needed.
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| associated with an increased risk of
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| | · Costs less money
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| pneumonia, blood clots in the legs, and
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| | · Less time to dwell on the cancer.
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| complications related to anesthesia. The
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| | · Less negative impact on body image.
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| results of both types of reconstruction
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| | · Faster opportunity to get on with your
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| (implant and flap, both described below)
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| | life.
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| are frequently unsatisfactory in obese
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| | CONS
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| women.
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| | · Less time to gather information to
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| How many operations are involved in
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| | make an informed decision.
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| breast reconstruction?
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| | · Surgical procedure is longer, which
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| Most breast reconstructions can be
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| | increases the chances of complications.
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| completed in two operations. The majority
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| | · Possible dissatisfaction with the
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| of the work is done during the first
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| | results
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| procedure, and the second usually
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| | · May delay mourning period for the
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| involves reconstructing the nipple and
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| | missing breast
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| areola, improving symmetry of the
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| | Get a copy of Ms Yvonne Lee Best Selling
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| breasts, and making any minor
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| | Breast Enhancement Book! TodayIt
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| adjustments.
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| | describes and details the most important
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| Does breast reconstruction cause cancer?
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| | breast enhancement techniques from every
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| There is no evidence that breast
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| | corner of the world. A book endorses by
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| reconstruction causes or contributes to
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| | more then 80 well known doctor and
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| the development of cancer.
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| | surgeon from 28 countries can't be wrong.
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| How will my breast reconstruction look in
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| | This article is not designed as a
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| 5 to 10 years? The long-term results of
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| | substitute for personal medical advice
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| breast reconstruction are different for
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| | but as a supplement to advice for those
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| each woman and depend on the type of
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| | wishes to understand more about her
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| procedure you have, your weight, and
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| | condition.
|
