Hi sammuel, I had DCIS and had a bilateral mastectomy in May. Reconstruction was started at the time of surgery. Tissue expanders were put in and expanded a little at a time over three months. In
January I will have surgery to exchange the expanders for implants and then four months later I will have nipple reconstruction (if I choose to do that, not sure yet).

My PS went over the process step by step when I met with him for a consultation. He even sketched pictures to show me what would happen.

Best of luck with your surgery and let us know how you are doing.

I had the mastectomy with the tissue expanders as well. The nipple reconstruction was done about 3 months after the final implant was put in. I had the nipple reconstruction done under local in the outpatient clinic of the hospital. They put freezing into the skin but the sensation is already minimal due to nerves in the skin being cut. It is quick and simple with minimal pain for a few days. Good luck to you.

I waited a year to have it,wanted to be sure,I had a tram flap, and nipple was done during surgery. Completly diferent surgery.
I have friends they had the type you will have, some had a nipple done , another did not.
Best to you .

thank you everybody , saw nurse today and she told me yes be about 3 months, and that once it done i will ave tatto around nipple if i want it , not sure bout expanders , it hasnt been mentioned , but my surgeon will see me on morning of opp. i will ask him then , he did mention implants tho

They need to create a pocket in the muscle for support of the implants. That is done with expanders. They can't place the implants just under the skin, as they would sag and not be supported. The expanders are more firm than the final implants and you go see your doctor weekily and he injects saline into a special port. It doesn't hurt, but you will feel some discomfort for a day or 2 after each expansion. I felt it over my shoulder blades and just took some ibuprofen for it. When you reach the finished size, they let it rest for a couple months and then you go back to surgery where they remove the expanders and put in the final implants. They go through the same incision. For me, there was minimal discomfort and it was all done as day surgery. Good luck to you!

thank you hot mum , i was talking to a lady and she really upset me, i was told that i wouldnt b having chemo , cos its dcis , and once they take your boob off and reconstruct that would be it, now she told me that hers was pre cancer and she isnt aving mastectomy but treetment , i said well evryones different , the reply was ,, oh well my friend had reconstruction and still had chemo for pre cancer , now i am mixed up again , and feel low ,

You are right. I had mastectomy for DCIS. I had the choice of doing that with no other treatment necessary or having lumpectomy with radiation. I chose to be more aggressive and have the mastectomy. Also, if you do radiation, your skin changes and you can't do reconstruction at a later date. I had my DCIS 3 years ago and I am fine. I do take Tamoxifen as well. Maybe you will need to take that as well. Don't worry, your oncologist is the best person to talk to and there is no single treatment option but it depends on what you and your doctor think is best for you. All the best to you.

thank you hotmum, because he had been in 3 times to get free margins , he recommended mastectomy , i was relieved has i couldnt let him do 4th opp with no clear margins , i am only left with 3quaters of my breast anyway , had nipple and milk ducts taken away on 2nd opp . i think my sugeon just says enough is enough , this is best opption

I also wanted the most agressive treatmentI could get,I requested to have a mastectomy and during the surgery it was found a second cancer, diferent form the excitional biopsy, invasive, infiltrating.
I told my doctor,"It dosent do any ggod to have breast and dead, I want a masectomy'
Best to all that posted.

Sam, you'll be in my heart and thoughts next week. You have been through so much! Let's hope this is the beginning of the end - to your pain and worry. All my best to you - I think you are amazing and brave, and I really appreciate you sharing your experiences with us! : )
**Gentle Hugs**

thank you , dreaming what happened after the cancer was found on mastectomy , did u have to have treatment after that ,