Re: Fw: Breast Reconstruction May Not Improve Life Quality

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty...I found this article interesting....been there, done that! My mastectomy was in Oct. 99...had a saline implant...had the implant removed 3 weeks ago and I am so glad to be rid of it. If there are other ladies in this group who have had an implant removed after a mastectomy, I would appreciate hearing from them. I have a couple of questions re: recovery....feel free to write me at swampfox@...

Kay

----- Original Message -----

From: Patty

Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 9:37 AM

Subject: Fw: Breast Reconstruction May Not Improve Life Quality

Tough position to be in, with breast cancer, but for me, I'll choose healthover a breast any day!PattyFrom: "ilena rose" <ilena@...>Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 7:34 PMSubject: Breast Reconstruction May Not Improve Life Quality> The New York Times> http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/health/health-breast.html?searchpv=reuters>> March 30, 2001>> Breast Reconstruction May Not Improve Life Quality>> By REUTERS>> Filed at 5:52 p.m. ET>> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Though women with breast cancer often choose> reconstructive surgery because they feel it will help them maintain a good> body> image, the surgery is no guarantee of better long-term quality of life,new> research indicates.>> The study, in the April 1st issue of Cancer, followed 198 women with> early-stage> breast cancer who received either breast-conserving surgery (52%),> mastectomy with> reconstruction (20%) or mastectomy alone (28%). Quality of life was> monitored for> 2 years following surgery, looking at changes in mood and sense ofwell-being.>> Women who had a mastectomy with reconstruction had greater mood> disturbances and> a poorer sense of well-being than those who received mastectomy alone,> according> to Dr. J. Nissen and co-authors from the Park Nicollet Institute in> Minneapolis, Minnesota.>> These differences may be due, in part, to the longer surgery,> hospitalization and> length of stay due to the reconstructive operation, as well as the greater> postoperative pain, Nissen and colleagues suggest.>> When the investigators compared mastectomy alone to breast-conserving> surgery with> regard to long-term quality of life, no significant difference was found.>> ``A woman shouldn't take it for granted that reconstruction is going to> improve her> quality of life,'' Nissen told Reuters Health. ``She needs to consider allher> options, talk it over it with (her) doctor, and make a decision on an> individual basis.''>> SOURCE: Cancer 2001;91:1238-1246.>> Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company>> __________________________________________________>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kay,

I hope you hear from some women on this group....I don't really know how many have had saline implants as a result of mastectomy, although I am sure it is a smaller number. I am really glad to hear that your implant is gone, and I hope that you are healing well. How has it been going so far? And how are you doing emotionally?

You may want to post your questions on Ilena's list as well, as her list (private one) goes worldwide and has thousands of members with all kinds of implants. You should get many replies to your questions there, as many of them have had implants as a result of mastectomy. We're here for you though!

Take care! Hugs,

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: swampfox

Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 9:50 AM

Subject: Re: Fw: Breast Reconstruction May Not Improve Life Quality

Hi Patty...I found this article interesting....been there, done that! My mastectomy was in Oct. 99...had a saline implant...had the implant removed 3 weeks ago and I am so glad to be rid of it. If there are other ladies in this group who have had an implant removed after a mastectomy, I would appreciate hearing from them. I have a couple of questions re: recovery....feel free to write me at swampfox@...

Kay

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty...thanks for the suggestion to post to Ilena's list...I did. My healing is going well. Emotionally, I am fine. Thank goodness I have a wonderful husband...we've been married 35 years. He has been my strength! That implant hurt me everyday it was in my body. When the hurting got really intense, my husband would just cup the implant in his hand; I could feel the tension and pain leaving my body.....talk about the healing power of touch!

Thanks for the good work you do for all of us. love, Kay

----- Original Message -----

From: Patty

Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2001 11:52 PM

Subject: Re: Fw: Breast Reconstruction May Not Improve Life Quality

Hi Kay,

I hope you hear from some women on this group....I don't really know how many have had saline implants as a result of mastectomy, although I am sure it is a smaller number. I am really glad to hear that your implant is gone, and I hope that you are healing well. How has it been going so far? And how are you doing emotionally?

You may want to post your questions on Ilena's list as well, as her list (private one) goes worldwide and has thousands of members with all kinds of implants. You should get many replies to your questions there, as many of them have had implants as a result of mastectomy. We're here for you though!

Take care! Hugs,

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: swampfox

Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 9:50 AM

Subject: Re: Fw: Breast Reconstruction May Not Improve Life Quality

Hi Patty...I found this article interesting....been there, done that! My mastectomy was in Oct. 99...had a saline implant...had the implant removed 3 weeks ago and I am so glad to be rid of it. If there are other ladies in this group who have had an implant removed after a mastectomy, I would appreciate hearing from them. I have a couple of questions re: recovery....feel free to write me at swampfox@...

Kay