Breast reconstruction after mastectomy and complications?

About a month ago I had a mastectomy performed on my right breast and a tissue expander placed because the plan was to have an implant reconstruction.

About 2 weeks after the mastectomy I developed a severe staph infection in the surgical site. This resulted in an additional surgery to remove the expander implant and close the breast site back up. I was in the hospital for 4 days on IV antibiotics and back home for a week on oral antibiotics to kill the infection.

Now it appears that the infection is gone. But we have to start over sometime soon on the reconstruction.

Because of the complications it is riskier for me to now do the same reconstruction I had planned (expander and implant).

My options are to do the TRAM flap (tummy muscle and tissue) or the flap procedure where they take muscle, tissue and skin from the back. I can do the back flap with or without an implant.

My question is:

Has anyone here been in this situation? What did you do? What WOULD you do if it were you?

I am 33 years old.

This is my second cancer diagnosis. I was first diagnosed with breast cancer 3 years ago and had a lumpectomy and radiation on the same breast that the cancer came back in.

I'm sorry to hear you've had such a bad time. I have had a mastectomy but no reconstruction, so can't help with personal experience.

I urge you to ask this question on the forums of
http://www.bcpals.org.uk
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk
http://www.breastcancer.org

The first is forums only, the second and especially the third have a wealth of information too All three will give you the opportunity to talk to women who are facing or have been in the same situation, and women who have had tram flap and latissmus dorsi reconstructions. (and all other types of recon).

Good luck.

I would really look into a recording that my mom uses. They don't know what kept her cancer from coming back....but I'm telling you, I think this was it. It's from a company called Independent Achievement Productions and the recording is called Expecting Breast Health. If you know of the movie The Secret, it is very much like that. There is nothing negative, no 'fighting cancer' type stuff....just a great positive recording specific to Breast Health. My mom listens to it everyday. Good luck with whatever decision comes to you.