Breast cancer. With an initial diagnosis that can be terrifying and overwhelming, it is easy to focus only on the cancer and the treatment. While fighting the cancer is paramount, don’t lose sight of your life after cancer. There are a multitude of reconstructive options available, should you decide that breast reconstruction is right for you. If reconstruction is a possibility you would like to explore, you should work with a team of doctors (including a primary care physician, general surgeon, radiologist, pathologist, oncologist, and a plastic or reconstructive surgeon) to develop a treatment plan prior to undergoing surgery that includes a reconstructive strategy.
It is common for breast surgery to occur within weeks of the diagnosis. Since surgery may impact your reconstructive options, you should give yourself time to learn about and explore all your reconstructive options before surgery, even if that means putting it off until you are comfortable making an informed choice. Recent reports from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons have shown that 70% of women who are eligible to undergo reconstruction are not informed about all of the available reconstructive options. In addition to consulting with your doctors, there is a wealth of resources that you can use to educate yourself, including support or advocacy groups or networks of breast cancer survivors.