My Mother's Journey Through Breast Cancer: Your Questions Answered

Here are the questions I have been asked recently. I answered them to the best of my ability. If you have any questions, any questions at all, that have NOT been answered here, please post your question(s) as a comment and I will get to it as soon as I can.

What size are my mom's implants starting out at?
My mother did NOT have her implants put in; only the "spacers". That is why it was only a partial reconstruction. She could not have her implants put in because she has to have radiation. The radiation can interfere with healing and even cause the implants to rupture - saline or silicone, either one. It also raises the percentage of implant rejection. With only the "spacers," my mother still has the "breast" shape, just no nipple. Including the swelling right now, she is a little over an A-cup; sort of the 'tween stage of an A-cup and B-cup. Once the swelling goes down, she will have an A-cup or possibly a little under, give or take a few millimeters. Dr. Lee told me that the "spacers" have a volume of 300 milliliters in each breast, giving her a total of 600 milliliters of "breast". The purpose of the "spacers" are to start making room for the actual implant. They included the "spacers" in this surgery to advance her as far as they could without letting the future radiation cause any damage.

Why does my mother have to have radiation?
Two reasons: My mom has Lobular Carcinoma - cancer of the "grapevine"-like lobes in a woman's breast. The lobes are responsible for creating the milk for babies versus Ductal Carcinoma, which is cancer of the milk-ducts. The milk-ducts carry the milk to the nipple for excretion. Lobular Carcinoma is a more rare form of breast cancer. The other reason my mom has to have radiation is because my mom's cancer was "satellited," meaning it was spread out into little sections all over her breast tissue. For example, when you look up into the clear night sky and see the stars spread throughout the sky, the sky is like my mom's breast tissue and the stars are like my mom's cancer cells. Plus, the cancer had spread to her right lymph nodes. When there is cancer in your lymph nodes, there is most likely cancer somewhere else in your body. This is why they did the chemo first - to concentrate on her body as a whole. Then, once they removed the breast tissue, they can use radiation on only the breasts to concentrate on whatever cancer could possibly be left over, be it in the chest wall or in the breast tissue that could've been left behind.


When WILL my mom have her implants put in?
Six to eight months after she is finished with radiation, pending all her doctors' permission, she will have a smaller, less invasive surgery to have her saline implants put in. They will not be the full size my mom has chosen. They will be around 40% of the size she wants. Every two weeks or so after the initial installation, she will return to Doctor Lee's office to have a little bit more saline injected into the implant until she reaches the size she has chosen. They will use a large needle to do this so it will be somewhat painful. However, Doctor Lee said most women have described the pain to be similar to pain they have during their nuclear biopsies (when they put needles in you and inject you with dye; for example, an MRI biopsy). This stage-like reconstruction keeps the healing time to a minimum. Many women will have the injections done during their lunch breaks from work and then return to work when they're finished, but that is per statistics. That does NOT mean every woman will be like that. Some may have more pain so if you are one of these women, or may be one in the future, do not feel weak or inadequate; every woman is different and it does not make you any less of a woman. Remember: "What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger."

Truthfully, will they EVER look completely natural?
Once my mom reaches the size she wants and heals properly, etc., she can have nipple reconstruction surgery. After the nipple reconstruction surgery, most likely after she has healed (but I may be mistaken), they can tattoo some areola-color around her nipples to make them seem even more realistic. I believe this is optional or at least I would think so, considering the breasts will not have the sensation stimulation capabilities as they did before the mastectomies. Some women may think this is trivial and pointless. There is a chance they will do the nipple reconstruction during the implant installation. That has, yet, to be determined.


Why did my mom chose "saline" versus "silicone"?
My mother chose saline implants because they tend look and feel more natural (per Doctor Lee). If they rupture, the reaction is not NEAR as toxic. Most women after implant reconstruction surgery that look like they have "Barbie boobs" is because they have most likely had silicone implants (per googling 'silicone implants'). "Barbie boobs" are not bad things, it just depends on the person's preferences.

Would I recommend St. Francis as a hospital for someone else with breast cancer?
This is an EXTREMELY difficult question to answer. If the person who has cancer has hard-as-a-rock supporters, so that someone is with them for each and every appointment, then the answer to this question is YES. The reason someone "mentally tough" needs to be there is to act like a "emotional bodyguard" for the person who has cancer. Some of these people you come into contact with have never been in any of these situations. Because of this, they are arrogant, naive, and cold. Most of our issues were with the clerical/secretarial/administrative whatever-you-call-its, be it through insurance or the hospital. Once you get through the wall of annoying idiots, the doctor's were FAN-FLIPPING-TASTIC!!! I would recommend them without even thinking about it...well, other than the Radiologist Oncologist, but it was only his first impression that irritated us. He came VERY highly recommended by my mom's Chemotherapy Oncologist and we love her to death.

Who are her doctors and nurses?

1. Mammography Technologists: St. Francis Hospital & Health Center, South Campus, Breast Center - Cheryl, Theresa, Scott Brummett - Scott only does MRI mammography.
2. Surgical Oncologist: Indy Southside Surgical - Doctor Donald G. King, M.D. Doctor King's leading office lady is Aaren and she was wonderful as well.
3. Chemotherapy Oncologist: The Private Practice of Doctor Mary Lou Mayer, M.D. - Doctor Mary Lou Mayer, M.D. Her sister works in the office part of the practice and her leading lady is Hermione Relyea, aka Hum. Hum does the actual chemotherapy distribution. You can't miss her, she's got a thick British accent. Mary Lou and Hum are like the two cutest little things EVER!
4. Plastic Surgeon: Charles E. Hughes, III, M.D., Incorporated - Doctor Wayne C. Lee, M.D.
5. Radiation Oncologist: St. Francis Cancer Center - Doctor Peter G. Garrett, M.D.
6. Registered Nurse: St. Francis Hospital Surgery Center - Chris. He's the only "Chris" that works over there. He has red-ish brown hair and a sarcastic and fun personality. My mom had him for her port surgery so she requested him for her mastectomy surgery because he's so awesome.