I have always been in pretty good health, so I was surprised one day when my doctor told me my blood pressure was a bit high. She told me to begin watching my salt intake, start exercising, and to try to relax. Well, I intended to follow her advice when I left her office, but the next day I was back to my same habits. I kept using the salt shaker and didn't begin an exercise routine like I had planned. When I went for my next check-up, she told me that my blood pressure was even higher and approaching a dangerous level. I had to begin a blood pressure medication to manage it. I wanted to create a blog to share my story and remind people to listen to their doctors' advice. If a few lifestyle changes can improve your health, then you should make them.
If you have recently overcome breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy as part of your treatment, then you may have thought a time or two about the possibility of having breast reconstruction surgery. Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths and misunderstandings out there when it comes to this type of surgery, so being aware of some of the facts behind these myths, as well as meeting with your doctor, may help you make the decision that's ultimately best for you.
Myth 1: Reconstruction Will Make Detection of New Tumors Difficult
Perhaps the biggest misconception women have in regards to breast reconstruction surgery is that having it done will make it more difficult to spot new tumors or growths that could be cancerous in the future. In decades past, doctors did believe this to be true, but a great deal of research in recent years has demonstrated that there is no statistical link between breast reconstruction and delays in spotting or diagnosing a return of breast cancer. So long as you continue with your follow-up appointments, there is no reason to believe that having reconstructive surgery will affect your health or prognosis in any way down the road.
Myth 2: Insurance Never Covers Reconstructive Surgery
Cost is understandably a concern among those who have undergone cancer treatment, which can rack up large medical bills even among those with great health insurance policies. A common misconception here, though, is that insurance doesn't cover reconstructive surgery because it is considered "cosmetic." While insurance plans will vary greatly in their coverage, the fact remains that an increasing number of insurance companies these days will cover at least part of the costs related to breast reconstruction following a mastectomy, so this is something to look into with your insurance company if cost is holding you back.
Myth 3: Reconstruction Always Means Getting Implants
Finally, understand that having breast reconstruction surgery doesn't necessarily mean getting implants. If you'd like to keep the same size breasts you had prior to your mastectomy or would simply like to avoid implants altogether, this is something that can certainly be done by a skilled surgeon (see http://www.JGattiMD.com).
These are just a few of the most common myths regarding breast reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy. And while your decision is ultimately a personal one, it is still something you should speak with your doctor about before reaching a final decision.
Share7 June 2017
