Breast Reconstruction

A diagnosis of breast cancer causes stress, anxiety and worry. There is so much information to process and women can often be overwhelmed with the treatment options available.

For women who have a mastectomy, there are a range of reconstructive options to discuss. Some women choose to ‘go flat’ i.e have a standard mastectomy and use an external prosthesis in their bra, but increasingly more women opt for rebuilding a breast using either an implant or using their own body tissue which is transferred surgically to create a new breast shape (this is what we call an autologous tissue reconstruction).

These are complex discussions which require time to allow for questions to ensure that the right choice is made for each woman. Often, the type of reconstruction is tailored to the treatment recommendations from the breast surgeon and oncology team, such as the need for radiotherapy or chemotherapy. There is not one option that fits every patient and for some women, reconstruction may not be their best option.