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Breast cancer

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    • Home
    • Types
      • Ductal carcinoma in situ
      • Lobular carcinoma in situ
      • Early breast cancer
      • Paget's disease of the nipple
      • Inflammatory breast cancer
      • Locally advanced breast cancer
      • Metastatic breast cancer
    • Statistics
    • Risk factors
    • Symptoms
      • Ductal carcinoma in situ
      • Lobular carcinoma in situ
      • Early breast cancer
      • Paget’s disease of the nipple
      • Inflammatory breast cancer
      • Locally advanced breast cancer
      • Metastatic breast cancer
    • Awareness
      • iPrevent
    • Diagnosis
      • Tests
        • Triple test
      • Stages of breast cancer
      • Receiving a diagnosis
      • Diagnosis of early breast cancer
        • What the pathology report means
      • Diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ
        • What the DCIS pathology report means
      • Diagnosis when breast cancer spreads
      • Questions to ask
    • Treatment
      • Treatment team
        • Members of the team
        • Talking with health professionals
        • Questions to ask
      • Deciding about treatment
        • Travelling
        • Pregnancy
        • Tips for making decisions
        • Questions to ask
        • MammaPrint ® (70 gene signature) test
      • Surgery
        • Breast-conserving surgery
        • Mastectomy
        • Surgery to the armpit (axilla)
        • Surgery for metastatic breast cancer
        • Breast reconstruction
        • Choosing a surgeon
        • Questions to ask
        • Care after surgery
      • Radiotherapy
        • Early breast cancer
        • Metastatic breast cancer
        • Questions to ask
        • Skin care
        • Travelling
      • Chemotherapy
        • How does chemotherapy work?
        • Type of chemotherapy
        • What does chemotherapy involve?
        • Side effects
        • Questions to ask
      • Hormonal therapies
        • Hormone receptors
        • Types of hormonal therapy
        • Side effects
        • Menopause and oestrogen production
        • Deciding about hormonal therapies
        • Questions to ask
      • Targeted therapies
        • HER2 receptors
        • Types of targeted therapy
        • Questions to ask
      • Complementary & alternative therapies
        • Complementary therapies
        • Questions to ask
        • Where to find more information
      • Metastatic breast cancer palliative care
        • What is palliative care?
        • Accessing palliative care
        • Questions to ask
      • Ductal carcinoma in situ
      • Lobular carcinoma in situ
      • Early breast cancer
      • Paget's disease of the nipple
      • Inflammatory breast cancer
      • Locally advanced breast cancer
      • Metastatic breast cancer
      • Follow-up
        • Physical examinations
        • Breast imaging tests
        • Questions to ask
      • Advanced disease
        • When treatment stops
        • Facing the possibility of dying
        • Putting your affairs in order
        • Questions to ask
      • Recurrent and secondary cancer
        • What makes spread more likely
    • Living with
      • Practical aspects of diagnosis
        • Costs of treatment and prostheses
        • Travel schemes
        • Questions to ask
        • Choosing a cancer treatment
      • Physical changes
        • Body image
        • Menopause
        • Fertility
        • Lymphoedema
      • Emotional changes
        • How you might feel
        • Effects on partners
        • Effects on children
        • Effects on family and friends
      • Physical changes – metastatic
        • Pain
        • Symptoms and treatment side effects
      • Emotional changes – metastatic
        • Common feelings
      • Practical aspects - metastatic
        • Work
        • Financial support
        • How to access support at home
        • How to access support outside home
        • Questions to ask
    • Life after
      • Health
        • Fatigue
        • Poor sleep
        • Lymphoedema
        • Menopause
        • Pain
        • Diet
        • Exercise
      • Feelings
        • Finding a new ‘normal’
        • Fear of recurrence
        • Feelings of loss
        • Isolation
        • Anxiety and depression
        • Not sure how you feel?
      • Relationships
        • Partners
        • Children
        • Friends
        • Colleagues
      • Practical issues
        • Returning to work
        • Questions to ask your health fund
    • Support
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      • What happens in a clinical trial?
      • What are the phases of a clinical trial?
      • Advantages and disadvantages
      • Questions to ask about clinical trials
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      • Screening
      • Breast cancer diagnosis
      • Early breast cancer
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      • Breast cancer Qstream
  1. Home
  2. Treatment
  3. Surgery
  4. Breast reconstruction
  5. Deciding about breast reconstruction
  • Treatment team
  • Deciding about treatment
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    • Surgery for metastatic breast cancer
    • Breast reconstruction
      • Types of breast reconstruction
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      • Breast reconstruction after a diagnosis
      • Timing of breast reconstruction
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        • Factors affecting decisions about breast reconstruction
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    • Care after surgery
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Making decisions about breast reconstruction

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  • A|A

There are a number of things that can affect your decision about whether to have a breast reconstruction and your options for breast reconstruction

sb10069797a-001.gifAs with all types of surgery, having a breast reconstruction has its pros and cons.

Breast reconstruction can be an emotionally rewarding experience for women after a mastectomy. Studies have shown that breast reconstruction can help to improve body image and self esteem and enhance quality of life. Women have reported several benefits of undergoing breast reconstruction, including feeling comfortable and ‘whole’, decreased psychological distress and thinking less about breast cancer.

"I did not realise how much my breasts meant to me, but having one removed made me feel like an alien, not in the slightest attractive or feminine. Whenever I looked at myself in the mirror I was horrified at the huge scar where my breasts used to be. Reconstruction has restored my sexuality. I feel totally womanly and I am really comfortable in my own body which is reflected in every aspect of my life."

Disadvantages of breast reconstruction may include the need to have lengthy or multiple operations, a longer stay in hospital than mastectomy surgery alone and ongoing, sometimes long-term, side effects of surgery.

Most women who have breast reconstruction say that the physical and emotional benefits of recovery outweigh the practical limitations, with the end result that they feel ‘whole’.

"I couldn't fathom myself waking and not having a breast.  I've had big breasts all my life. I've always been a double D. I've always had a cleavage."

It is important to have reliable information about breast reconstruction so that you can make decisions that are right for you. Take as much time as you need to get information and think it through. Talk to your healthcare professionals and ask as many questions as you need to before making a final decision.

You may need to make a number of decisions throughout the breast reconstruction experience. This will involve weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Breast reconstruction is a very individual experience and different options work best for different women.

"I considered reconstruction and talked about it with my partner. I still have not ruled it out but somehow in ten years I have not found the time to go through with another major operation and recovery period. I am happy the way I am- feeling good and enjoying life."

Find out more about:

  • Factors affecting decisions about breast reconstruction
  • Making decisions about breast reconstruction after a breast cancer diagnosis
  • Questions to ask your breast reconstruction surgeon

"I was just very concerned about the cleavage, because I wear things where you do show a bit of your cleavage and I just wanted to still be me.  I didn't want to have to wear things up to here (neck), I didn't want to have to cover up."

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updated: 20 October 2020 - 3:32pm
Australian Cancer Trials

Related information

What is cancer?
What is cancer?

Cancer is a disease of the cells, which are the body’s basic building blocks.

Treatment and side effects
Treatment and side effects

The treatment that your doctors recommend will depend on the type of cancer you have, how advanced it is, and other personal factors.

Living with cancer
Living with cancer

A diagnosis of cancer marks the beginning of a journey full of emotional, psychological, physical and practical challenges.

Life after cancer
Life after cancer

While looking forward to finishing their cancer treatment and getting on with life, for some people, the end of treatment can also be a confusing or worrying time.

A-Z List of Cancer Types

Information on more than 70 types of cancer

  • Bladder cancer
  • Bowel cancer
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  • Breast cancer
  • Breast cancer in men
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  • Cervical cancer
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  • Lymphoma
  • Melanoma of the skin
  • Mesothelioma cancer
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  • Oesophageal cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Sarcoma
  • Stomach cancer
  • Testicular cancer
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Unknown primary
  • Uterine sarcoma
  • Vaginal cancer
  • Vulval cancer

About Cancer Australia

Cancer Australia was established by the Australian Government in 2006 to benefit all Australians affected by cancer, and their families and carers. Cancer Australia aims to reduce the impact of cancer, address disparities and improve outcomes for people affected by cancer by leading and coordinating national, evidence-based interventions across the continuum of care.

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