This week, Dr. Richard Kline and Dr. James Craigie of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your questions.
Q: I had a lumpectomy 10 years ago. Can I have reconstruction to fix my breast? The scar is under my left arm and the lump was taken out of the left side of my breast.
A: Thank you for the question! Some women who have had lumpectomy and radiation to treat breast cancer develop problems with the shape of their breast or problems with one side being smaller than the other. When this happens we recommend breast reconstruction. It is possible to remove the breast tissue and save the nipple and skin. Then at the same procedure reconstruction with your own fatty tissue is performed. This has the advantage of removing the radiated scar and breast tissue and reduces the theoretical chance of breast cancer coming back in that breast. It should already be very low.
Dr. James Craigie
Q: I had breast cancer in 2002 in my left breast. A lumpectomy was performed and I only had radiation. I had a breast reduction on the right side to match the approxmate size of the left breast, but since then I have gained so much scar tissue around the left breast and it is now much smaller than the right breast. I am 69 years old, but still consider myself to be middle aged and attractive and this bothers me. Will insurance cover these procedures even though it has been over 11 years since the cancer and 10 years since the reduction? I have a Medicare PPO.
A: Insurance will cover almost any reconstruction-related procedures, if you have had the diagnosis of breast cancer.
There are several potential options available to you, depending on your goals. We would be happy to have our nurse Chris or PA Kim call to discuss your situation further, if you wish.
Dr. Richard Kline
Thanks for your inquiry!
Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction
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