Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 11/18/2011

Question
Hi,
firstly thanks for your information it was really helpful.
Can I just ask, after a single mastectomy, how soon roughly would the other breast be evaluated?  Also if reconstruction was delayed because radiation therapy was needed, how long would this be for before the reconstruction op was done?
In a previous cancer sufferer, how often would a mammogram be carried out of the remaining breast, due to the increased risk?

Many thanks Michelle

Answer
Since most probably BOTH breasts have been evaluated at the same time before the lesion was found in one breast it can be evaluated again at the same time as it should have been if nothing had happened. The slight risk increase does not lead to any time change. Often reconstruction is done right away and if not radiation therapy only takes a number of weeks. Including a certain "rest period" for the tissues we are only discussing a couple of to a few months. But this is best discussed with a surgeon. It is not part of my part of the "business". As I wrote above the increase in risk is not big enough to necessitate any different time schedules except of course for those check ups done because of the surgery itself.



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