Mastectomy after prior lympectomy followed by radiation

rhuyck

I need help.

I had my mastectomy 3 weeks ago.  I had a lumpectomy 19 years ago with 6 sixs of radiation.  I had no chemo.  I got the 2mm cancer again in the same spot as before so I had to have a mastectomy.  My surgeon did a very tight cut because he said because of the radiation and the blood flow.  My chest is as hard as a rock.  I constantly feel tightness in the scar area.  I wonder if the surgeon didn't do the right job as he told me today that I will feel that tightness for at least a year.  Then I could consider the flap method of reconstructive surgery which would have the breast area feel less tight. He told me I am to go to physical therapy as long as insurance pays for it.  Has anyone out there experience problems with a mastectomy after a radiated breast? I Just don't know how I will be able to stand this strangle hold on my chest for so long. 

TenderIsOurMight

Rhuyck,

 

Let's bump this up again for you. Just so you know too, I did read and post on your other thread.

 

Sorry you're hurting now and hope the tightness lessens very soon as the healing completes itself.

 

My best to you,

Tender 

AnneW

HI.

I had a mastectomy six years after a lumpectomy with radiation. And I had expanders/implants placed. It's odd--I fully expected the problems that I have to be on this side that had the radiation. But no, it's acting normally. It's the other side that continues to feel tight and have some nerve damage--enough that I'm considering de-constructing or re-reconstructin next summer.

Physical therapy helped me so much when I was early in the post-op phases. Gentle stretching and massage my a therapist who worked a lot with this seemed like a major miracle. For the pain you're going through, drugs such as Lyrica or neurontin could play a role in helping this sensation subside as you are healing.

I wish you luck. It's so hard when our surgical procedures create a problem, or when our bodies don't respond the way we think they should.

rhuyck

Thank you so much for the information. I think the problem with me is that the doctor left no space for expanders/implants because he knew that I didn't want to do recontructive surgery right away. He told me to see a plastic surgeon in a year to help me. I am very depressed over this. I have to start chemo for Stage IV Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in two weeks for 4 moths so that is why I can't do any surgery now.

Was your chest like a rock? I feel my chest, and it so hard and flat - nothing there but skin.

I feel like my chest is stuck to my ribs. Did you get your reconstruction done right away?

How long did the feeling on the radiated breast last?

I am going to ask my physical therapist to do more massaging in the area of the tightness rather than just making me stretch my arm all the time. I am going to ask my primary care physician for the drugs you mentioned as my surgeon has discharged me. I feel like he doesn't know what I am going thru - telling me that it might heal in a year.