Mastectomy after prior lympectomy followed by radiation

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rhuyck
rhuyck Member Posts: 5

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. 

Comments

  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited November 2008

    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
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited November 2008

    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
    rhuyck Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2008

    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.

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