IMPLANTS PRIOR TO DIAGNOSIS

bonnie1jean

I wasn't really sure which message board to post this to.  I am curious if there is anyone out there who had breast augmentation prior to their diagnosis and if so, how did it affect your choice of treatment?  If you went with radiation, did it cause problems with your implants?  And if you chose mastectomy with reconstruction was it easier because of having had implants previously?

motherdearest

bonnie1jean, Yes I have had implants for 3 years and was diagnosed with BC in Dec. 09. I am facing the same thing. I was told I need radiation for 33-38 rounds. Everything I have read is not good for the outcome with implants although my Med. Oncol. said its not a problem and it can be fixed if it is. But I have read only about the swelling, shrinking, blisters, dry, cracked, splitting, crispy skin. PS Dr's have said they do not recommend it as the skin will no longer stretch they can become encapsulated, & the skin surrounding the implant hard. I am afraid I am going to wind up with two very, very different looking boobies, and I like them as they are!!! I put in a call to my original PS as I had them done in a different state than where I live now. I left a message and hope he gets back to me soon, I trust his opinion as he is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon. I will post on what he say's, prob. Mon. but until then I will continue to Google radiation for breast cancer with breast implants. Good luck please let me know if you find info and I will do the same. I am scared to death and I dont mean to scare you but when you make your decision and do it, there is no going back so I will wait as long as I can until I get ALL the info and I am comfortable with my decision.

bonnie1jean

motherdearest:  so glad to finally have a response from someone.  I had my breast augmentation 21 years ago and my implants are still in good shape. I was diagnosed with DCIS and/or LCIS.  My breast surgeon is recommending against radiation because of the possible problems you mentioned with regard to the implants.  I saw a radiation onc. and she told me that I would have a 80% chance of a good cosmetic outcome.  Of course there is still a 20% chance of a bad  cosmetic outcome.  She is,however, not recommending radiation for me because if it is LCIS they never recommend radiation and if it is DCIS, because it was very small and not high grade - also clean margins, she doesn't think I need it.  Also spoke with a plastic and reconstructive surgeon.  His take on this is that there is a 70% chance of good outcome cosmetically when you do radiation.  He said that mastect. with immediate reconstr. would probably be easier for me than for someone who never had implants because the pocket has already been created.  He also said that if you do radiation and heaven for bid you have recurrence and need a mastect. it is harder (not impossible) to do reconstruction with implants on a radiated breast.  For now, I am being advised by breast surgeon and medical onc. to monitor closely (mammo., MRI at alternating six month intervals) and go on Tamoxifan.  However, I have to do a follow-up mammo this Thursday to make sure nothing was left behind from my wide excision done in December.  I am holding my breath.  Don't know what I will do if they tell me something is still there.  I hope I have helped answer some of your questions.

motherdearest

Bonnie1jean, there is another forum discussion I have been chatting with and it might also help you. There is another woman that is in our boat with previous augmentation try to get on it. Forum Index → Forum: IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)→ Topic: ER+/PR+/HER-2- Means what?  They have different BC's so diff. treatment and doses but still Radiation. I am awaiting a test to decide Chemo but deff. Radiation and Tomoxifen. My Onc. also said they can do Radi. on implants but NO chances, I'm checking and then checking again! I like my Boobies..... and want them as they are!! and they can't give me enough info. to support that. I had a biopsy and they said I had infiltrating carcinoma with lobular features. After my lumpectomy and 2 nodes removed  it was diagnosed, Stage 1 Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma with Lobular features, ER/PR+ and HER2+ and - on the nodes. A second pathology did the test again and HER2 came back Neg. They told me Definitely on the Radiation and test still pending to see if I would need Chemo. I haven't read it yet but another web site recomended is http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081201081911.htm. please keep posting and possibly join in on the other forum. ;-}

sweetnvmbr00

I had my implnats one day before I was diagnosed. I had a prophylactic mastectomy with delayed reconstruction because my identical twin was diagnosed with StageIII lobular carcinoma and we are both BRCA1+. My tumor was found in my axilla while switching the expanders for my silicone implants. I went through chemo and radaition and about two months after rads I started to get contraction and just last week had to have the implants removed and will have a DIEP this summer. I had really bad contraction from the rads and it was very painful. It was also causing me to lose range of motion in my shoulder becasue the peck muscle was so tight.  I know there are some that have no problems and I was so hoping that would be me, not the case.

Cathy

trying2Bpositiv

What about breast brachytherapy?  I read an article where they do radiation seeding on women with implants.  The article said that there was good results and no contraction>