After Radiation

Sherryc

Jo and Granny I'll be in your pockets.  Hope I don't get motion sickness on that electric broom

walley

Jo and Granny jumping in your pockets.:)

Panmars

Pocket party! I'm in too! 

SusanHG

Count me in as well!

GmaFoley

Well, since I started this "Pocket Party" I guess I better bring the chips and dip

jo1955

Thanks for the pocket party but you gals can get out of my pockets now - LOL!

Back from the pain doctor and the news is not good.  I have had these tingling sensations in my right hand for about 3 weeks now and the pain is more constant now.  It is the kind of sensation when your foot goes to sleep.   So now I have to have an MRI on my spine this Thursday.  He said it may be a pinched nerve - GGRRR!!!!  When does this shit end???? 

bgail84

jo1955, I have a pinched nerve in my neck---always tingles. And I have a foot that tingles and goes to sleep. This before BC so hopefully that is all it is. I say all because unless really bad, not much the doctors can do.  Some days better than others but swimming, walking and not sitting long all help--staying active actually makes it better.  Just one more item we have to deal with. Good luck with the MRI.

Elizabeth1889

jo1955, Good luck on your mammogram this Thursday.  I will remove anything metal that I am wearing I jump in your pocket.

truebff

Count me into your pocket too!  BTW, since this pocket party  stuff, I mentally put myself in my daughter's pocket across the state (not bc but you know daughter serious stuff) and love the tiny me along with her for the ride!

jo1955

Elizabeth1889 - I am having an MRI on my spine not a mammogram.  

ptdreamers

Jo1955, Good luck with your MRI. I have a piched nerve in my neck and sometimes the whole arm and hand tingle and go numb. It sucks but most of the time it is manageable.

jo1955

ptdreamers - Thanks.  I hope this is something I can manage without anymore appts to other specialists or meds.  I am really tired of the appts - although I do get lots of reading done while I wait - LOL

susanella

Hi,

I am new to this thread.  I will be starting rads in about a month.  I had a right lumpectomy (1.9 cm tumor) with a re-excision to get clean margins that left my breast with a dent/depression/flattening at the 9 o'clock position.  I am concerned that the rads will further shrink the breast.  Did most of you find that the radiated breast got much smaller?   Thanks and good luck to all.

Susanella

truebff

susanella, in my case, I have small breasts. So far - 6/7 weeks out from rads-my lumpectomy breast size is very much balanced with the other one. I am still consulting with a ps regarding fat transfer though, both for the tightening and scar tissue that rads brought on as well as to see if a dollop () might make it better too.

in the beginning, after surgery, I felt they had taken much much more than I expected, but it has come back into shape better and better. again, small breasted here, but it is important that you do and explore what makes sense and is healing for YOU!  (((hugs for the rads)))

susanella

Hi Truebff,

Thanks for the info.  I too have small breasts (B cup).  I started to research the possibility of fat transfer since I already have a depression and expect it will be worse after rads.  There is 1 PS in NYC who uses the Brava system for lumpectomy patients who are about 4 to 6 months post rads.  I don't know how sucessful it is or whether it is safe to introduce the fat after the rads.  Maybe others out there have more information.   All the best.

Susanella

jo1955

Susanella - Welcome!  This is a great group of gals.  You will find so much information and support here.

 I also had a lumpectomy and have a pretty good sized depression/dimple on the bottom side of my left breast.  I did 6 weeks of rads and finished Dec 3, 2010.  I do find that my breast is about a size smaller - am also a B cup. Shrinkage does not happen to everyone - guess I was one of the unlucky ones.  I have consulted with a PS and he is recommending a Latissimus Dorsi flap.  I will not have an implant since there is not enough room for one.  I am going back to my PS on the 20th with a ton of questions.

Sherryc

Susanella welcome to the thread. I am small an A cup.  I am a year out of rads and I am still swolen but my lump side is smaller than my other breast.  If I wainted it out I am sure I would be much smaller, if there is such a thing when you are an A cup.  Long story but I am getting ready for a BMX with TE placement the end of march.  When they do my implant exchange they will do fat graphting.  I was told by two PS that the fat transfer will actually soften the radiated tissue.  They both said that even though our skin on the outside may look normal that underneath it is anything but.  They said it is more like a piece of leather. Kinda makes me wonder why they don't recommend FG for all radiated patients? 

susanella

Hi Jo 1955 and SherryC,

After your posts I am wondering if I should go and have a single mx with reconstruction and not do the rads.  I have extremely dense fibrocystic breast tissue that makes self exam impossible.  My BS said that not much can be done to fix a lumpectomy post rads.  She mentioned the possibility of a mx but I was caught by surprise at the time.  Now I think it may be a good option if I can skip the rads without increasing risk of recurrence. I met with one PS in NYC last week who does fat transfer using the Brava system, but I'm not sure if it works well.  I am meeting with 2 more PSs next week.  Now I understand what Suzanne Sommers has been complaining about all these years. Thanks for the info.  All the best,

Susanella

truebff

For what it is worth, so far anyway, I am glad I just had a lumpectomy. Less is better if possible.

Always always a personal choice. More info = better decisions.  My investigations resulted in thinking rads was better than not rads - I just had a hard time through- but it is over now and all is recovery recovery recovery. And doable.

I sometimes think no matter what you choose, it is recover.

GmaFoley

Susanella, welcome - Unfortunately, I can't really help you as I am large breasted, but I know if I have a recurrance, I am contemplating a MX.. One thing I wanted to point out though, besides being a PERSONAL choice, I have heard from my ONC that MX doesn't mean NO RADs - Get that clarified before you make your choices.   My Sister had to have rads either way.  

jo1955

Susanella - The PS I met with said my radiated breast looked incredibly good.  I am 14 months out from lumpectomy.  He is leaning towards a LD flap.  He did not hesitate at to say I could get this done.  I have a very long list of questions to ask him on the 20th.  I have not made decided yet if I am going to do this.  Chances are I will - just have to wait and see.  I will update everyone with what I find out.  The decision to have a unimx and recon is such a personal decision and is yours to make.  Before you decide anything, do lots of research and ask lots of questions.  Some get through rads with very little problems - others not so lucky.  I did not burn, got red though and had one heck of a topical infection but got that cleared up fairly quickly.  Keep us posted please.

Sherryc

Susanella whatever you decide is a very personal choice.  I say see a PS as well as a RO and ask lot's of questions.  The more info you have the better decision you can make for yourself.  What is right for one is not right for the next person.  Good luck with your decision and keep us posted.  We will be here for support either way.

GmaFoley

OH MY!!!! My breast is itching from the inside!!! I am 7 months post-rads... Its starting to heal? - YAY-- but I don't know if I will survive this.. it is driving me crazy - really hard to work on the computer today   Have any of you had this problem this far out?

Edit: I need a pocket party to come and scratch for me!!!!

jo1955

GMA - LOL!  I had the same thing happen and it eventually went away.  Thank goodness - it was about to drive me crazy.

ptdreamers

Susanella, I also wanted to chime in. My BS also told me that having a an MX was no guarantee that I wouldn't need radiation. I went with the lumpectomy.

Panmars

Gma, same thing here. It lasted for a couple of weeks, then went away. Drove me nuts for a while!

SusanHG

Susanella-I am large breasted, had a huge chunk taken out due to my DCIS, and thought I was a goner for sure.  So far, 8 1/2 months post rads, the breast is nicely lifted but almost the same size.  I would say that I'd have it on the other breast , but I am going to take that right back now!  Minus the scar, it looks better!

Jo-could be carpal tunnel?  have they looked into that...otherwise, degenerating disc in the neck...I am lucky to have both! But, chiropractor has managed to get rid of any arm and hand symptoms completely.  Still working on the headaches...

truebff

Susanella, also to add, my husband thinks my breast surgeon was a genius, but they know how to take out the bad stuff and leave the right cavity so that the healing is indeed amazing.

I am having more trouble right now with tightening between breast/chest and armpit from rads. Even with my daily stretches. Ughhh. How long for this? Anyone?

Sherryc

truebff-I had the stiffness and pain for a long time.  Finished the end of Jan 11 and in Oct 11 I started PT.  Best thing I ever did just wish that I had done it in April when I started having the issues.  I am active in Yoga but even that was not enough.  I can't say enough good things about what PT did for me. 

truebff

Oh Good as I am starting PT in three weeks (earliest appt made "just in case" over a month ago) and this tightening was not expected since it didn't seem to show up earlier. Rads keeps on working apparently...

I am also pretty good at keeping up my yoga-dance, stretches, and exercise, but this is like leather.  

Thanks, Sherry