RADS and implants

Katiep1388

Ok so im stage 1 node neg grade 3 multi focal and theyre telling me i need rads post mastectomy... I want implant recon but ive been told by one hospital that the TE will effect the quality of rads and that its only going to cause problems... I dont want a flap surgery... Help! What are your experiences...

dlb823

Bumping for Katiep

BonnieK

Hi Katie,

Here's my experience and my advice, for what it's worth...  I had left MX in Oct. '08 and had TE placed at the same time, believing I would need chemo but not rads post MX.  Pathologist found one positive node and the tumors were bigger than expected, so rads was added to my regimen.  Went through chemo and TE fills at the same time and then had implant placed before rads because the TE had a metal port that would have had a scatter effect during rads.  Radiation was a breeze, but my implant did not respond well and was removed/replaced with a smaller implant a few months later due to capsular contracture.  The second implant also contracted and was removed a year later.  After a total of 7 surgeries in just over 2 years, I decided to forego further attempts at reconstruction and am happy with my decision.   

My advice to you would be to find the best doctors in your area and do a lot of research before making a decision.  Flap surgeries seem to have the best success rate for women who have had radiation and, although these are long, complicated procedures, this might be your best choice.  If you decide to have implants placed, I've been told by a PS that it's best to allow your skin at least 6 months to a year to heal after rads before moving forward with implants.  My best wishes to you as you move forward in your treatment and with your decision making.   --bonnie

whippetmom

Katie:  I bumped up "Fat Graft Transfer and the Radiated Breast" for you - same forum as this post.

Pokey65

I currently have TEs, have just finished chemo and scheduled for unexpected radiation.  I havethe same questions as I was afraid of the larger surgeries.  My breasts look great at this time...hate to ruin it with radiation.  PS would like to replace the TEs prior to radiation.

sweetbean

I had TE's, then had 28 rads, and just did the exchange to implants 10 days ago.  So far everything looks good.  I waited 7 months after finishing rads to do the exchange.  I used emu oil and aloe ver during rads and have used emu oil twice a day since.  Will continue with emu oil indefinitely.  During and after rads, my rads side got high and tight, but my PS did a lot of work at the exchange and the asymmetry is mostly gone.  Now I am waiting for the drop and fluff to see where everything ends up. If I am lopsided, then we will do a revision in August.  No capuslar contracture yet - massaging and taking Claritin to prevent that.

misha99

Check out thesloan kettering study that followed womrn who had implamt prior to rads. I start rads romorrow after getting my implant exchange jan 9 not all docs will do it but the oitcomes aregetting better when a team approach is used