Reconstruction after RADIATION

quiltrunner

Wow! We have some very similar dates and situations! I had very slow fills too. Last one was early October. I'm planning to go back to work in the morning. We will see how that goes.

I hope your recovery goes well too. We aren't out of the woods yet as my ps keeps reminding me. I wonder when we can breathe easy that these implants are going to get happy and stay that way? I was a good 9 weeks out when my first implants decided to revolt. Prayers and good energy for healing.

smrlvr

Quiltrinner and Michelle, did you have fat grafting before/during the expander process? Why aren't you out of the woods yet with the implants? I am planning on getting expanders placed this June. I have lots go questions about what I am in for.

quiltrunner

smrlvr,

I had fat grafting 2 x prior to the TE; 7 months and again at 4 months before the expanders and he added some more fat at the time of the expander placement as well. Because of the radiated tissue, there is a much higher risk of infection and the thin / brittle skin just not being able to heal enough to hold onto the implant. I'm not sure how long until I can be confident it's all good. That's on my list to ask the doc tomorrow.

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Miscraw

Question about those who did fat grafting prior to exchange. How was your skin after rads? I finished up a week & 1/2 ago & my skin held up perfectly. I had no burning, no change to my TE size, etc. You can't even tell as of now that I had rads. I saw my PS this week to discuss moving forward. Originally (before rads), she said we could do fat grafting prior to exchange. However, she said she doesn't think I need it & she could just do it at the time of exchange. I don't want to have an extra surgery if I don't need it. So I'm just curious how your skin was after rads if you had grafting.

Miscraw

Also regarding fat grafting, how much down time did you have if you had it with your exchange surgery? Would a week be a good plan to be off work?

babs6287

I had my 2 FG after my TE failed on the left (Ca) side due to rads. Although my skin looked ok, it just didn't react well and I developed cellulitis from the skin being compromised. My TE was removed in Oct and my 2 FG were done in Jan and then May and then I had the exchange in October. I didn't have any more fat for them to take at the exchange (i'm thin) but the FG really did its job!!! I'm a firm believer in it after rads

Babs

quiltrunner

My skin held up very well during radiation as well but my PS told me, and it makes sense, that the radiation damage is on the cellular level. I am a huge pre-FG fan. I am 3 weeks post exchange and I'm so far thrilled!!!

As far as time off it would depend on your job I would think. I'm a paralegal and I had the exchange on a Tuesday and I was back to work on Monday. I am still being very careful about lifting and reaching.

Toastiecat

Hi ladies,

Just wanted to update. I'm having my third fat graft next week...I've been doing fat grafts to help heal my skin post rads. (I'm not two years out from radiation). The grafts have been pretty easy, and made a big difference in my skin.

So next step, expanders. Has anyone tried AirXpanders?

Dogsneverlie

Hi!

Still home recovering from Feb 24 reconstruction.  I now fill out my sports bras which is mainly what I wanted so I am happy about that.  I have another follow up on April 7.  The radiated breast shape unfortunately still LOOKS the same....like the bottom half was cut off.  Very sad about that and of course it is hard in that area.  I want to give myself 3-6 months to let everything settle down but I am wondering if some FG to that area might fill it out so it looks like there is a little breast tissue instead of being "cut off".  I will ask my PS and also ask if he thinks he can get it covered under insurance since I just did the implants - he might be able to, we shall see!

Happy Easter!  Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Miscraw

How long after radiation did you have your exchange? I did radiation with TE in. I did 28 session at a lower dose with no visible problems from the radiation. I had no burning, my TE held up perfect, no change in size/shape, etc. I talked to my PS about doing fat grafting prior to my exchange, but she didn't think I needed it. She will do it at the time of exchange and after. I was hoping to exchange after 5 months due to me being off work this summer (work in a school), but she won't do it until at least 6 months. I'm so upset because I'll be back at work then!

Dogsneverlie

Hi Miscraw! 

I did not have a mastectomy - two stereographics, two lumpectomies and then 6 weeks of rads really destroyed my BC breast.  I finished rads end of May and went to see a reconstruction PS in December and waited until end of February for the implants and lift - it was a minor lift, sort of wish it was a little more lifted but I am much happier!  The radiated side is still really hard underneath which is where the radiation was focused mostly, they did radiate my entire breast but the larger doses were done in that area.  PS told me to start massaging to see if that softens it up but I am not sure it will.  I see him again end of June and if it is still hard, I will ask about FG to that area.  I have posted before that FG was declined by my insurance but SpecialK mentioned that possibly now that I have implants it will be considered a revision and maybe they will cover it so I will look into that in June!

I know what you mean about not being able to have your surgery done BEFORE you get back to work!  What a bummer but MUCH BETTER to wait until you are as healed as possible.

patriciahurtado

hey ladies!!!! I know it's been long I been here but I been really busy!! Well just to give you and update on my process. I been doing fills slowly for a year 30 cc ... So I'm getting my last full next week and after that I'm getting surgery in August. My skin is holding out pretty good so will see soon.

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Miscraw

Patriciahurtado- I am also having surgery in August. I just finished radiation February 9 & can't wait to get these expanders out!!

lmoore4

I'm only starting radiation this month, but have expanders since nov,  so can't wait to get them out.  Please keep posting successful recon stories .

patriciahurtado

I went to PS got 40cc but it made my arm hurt I don't know if it's from all those muscle were moved it hurt for 2 days. One thing happen though I been itching all over. Got allergic test back negative wonder if my TE are making me react to them had them for 2 years one and the other one year .. I wonde

eurek

I had reconstructive surgery on May 5. My right side ( that went through 28 radiation sessions) turned out smaller. I was told a second surgery is needed to fix it, that disappointed me. I thought I was finished.

eurek

I finished radiation (28 sessions) in February. Had reconstructive surgery May 5. Radiation side is smaller due to muscle and skin damage. Need a second surgery to fix it. Wasn't happy about that!

jojo9999

eurek, i finished radiation (25 sessions) in Dec and had exchange in March. Radiation side is smaller for me as well, actually it is more a problem that radiation side is higher, but i think it also has less projection. How is your PS going to fix it? is the plan to put a smaller implant in the non-radiation side? I am currently planning my revision for July. I know the plan is to raise the non-radiation side but haven't yet talked with PS about the possibility of using different sizes on the rad vs non rad sides.

patriciahurtado

hello ladies hope all is well. On Wednesday I got my last full 50cc. That was so painful. After 3 days it's red and hot another infections. Really? So here it is. I'm in pain my arm hurts my chest feels like pins. My back also hurst where my TE is. I been doing a lot of research. I want to know about alloderm. It's crazy how nothing affects me until the tissue expender is filled and get an infection. Ladies lets see what we can find out about alloderm!!!! If I don't heal I will have him change my alloderm and see what the out come is.. Keep on. Posting ladie

patriciahurtado

Hello my ladies. Here is an update to my reconstruction: i though i had an infection but it was my skin stretching and it was very painful on my muscle of my arm. im having surgery on June 30th. I spoke to my doctor about one being higher then the other one. he sid he might have to place a smaller implant on the good side or add some fat graphing. or raise the good side. yes my radiated side is shaped like and egg i guess thats how i can describe it. i understand the that i cant have perfect but i can try to look similar to one another. i hope that our PS can find a solution to our issues.

ill keep you guys posted. question do we need drains for our reconstruction?

patriciahurtado

well had my surgery yesterday. been on Tylenol 3 with codeine. im bruised from the ft just waiting on what next.the are pretty high but im just waiting to the swallowen to go down keep to guys posted

4pink101

patriciahurtado- just wondering how you were doing?

4pink101

hi all- I had a BMX in May with immediate reconstruction with an implant. I recently found out the anterior margins weren't clear and radiation is needed?? I'm concerned what this will do aesthetically to the implant..has anyone encountered this? I still feeling I'm healing from the BMX... To think what the radiation will do so soon?

Toastiecat

I'm sorry you got this news, 4pink. Rads are certainly hard on the implants, and on your healing skin. I know fat grafts after radiation are helpful to recovery, and keeping the implant. I wonder if a fat graft before radiation would also help? Might be something to research. Best of luck!

bluewillowskys

in 2011 i had a rt side(my fave boob) lumpectomy followed by radiation. Over time as the rads swelling has left i now have a very flattened deflated breast. I HATE it! I tried a couple times to talk to a PS about 5yrs ago and was told placing implants would be risky due to the rads tissues as it could cause infections and not heal correctly. I am VERY angry i wasnt given more options to treat my small DCIS. I was told lumpectomy and radiation, thats it. I was never told the rads could destroy my breast eaving it in this condition.

Has anyone here had implants AFTER radiation ? Have any new recon techniques been developed in the past 5 yrs???

bluewillowskys

Oh! I noticed quite a few of you ER+/PR+ have had fat grafts. Iwas told 5yrs ago that was a bad idea because the cancer loves fat and i could get bc in the fg graft areas?? Has the standards and science changed on that issue??

Jaybird627

I found this thread by searching Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. My story thus far...

BC R breast 2003 (age 43), lumpectomy, chemo, rads. No issues with radiated breast, barely got pink.

BC L breast 2018 (age 57), BMX, TE both sides, chemo, rads.

Due to beam field R TE was in the way so it was sucked dry. Had ongoing redness (red breast syndrome?)

with R TE from the start and after rads I developed an infection/hole and had TE removed. Healed. I think I had L TE exchanged

at that time but I don't remember. L TE did well thru rads. Skin reacted more on L side but still came out okay.

PS put in new TE and that developed an infection. Next step due to skin always breaking down was Latt Flap.

My only option due to no extra skin/fat on my body (I'm thin with thin skin). I did a lot of research on this surgery

and did not want to have it done but knew I had no other option if I wanted some sort of breast. No issues with

the surgery. TE was put in. Developed an infection at one of the scar sites so PS removed TE.

Now:

Due to covid/pandemic and closings I haven't seen my PS but will in a week. Saw a new PS today (highly

recommended by my current PS's nurse). He's seen this before and his nurse says he's excellent so I will

most likely move forward with him. He's suggesting the HBO therapy before and after. I'm not sure how I

will find the time for all of that and the surgery down time but I'm hoping my insurance will okay the therapy.

So, the answer to the question of can you have an implant on a radiated side is YES but at what cost of time.

Hoping for updates from others and for more HBO stories.

Jaybird