Fat Graft &TE to implant recon after rads in Atlanta, anyone?

4sewwhat

HI All,

I had been through the whole expansion, radiation and exchange process and was pretty much finished with recon!  Six weeks after my exchange surgery while doing my LE stretches and drainage massage I felt 3 little pops and my incision opened about 1/2-3/4 of an inch.  Unfortunately ice was starting to cover the city and the roads were all being closed.  I texted my doc pics and started on antibiotics immediately.  We all thought it was superficial.  Long story short the implant was exposed and by the time we could get with my PS I had a Staph infection and the implant needed to be removed.  It was also a Saturday and he could not have gotten another implant.  UGH.....

I am now told that because this is considered an implant "failure" and because it is on the radiated breast that my best and maybe only option would be a flap.  A lat flap is out because of my node status and removal.  I don't want them digging around there any more than they have already.  I have 4 kids, a DH and a very busy life and don't feel a DIEP is right for me right now.  Plus I had really nice recon and don't want to deconstruct the left side.

Whew!!  long winded..............What I am wanting to do is AFT (fat grafting) and then place another TE and expand to go back with a matching implant.  My PS has never done this.  He is looking into it and may be willing to try, but I am trying to cover all my bases.  I could travel within the country, but Atlanta is a big city and I though there might be some of you out there that may have a doctor in the Metro area that has done this for you and that you would be willing to pass their information along.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can offer any guidance!!

Lynne

4sewwhat

Whippet mom sent me Dr. Namnoum's name.  Any patients of his out there?

geewhiz

Dr Namnoum is my PS.. He does LOTS of BC recon. He has an office across from Northside filled with BC patients. He also started The Pink Ribbon Story Foundation - a video blog resource of support.  I did implants with fat grafting with him . He is meticulous. You will not go wrong with him!

4sewwhat

Thanks GeeWhiz!!

I am going to call his office today!  Would you mind sharing what order you had things done?  Did you do the fat graft after the exchange?  Also, have you done rads?

EnELLE

Hello all you Georgia Gals

I thought I was done with this breast cancer thing and found a lump in my armpit 8 months after my mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy of 4 nodes that were supposedly negative. Was told the lump was nothing via ultrasound-but it wasn't and last month was told by my surgeon, "we made a mistake". I am moving to Marietta for treatment as my wonderful sister Betsy, has a mother-in-law apartment attached to her house and wants to help me thru this.

I have a surgeon (Dr Barber)recommended by my plastic surgeon in Houston that does surgery occasionally in Atlanta-but  could anyone recommend an Oncologist? I have a rare slow growing cancer called pure mucinous carcinoma and I will probably need chemo and want an oncologist that knows what works on slow growing cancers. It grows so slow that when my armpit lump was discovered, a PET scan was not ordered as my type of cancer would not show up because it grows so slow and doesn't suck up sugar like other cancers. (Had to have 5 tests to make sure it did not spread-MRI, CAT scan-chest and abdomen, bone scan, liver ultrasound. Any sugggestions to get all the toxins from the tests out of my body would be nice too.)

I'm looking forward to moving to Marietta in a couple of weeks- so beautiful! I've been to Atlanta a coiple of times for work and to Marietta to visit my sister.

EnELLE

Oh and I was about to finish my reconstruction - fat transfer and nip tattoo needed to be done - except new diagnosis has changed that but eventually will need info on PS for fat transfer etc.

4sewwhat

Dr. Barber is the BEST!!  I can not say enough wonderful things about him!  I see Dr. Joseph Woods as my PS.  Together they are even better!  My SIL saw Dr. Bowman, Dr, Barber's newest partner and she was good too.  He is very hard to get into these days , so if you have not made an appointment yet, you should call ASAP!

Dr. V. Assikis is my oncologist. I went for opinions at Kennestone, Northside and Emory (Drs Zelnak and O'Regan) as well, so I checked every place out!  My lobular was also very slow growing.  In fact it got missed for a long time and path showed it was so similar to normal cells, it was hard to detect.  My US and other tests showed 2-3 nodes involved. Turned out to be a few more!  Dr. A is very up to date on all the studies. We went back and forth for 2 hours point, counter point! When we were deciding on my chemo.  Debbie, Carla and the other chemo nurses were awesome!  They are also very supportive of cold capping there if you are interested in that I can help you out with info on that!  I kept most of my hair and 8 months post chemo it is growing like crazy!  

Dr. A is from Greece and then went to northwestern, MD Anderson in TX, then Emory and now Piedmont. 

Dr. Adam Nowlan is my rads guy.  He and his staff were awesome.  I had no burns and very little lasting damage.  They are both at Piedmont West building at Howell Mill and 75, super easy to get to.  Even got a parking card for rads!

I have had a really good experience with this team of docs and had friends that used the same team. ALL of my experiences at Piedmont, includung surgeries, have been great.  PM me and we can meet up when you get to town!  I am off of Sandy Plains by Sprayberry HS in Marietta.  Your sister should know right where that is!!

Travel Safe!

Lynne

4sewwhat

Oops!  Almost forgot.  I also see Gwen Forbes Kirby.  She is a terrific LE therapist. Reminds me of Miss Frizzle from the Magic School Bus!  She has been a really great source of support and information!