Anyone with successful implant ...radiated breast?

tcklme1

This is my first post. Prior to last summer, my entire dcis diagnosis/treatment in  2009 was relatively non eventful.  I had two surgeries (1st biopsy, 2nd lumpectomy), followed by 4 weeks radiation. I had a small infection due to stitch that didn't fall out(and I felt the need it touch constantly). All healed perfectly. I missed no work, except for day of, and I day after surgeries.  Continued regular work schedule and workout routine entire time including during radiation (spin class 3x's week).   I had existing implants (2004) at time of diagnosis.  I was told that implants don't always do well with radiation, but I honestly thought they meant that the one may weaken and I would replace.  I planned to go bigger anyway, so really didn't think it was a big deal.  I didn't ask specific enough questions, or just didn't know the questions to ask. It all went so fast and I had no problems at the time. Barely even burned. I have had thyroid cancer and a hysterectomy in past and bounced back very quickly with them also. Anyway, last summer I noticed my radiated breast began to shrink. It is not that stiff , just smaller.  Probably has been getting smaller the whole time, and just became noticeable. Did looses some volume from lumpectomy but was really noticeable until then. Now VERY Obvious in my summer clothes . I went to plastic surgeon to swap out implants and am now being advised not to do anything to the radiated breast and to reduce the non radiated side to even me out. Needless to say, I was speechless as  I wanted to go bigger. I had paid to make them larger in 2004.Appearantly, the implant is perfect, but the breast tissue is shrinking.    They said that is the norm with radiation. They also said that as I age, keeping symmetry will be a problem. They will do surgery to both if I want, but said that it is hard to heal radiated skin and that I could end up with nothing. The last option I had said, "you won the lottery of how a breast can look after radiation...don't screw with it"   I know this sounds horrible. I am alive and thankful for it. I am sorry for all the women who are fighting for their lives and are sick.  I never Even considered myself a "survivor" cause I was never really sick.  

Has anyone had successful surgery to radiated breast?  Anyone a few years out from surgery/radiation with even breasts??

Thank you in advance for your comments

justachapter

Hi tcklme1,

I currently have implants and have completed 2/33 or 35 treatments.  I read before that implants and radiation are not a good combo.  Not the implant itself, but the scar tissue, etc.  I saw the PS before I started rads and he said it would be an exception not to have issues and talked about many ways we could fix them after I was done.  He is going to see me right after, but said he wouldn't do anything for 6 months.  My breast surgeon came right behind him and told me not to do anything for at least a year.  With that said, he offered many options to fix them and how to make them symmetrical including the one that is not being treated.  

I sometimes think it may come down to the Dr.'s expertise and experience with this stuff.  I am being treated at MDA, so he is very familiar with this type of stuff.  Is yours a regular PS or one that does a lot of work with women who have had BC?  Sorry you are going through this, and I really don't feel any of us should minimize our feelings based our diagnosis. Cancer is cancer, we are all in this together. 

ziggypop

Hi tckleme1,

I had RADS and have an implant. I had a tissue expander in when RADS were done. I have been pretty lucky in that my scar from the exchange healed well and my skin has remained flexible (I am over a year out from RADS). However, when I had the exchange done, the doc had to remove what she said was a LOT of scar tissue and since the exchange I have had difficulty breathing. My PS says that 45% of implant surgeries fail after RADS - the skin is just not as flexible, doesn't heal as well, etc. Long story short I may end up having a smaller implant put in. I don't care that much except I really don't want another surgery. But that doesn't mean that I can't see where it might be a big deal for someone else. It doesn't sound horrible for you to ask or be concerned at all. I once had a friend who did not have long to live. I had a horrible belly ache one night and was trying to hide it. She asked me if I was feeling sick and I said that I was but it was so minor in comparison to what she went through everyday that I didn't want to mention it. She told me that a belly ache is still a belly ache and gave me a tums. : )   

I hope you are able to find a solution that works for you.

steelersluver

When I chose to have TE's placed at the time of my BMX, I was not expecting to need rads.  I ended up needing rads, but my PS did the exchange surgery right after chemo (before I started rads). She felt the failure rate was decreased this way. I got a minor incision infection because my counts were still down, but didn't have significant complications.  However, after rads, the scar tissue increased to the point of ultimately causing a frozen shoulder (the worst was the lymph node area, but around the implant too).  I've been working with my LE therapist for several months to try to break up the scar tissue, but have had only slight progress.  The scar tissue causes a good bit of pain, and the therapist thinks I may ultimately need to reduce the size of the implant and have some of the scar tissue removed.  The non-radiated side is great, but would also need reduced for symmetry.  I've had a lot of surgery in the past 2 years, so I'm riding out the therapy for a bit and consulting the PS this summer. I guess the radiation is just very hard on the healthy tissues. By having exchange before rads, the skin does seem to heal better after surgery, but the overall tissue damage is still an issue. 

tcklme1

Thank you for all of your responses.  I really wish this was explained to me better at time of treatment...perhaps even recommended a consult with a plastic surgeon.  I apparently was not asking the correct questions. 

chefmb

I am six years out from a right lumpectomy which took a lot of tissue out. I immediately noticed a size difference (that was always the smaller Breast anyway) but after the radiation it kind of lifted it too. Now, several yesrs later im feeling that it's much smaller and not only is it shrinking, my other Breast is growling and changing constantly. I've had three consultations with many different options. What I eventuslly figured out is that an irradiated Breast becomes frozen in time where your other Breast moved and changes with hormones, wright gain, loss etc. But the radiated one always stays the same. I've considered scar release abd an implant with lipo and a fat graft to smooth it out, a lift and just a fat graft, and a lift without a fat graft which would take me from a small D (originally) to a B cup then the other Breast needs to be reduced and lifted to match. It's been a long haul a and I think I'm going to opt fot the lift on one and the reduction and lift oft on on the other. I've never had small breasts before it might be fun

Forestchef36

Dear tcklme1, I had my BC surgery in 1998 when I was 59 yrs old. It was a lumpectomy & radiation in my rt. breast. NO ONE told me my breast might shrink. I didn't pay much attention until about 5-6 yrs ago as it was so gradual it really wasn't noticeable. I have always done aerobics & had pride in my body & now I have a left breast that is a full B cup (I know that is not big but it is perfect for me) & one small rt A cup breast. I feel deformed. Yes, I am happy to be alive, that is not the issue. I have seen 2 PS now, the 2nd one just today. The 1st one said the only real option is reduce the left breast to the size of the rt one. That is NOT going to happen. The one today said he could put a implant into the rt breast & do a lift on it & a lift on the left breast but there may be a double bubble on one or both breast. Anyone have that problem?? The one today said the real problem is that Medicare MAY NOT pay for it because legally they only have to pay for mastectomies. He said they have always paid in the past but due to the length of time since my surgery (19 yrs), he thinks they may not pay because they may consider it "cosmetic". I thought all breast reconstructions after BC surgery was cosmetic unless women want to go around all scarred.

Obvious men are making those rules. I probably shouldn't say that but I do wonder. Anyway, I was just wondering if there are other women having these problems. Since Medicare won't tell you whether they will pay or not until AFTER the surgery, I don't know whether to go ahead & just do it or not. Someone please help me. Thank you.

Moderators

Hi Forestchef-

Welcome to BCO! This is an older thread, so you might not get any responses from the members who originally contributed. You might want to try reading through or posting in our Reconstruction forum, your questions might get more specific feedback among that group of members: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44

The Mods