Radiation after implants

KBeee

I had posted this in the rads forum, but no one there had much info. I am wondering if anyone with a recurrence had radiation after implant reconstruction. My implants were placed in 2014, and now with recurrence after mastectomy, radiation is next after chemo. They took a big chunk of pec muscle, so there is an area over the implant where there's little muscle between implant and skin and that's where the boosts will be at the end too, so it'll take the hardest hit. I am just wondering what everyone's experiences are. PS has me scheduled to see him again 2 months after rads finish so we can evaluate the damage and decide on how best to correct it. He did say in some cases that a flap procedure is necessary if there's too much damage, but quickly added that I do not have enough fat for that. I am very thin. The only "good" part of the whole BC experience the first time is how good I looked after reconstruction. I've been thrilled with the results. Now that's about to likely end. Just wondering what to expect.

Rose_d

Karen,

I'm so sorry to hear about your recurrence, it just doesn't seem fair.

My experience isn't exactly the same as yours but I did have radiation after reconstruction. My doctor always does radiation after the exchange to implants. So I did a double mastectomy, 4 months of chemo with the tissue expanders in place. Then about a month after finishing chemo we did the exchange to silicone implants. Then radiation started about 4 weeks after that.

My doc (who is at Sloan Kettering) prefers to do the exchange first as he thinks it's better to not disrupt the skin once you've radiated.

During radiation I think I had a fairly normal reaction - overall burn and a couple of areas that were 'worse' than others. Up by my collarbone was the worst, open blisters and really raw. All of that healed after a few weeks.

Now almost 3 years later I would say I have had very very good results. My doctor says that he would not know from looking at me that I had radiation on one side. The skin is in very good shape and looks the same as the rest of my skin. I can tell that the implant on that side is slightly firmer and higher than the other side. But no one looking through clothes would be able to tell anything. I also have one spot about the size of a quarter where I always have a dry patch of skin. If I remember and am good about putting lotion on it, it gets better. But I then forget and it comes back. None of my doctors are concerned about it.

I do worry about how things will hold up if we ever have to do anything like replace the implants but I guess I will cross that bridge when we get to it.

I wish you the best of luck,

Rose

KBeee

Thank you for the info Rose. It is very helpful. I start rads in 3 weeks

newyear13

I'm so sorry for everything you are going through, KBeee. Seems like this new cancer was caught early. Do you mind my asking how it was detected? I hope you are doing ok in preparation for radiation.

KBeee

new year, I found a lump near my original tumor site. It was only when my arm was raised that I could feel it, but it felt similar to my original tumor, and my gut told me to get it checked. Bad sent me to PS. He thought it was scar tissue because it was right where he splits the pec muscle. I said I needed to know for sure to sleep at night, so he swueezed me in for a biopsy later that week. He said it looked just like scar tissue. Unfortunately it was not scar tissue. It was cancer. They found a second tumor when looking for nodes

newyear13

Hi KBeee, I hope your treatments are going well and that you are hanging in there with everything.

KBeee

Thanks. Chemo is done. I have 3 rads treatments down and lots to go, and my port is out. Baby steps, but I am gradually crawling towards the finish line.

rotherfield281

Had mastectomy in 2009 on left side and in Spring 2015, my breast surgeon did an examination of my scar and implant and felt a lump .. was it scar tissue - no after scanning and biopsy found it was Cancer again.

Been under treatment with Anastrozel whicn has shrunk the lump right down but have issues with the internal mammorys having a spot .. no longer beaming but concerning

About to start 33 sessions of radiation and very unnerved.. divorced, single - all the ususual - need to keep working. Have found reading the posts very helpful.. all the information about Aloe and Vitamin E and up to the collar bone .. THANKYOU - we get through it ...We are so lucky they are there helping us .. we push on ...

Oh for the end of January...

Moderators

rotherfield281, we are really glad that you found us, and indeed, everyone will get through it... together!

We are sorry for your additional struggles (divorced, single), but we understand that too.

We're all here for you.

Pbish

I had mastectomy in 2008 and silicone implant placed 1 year later. I have been on Tamoxifen as first tumors were ER/PR+. I was dx'd with a new tumor between sternum and implant this year. It is a new occurrence; Grade 3, HER2+, ER/PR-. My PS removed the tumor and said that 2 years after radiation the implant will harden, have to be removed and I will not be able to have another due to radiation tissue damage. I am starting AC-TH next week and my oncologist wants to do 6 weeks of radiation in March. I am concerned about the psychological effects of having one breast(a large one so the difference will be stark) and the sense of mutilation it causes me. I have little faith that this will prevent my death from cancer as I have this highly aggresive cancer 7 years after initial treatment(I had 4 cycles of taxotere/ cytoxan with first cancer; 0/8 nodes, 2 grade 1 ductal invasive, rest of breast filled with DCIS) Does anyone else have more info on radiation after implant?

KBeee

My PS told me that 2/3 time the implant is fine, but tightens and rides up a bit. About 1/3 of the time, scar tissue is so extreme the implant needs to be removed and they need to do a flap surgery

Chantal10

hi pbish, I am having trouble with my radiated implant. Sucks.

4 years ago I had a bmx and silicone implants installed, no chemo or rads. Fast forward 3 years and a lump appeared, so last year I went through chemo and 35 rounds of rads. I ended rads in April 2015. At first I had not much trouble except for burning, then around July my radiated breast became so hard and tight. It's scooted up and literally looks like a baseball high on my chest. Feels like there's an iron grip on my boob. The other implant on left side is low and soft. I'm not sure I'm up for a flap procedure. I don't want to harvest body parts. I'm sick of this crap. The pain is pretty aggravating though. I'll visit my ps in January. We are getting new insurance on January 1. Ugh.

This is just my experience

KBeee

Thanks for your info Chantal. Sorry you are also dealing with this crap twice.I am not quite 3 months post rads. I notice my implant is getting much tighter. This definitely is worrisome. Let me know what your PS says. I am not a candidate for a diep flap. I would need a lat flap, and have big concerns about that.

Wishingtikal

Hi! I'm so glad I found your post. I am going through the same situation like yours, and don't know what to do. My RO wants to do 7 weeks of radiation on whole breast and lymp nodes (around collar bone - if there's such thing). No chemo though. I really do not want to do the radiation, so I've been stressed out over this. If it's ok, could you tell me how your radiation went?

grainne

Hello and welcome. This seems to be an old thread. You will find specific topics dealing with radiation which are more active. There is also a tubular topic undr the heading of 'less common types of breast cancer' It isnt active at the moment but you might find it interesting to read. I had a similar diagnosis but without the lymph node. I had 15 sessions of whole breast radiation with 3 boosts targeted to where there had been a narrow margin. I can honestly say i had no adverse affects and i worked throughout treatment. I was a bit tired after the three boosts but that was as bad as it got..i see your diagnosis is very recent and you are probably still reeling from it. It is a desperatly hard time but it does get better and no doubt you will have been reassured that tubular bc is the least aggressive type and has an excellent prognosis. Feel free to pm me any time just to chat

KBeee

My implant is very tight now and sometimes is a bit sore. I have cording as well and dome numbness in my hand, luckily though, my cancer had this far stayed away which is the most important