Need Help !! Breast Reconstruction and then Radiation

Tfrancis

I'm 23 years old and I recently got diagnosed with Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer. I have to get a mastectomy and I'm extremely nervous. The cancer is only in my left breast but I've decided to do a bilateral mastectomy. The thought of losing my breasts is extremely nerve wrecking, nevertheless, this is what makes me feel like a woman. I've been so emotional lately just dealing with all of this and I feel like no one understands me and how I feel about my breasts. I've been searching in hope to meet someone who has went through this process and maybe can share their experience. My question is after I do the surgical procedure, will it be a bad idea to do immediate breast reconstruction ? I have to do radiation after , will the radiation affect my breast expanders ? please give me feedback , I just can't fathom having to deal with no breasts.

Moderators

Hi Tfrancis-

We're so sorry that you find yourself here, but we're glad you've found us, and hope you find support and advice here! We know it's a scary, emotional time, and there are lots of decisions to be made. We suggest heading over to our Reconstruction forum; you can read the many, many posts there, it's full of really valuable information, and please feel free to ask a question anywhere! You are not alone!

The Mods

sbelizabeth

Tfrancis, I'm so sorry you're here. But you've found a great group of men and women who can support your through this experience.

Treatment for inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is usually chemotherapy to shrink the cancer in the skin of the breast, then mastectomy, then radiation. My "team" of physicians did NOT want to put an expander in during the mastectomy; they wanted to remove as much skin as possible due to the cancer in the skin. I know other teams use different approaches. Using an expander to stretch radiated skin, however, can be problematic.

I lived as a "uni" for six months while the effects of the radiation settled down, then had DIEP reconstruction. This was all on the advice of my doctors, who were very conservative.

Good luck and God's blessings to you as you navigate this. Gentle hugs.

muska

Hi Tfrancis, I am so sorry you have to deal with this terrible disease at such a young age. Based on your post it appears you decided on having silicone implants. I would recommend you discuss the plan with your team of doctors and if necessary get a second opinion. A lot depends on the specifics of your case and there is no one size fit all reconstruction plan. They can radiate with the expanders in and do the exchange several months after rads or they can do the exchange first and radiate with permanent implants in. But this should be discussed as part of your overall treatment plan and fit into the treatment timeline because the main priority is to kill cancer. So I would recommend you talk again to your medical team, including breast surgeon, plastic surgeon, radiation oncologist and medical oncologist. They should all agree on the plan whatever the plan is.

Good luck!

bride

Tfrancis,

I'm sorry you're here but your IBC sisters can be great sources of information, support, and all-around caring.

You might want to talk to your RO and get her opinion on how to precede with reconstruction. My SO was all for reconstruction, my RO didn't want skin expanders in her way during radiation. I personally didn't want reconstruction but I realize I would not necessarily made the same decision if I were younger.

You are a woman whether or not you have breasts. It sucks that you are so young to have BC. But you can handle this. And we'll help as much as we can.

Hugs,

bride