Radiation with tissue expander

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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited July 2009

    Well finally here one day to go yahoooooooooooooooooo ....   How is everyone doing any updates

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited July 2009
    CAROLYN !!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy for you..... amazing huh????Cool
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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited July 2009

    Thanks Laura is sure is amazing....

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited July 2009

    Weeeehawwww, Carolyn.  How do you feel?  I am soooooooooo glad for you. 

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  • josirus
    josirus Member Posts: 67
    edited July 2009

    Hi everyone! I've been off-line for a while but I'm back, and all marked up as of yesterday. I was supposed to start radiation on Monday, but the field they initially designed for me didn't cover the whole breast properly, so after 45 minutes with my arms above my head (thought they were going to fall off I couldn't feel them anymore), they have to redo my treatment plan on Monday. So I probably start on Wednesday.

    I am feeling very emotional and scared, more so than I was before the bi-lateral mastectomies. I guess with the mastectomies I was looking forward to the DCIS being out of me, but now I am just scared of what this will do to my reconstruction. Is anyone on this discussion board just starting their treatment?

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited July 2009

    I just finished rads this week.  I made sure I put aloe vera, aquaphor and lotion the doc gave me.  I put it on immediately after treatment  and then three more times during the day.  I exercised and kept limber.  The radiology doctor said my skin held up very well.  i find out next week what the PS says about it all.

    Josirus- I am sorry you had to go through sims for such a long time.  At least they are making sure all the fields are properly marked.  You can get through this and hopefully your reconstruction will be okay.  

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  • living4today
    living4today Member Posts: 215
    edited July 2009

    Josirus,

    Ihad a bilat mast w/TE in December, finished chemo June 25 and will be starting radiation early this next week.  I have had to have two sims...they had to take out some fluid of the TE's as they are redaitating both sides...should be interesting. 

    Ps I understand the emotional feeling...its all pretty scarry...but coming  here and reading what everyone writes is so encouraging!

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited July 2009

    Living4today-  I will be thinking of you and all the others of us who have the te issue.  Hope we all are very happy with the implants and that there is no problems!!!!!  Have a nice sunday all!!!

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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited July 2009

    josisus I think we were all very nervous about the outcome with the rads and the te but i am finished and my skin is looking really good a few blisters and a little red but now looking really good and the rad onc said all looks good as well so i am very happy and cant see why the rec wont look great when finished hang in there all will work out for you just as it did all of us.... how is everyone doing we have lost a few of us te hope all of you keep up the posting so we can follow our rec and stories

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited July 2009

    Hi all.  I am one week and two days out from rads and today my foob got so tight.  I ended up taking aspirin and that seemed to help.  Now I noticed the expander is digging into my armpit.  I tell ya, it's always something!!

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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited July 2009

    Jess do you think that it is swelling is that maybe why is got so tight?  the top of your expander or the bottom part is digging into the armpit? 

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited July 2009

    Yes, I do believe it is because of the swelling.  The PS told me to wait three months and then we will schedule the exchange surgery, unless the swelling has not gone down.  Wow, I can't imagine waiting longer than that. 

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  • josirus
    josirus Member Posts: 67
    edited July 2009

    Today I had my first radiation treatment. Of course, I do not have much to report yet except that I was surprised by how short the treatment was. I am also relieved it has started. One down, 29 to go...

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  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 1,092
    edited July 2009

    You'll be amazed at how they fly by.  Best of luck to you.  JUDY

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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited July 2009

    Jess my ps told me before rad that i was looking at waiting 6 months before the reconstruction i don't even get to see mine until Sept 9 but hey at least we are going to be okay to go ahead with it hang in there all will turn out.

    josirus yes i found the tx to go fast as well like only 2min and the time will go fast as mine did you will be just fine keep us posted.

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  • josirus
    josirus Member Posts: 67
    edited July 2009

    Did anyone get some Rx treatments with a slinky metal sheet draped over their breast? They told me today that 2 of my 5 treatments every week will be with that sheet on, and it permits a boost close to the skin surface. Which makes sense to me given that all the remaining breast cells would be closest to the skin since the pecs were pulled up and over the TE. Just wondering about your experience because I don't remember reading about that in this thread.

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  • josirus
    josirus Member Posts: 67
    edited July 2009

    Okay, after reading a bit I learned that the "slinky metal sheet" is in fact a bolus, and I better understand what it is used for. Still interested to see if you women with TEs were given bolus treatments.

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  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 1,092
    edited July 2009

    Yes, I was, although the sheet was more like an inch thick jelly.  I think bolus is the Tx name not the name of the sheet.  I don't know the name of the sheet.  I was given the bolus every other day, though.

    JUDY

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  • kjbell
    kjbell Member Posts: 974
    edited July 2009

    Josirus-I have a t/e, had 6 weeks of rads and every other treatment was with the bolus. Did you join a rads group here? I joined the April group (as I started in April) and it encouraging to be amongst those who are going thru treatment at the same time. I also read thru the March thread to kind of get a picture of what to expect. Good luck to you!

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited July 2009

    Ok.. here goes nothing,...

    Ladies, I have posted all my pictures on the picture page.

    It is under "Well Burnt" not under construction...

    I hope this helps any lady who needs rads... had rads... or is worrying about her mast/Te/and rads....

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  • LynnVA
    LynnVA Member Posts: 174
    edited July 2009

    Laura you are so brave and we are all so very grateful!  You look great!  You are one of the few that have given me hope for a good outcome, this can be done and be done well!

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  • LynnVA
    LynnVA Member Posts: 174
    edited July 2009

    Oh I got so excited over Laura's pics I forgot what I was going to post before I saw them!

     Josirus- I had something that looked like a plastic bowl made to fit me and cover the area (done at the time of sim) and it was used everyday during my treatment to bring the treatment up to the skin.  It worked, my skin was toast by the end.  Three weeks out and it looks great.  I was so worried.  Today you could not even tell unless you looked under my arm. I am amazed.   I see PS tomorrow for the first time since rads, he was not happy about my doing rads.  I hope he thinks it looks as good as I do!  I hope to get a fill tomorrow as well.  I will keep you all posted!

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited July 2009

    Good Luck tomorrow Lynn! I hope all is well too! We also worry a lot about CC. That is always a scare. My skin did well with rads.. from what they tell me. So far.. my incision is healing just like the other side.. no difference... hopefully.. it will continue.

    My PS told me NO exchange until 6-12 months after rads. He saw me at two months post rads and said... schedule surgery... :).. Rads Oncologist agreed... I had exchange three months out.

    These PS KNOW what they are looking for... GOOD LUCK and let us know... join us on the Exchange City thread...:)

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  • LynnVA
    LynnVA Member Posts: 174
    edited July 2009

    At the risk of sounding really ignorant, what exactly is CC? My rad/onc told me the sooner the exchange the better, after three months but before six.  She said that way the PS could remove any scar tissue that was present before more could develop?? I have heard others say they had to wait a year. I will see what PS has to say tomorrow.  I still need to resume fills, currently at 340 on rads side and 240 on the other.  I did not know at the time I should demand to be fully expanded.  They made it seem like they would not do rads fully expanded.  I  can't wait to join you guys in Exchange City :)

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited July 2009

    CC is Contracture.. which means.. scar tissue... and the boob migrates north,,grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

    No question is ignorant.. that is why we all come here... :)

    I have a friend that had to take time off from fills to do rads... she finished fills after.. her exchange did well..

    She had more pain with the fills after rads.. so just have your pain pills handy if you need them.. and you might not.

    Anyone can join exchange city... even if you are in the planning stages.. it is just a place for us to learn.. and make friends.. hold eachother up.. ya know.... Come on over..

    Any lady here.. come on over>..:)

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  • josirus
    josirus Member Posts: 67
    edited July 2009

    Three down, 27 to go! I had a Tx today (Sunday). The machine is being serviced on Friday and everybody's week was moved up a day. I am already seeing the very beginnings of a light burn, although I was convinced it was a combination of a sweaty day pulling weeds out of my garden mixed with violet-colored markings. Except, the pink is still there after a shower, and my skin feels tingly. I am putting Aveeno on morning and night for now...

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited July 2009

    Josirus...

    Buy some aquaphor at Walmart.. or any store really. This is what I used three times a day on my skin through rads.. really did me well...

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited July 2009

    I am so happy to have found this chat forum! I thought I was so alone in having radiation with tissue expanders. I went today for my CT scan and measurements and the technicians had only seen one other with tissue expanders. I was so worried. This other woman is in the middle of her treatment and the technicians have no clue as to how she is doing. I feel much better at having read so many of your comments. Has anyone heard about deflating the expander before undergoing radiation? I read one article and spoke to a Dr. at MD Anderson in Houston and he said his routine is to deflate expanders before radiation. Anyone know about this? I still have this as an option.

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited July 2009

    Oh my... this is such a choice for us to make.

    I spoke with a Doctor at Virgina Tech... He said no point to deflate. My doctor here, in Kansas City.. Dr. Wall... said not point to deflate. I wrote to Dr. Yu at MD Anderson in Texas, he wrote back, no point to deflate.... sooooooooo three months ago, I finished rads with fully expanded TE. I just had exchange a week  ago.

    PM me anytime. I will visit with you on this. I REALLY fretted over all this rads and Implant ordeal....

    Blessings.. this is very hard for all of us....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

    Laura

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited July 2009

    Thank you! Thank you! Your answer is thrilling me!!!!!

    I am in Montreal and the system here is so different than in the US. We are so behind in technology, it scares me! My husband and I have been agonizing over this decision and I am so happy to hear what you have discovered.  

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